[roger underhill]

Just been to inspect a 100% silk rug, 5’ x 3’ value £1000.

It has had a cup of tea knocked over on it. The stain is not too bad
but the rug has become bulkier and rose up at the spot where the tea has been.
Is the misshapen area due to swelling of the jute in the weave?

[Ken Wainwright]

Hi Roger

I'm not comfortable with the characteristics you've described. My knowledge of rugs is absolutely minimal, but jute and silk doesn't ring right for me. Along with the rug becoming bulkier, this suggests that the face fibre needs testing. The characteristics suggest "Art. Silk" to me, ie artificial silk, AKA viscose rayon. If so, dry clean only.

On the other hand, I could be totally wrong, but more enquiries/tests would be necessary.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Kev Loomes]

Ken could be right, Ive seen viscose rugs and this would happen. To be fair though if its a £1,000.00 rug then it wont be viscose. It could be an elaborate hand made wool rug with silk inlays, these are expensive and the silk could alter and even go stiff if overwetted and left. But Ive never seen to date jute in the weave of a silk rug...

Might be easier to walk?

[Mike Osbourne]

If it's a bulking of the pile then yes voscose, but if not could be the underlying structure of the rug has warped?

[liahona]

Roger, any chance of a picture of the rug in question.  You say it is 100% silk but then suggest about jute which has been pointed out shouldnt be there if it is pure silk.

Price wise you may well have a mercerised cotton rug but this wouldnt have jute in either.

Also price wise, if it is a 3ft x 5ft rug and a £1000 chances are it is not silk.

Anyway, dry cleaning is always a safe way of cleaning something just bear in mind it doesnt work. 

Best, Dave.

[Doug Holloway]

Hi

If you send me a few fibres I will test it for you.

Cheers

Doug

[roger underhill]

Thanks for the advice all.
The rug belongs to a neighbour of mine so I popped round this morning.
I can now confirm that there is indeed no jute in the warp or weft, I
realise that I jumped to the wrong conclusion. (thanks to your help)

The main problem is that the underlying structure of the rug has warped and stiffened up.

The rug is still damp at this point so I have said that I will have a further look when totally dry, assess the condition and than take some fibres for id.
Thanks for the offer Doug, I will e-mail you if and when it gets to that stage.

I have advised my neighbour to involve her insurance company due to the price they paid for the rug.