Folding an oriental carpet is a practical method for preparing it for temporary storage, moving, or shipping, especially for smaller or thinner rugs. The process involves carefully collapsing the rug into a more compact size while taking care to protect its structure and fibers.
Preparing Your Carpet for Folding
Before you begin folding, ensure your oriental carpet is clean and completely dry. Lay the rug flat on a clean surface, face up, smoothing out any wrinkles or bumps. This provides the best starting point for a clean fold.
The Folding Process
The most common and recommended way to fold an oriental carpet is lengthwise.
- First Fold: Fold the carpet in half lengthwise, bringing one long edge to meet the other. Ensure the edges align neatly.
- Subsequent Folds: Depending on the size and thickness of your rug, you may need to repeat the lengthwise fold several more times. Fold the rug in half again lengthwise, and continue until you reach a manageable size for storage or transport.
- Handle with Care: As you fold, it's important to handle the rug gently. According to information on folding oriental rugs for storage, moving, or shipping, you should avoid pressing heavily on the rug during the process. Applying excessive pressure can potentially damage the fibers or warp the foundation over time.
Why Avoid Heavy Pressing?
Oriental carpets are typically made with natural fibers like wool or silk and have intricate knots and weaves. Applying too much pressure while folding can:
- Stress the individual knots and threads.
- Potentially create permanent creases, especially in rugs with a thick pile.
- Compress the pile unevenly.
Folding should be a careful process where the rug is allowed to naturally collapse along the fold lines, rather than being forced or crushed.
Folding vs. Rolling
While folding is suitable for many oriental rugs, particularly thinner kilims or those with a more flexible structure, larger or thicker pile carpets are often better rolled. Rolling along the width helps protect the pile and prevents hard creases. Always consider the specific characteristics of your rug when choosing between folding and rolling for storage or transport.
By following these steps and handling your carpet with care, especially by avoiding heavy pressing as noted in guidance for preparing rugs for transit or storage, you can successfully fold your oriental carpet.
