Almost every home has a rug. Rugs are important because they increase your home’s value, protect against slipping accidents on slippery floors and even keep you warm in the winter because they are cozy. These rugs have to be cleaned and stored properly to ensure they are safe for use in homes.

However, cleaning and storing a rug can be difficult if you don’t have enough space for it to dry. One Stop Self Storage — self storage units in Illinois offer rug storage services. When you store a rug, it can attract pests, lose shape and accumulate unwanted odors if not put away correctly. But putting them in storage doesn’t need to be a chore! Follow the following steps : 

Clean the Rug Thoroughly

Remove the rug from its present location and shake it to remove dirt, dust, or debris. Find a clean space for storing your rug that is large enough to accommodate all of its dimensions and can be closed off with doors or walls. A basement works great for this purpose. Place it on its backing to keep it from unraveling. Fold all of the edges inwards for a cleaner look. If your rug is too large, you may have to fold more than one piece at the same time.

Protect the Rug from Insects

Protecting your rug from pests is of utmost importance if you want to safeguard its lifespan. Store the rug with mothballs or cedar chips for this purpose, but be sure not to use too many so as not to affect the fabric in any way. Alternatively, store it with a layer of dryer sheets on top and underneath (never put dryer sheets on the rug).

Protect it from debris and Dirt.

If you are storing your rug in a basement, place it on top of pieces of cardboard or plywood to protect the flooring that was not originally intended for this purpose. Cover any exposed carpeted areas with plastic sheeting as well so that they don’t become dirty and stained.

Roll the Rug Tightly for Storage.

Roll up the rug in a tight, secure fashion. Use masking tape to seal off any loose edges so that they don’t unravel and get lost while you are transporting it.

Label your rug with its size and weight for easy identification when moving or unpacking from storage. It is advisable to store large rugs flat on the ground instead of rolled up.

If you have a particularly large rug, it’s best to store it flat on the floor. This will ensure that its shape does not change significantly while it is in storage and that pests are unable to get underneath.

Wrap it in Protective Garment

In order to keep your rug in pristine condition, you should wrap it up in a protective fabric or plastic. Wrapping will be especially helpful if you need to transport the rugs long distances. This extra layer of protection helps protect against dirt and bugs that can damage delicate fibers on the ground surface as well as underlying layers like padding and fabric backing material.

Finish rolling up your rugs by wrapping them around completely at least one and a half times so they are protected like never before! Secure this last step using cotton or polyester twill tape for maximum durability against outside forces that want to harm our beautiful carpets

Store  Rug in a Dry and Cool Environment.

Store your rug in an area with relatively low humidity to prevent it from absorbing moisture. Don’t store the rug too close to any heat sources, especially if you wrapped or rolled it in fabric instead of plastic. Heat can cause damage and ruin even the best protective coating on rugs.

When storing your rug for more than three months, move it to a different storage area every few weeks. If you are storing your rug for more than three months, periodically change its storage location so that the fabric does not become stiff and brittle from being in one place too long. If possible, store large rugs flat on the ground instead of rolled up.

Remove all Furniture 

If you have furniture in its storage location, it will be difficult to move and roll out your rug when you need to use it. Remove all of the furniture before storing it so that you can easily access your rug whenever necessary. Do not store rugs with mothballs or cedar chips for more than six months as both can damage or discolor the rug.

If you’re also storing furniture alongside your carpets and rugs, then we recommend reading up on how to properly store furniture. Furniture is expensive but they can be very prone to damage. A scratched couch, for instance, decreases in value tremendously. It can also affect the room’s aesthetics.

Unroll then Check Rug for Damage Signs Every Month

To keep your rug safe, unroll it every month for a full check of any bugs. Make sure to vacuum the carpet and rugs monthly so they don’t attract insects in future months.