Spotting Moth Damage - Tis the Season
The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and there is a certain buzz in the air with the flowers blooming and the mosquitoes biting. Mosquitoes aren't the only things eating. This is a particularly dangerous season for all of our beloved woolen goods, especially our wool Oriental rugs. One of the questions we are most often asked is how to spot moth damage in an Oriental rug (followed by, what can I do to prevent moths from attacking my Oriental rugs in the first place?). In this post, we will share some of the ways feasting moths make themselves known.
Above is a photo of a rug pad that has become home to a large moth infestation. This can happen when a rug is not allowed to breathe separately from its rug pad for an extended period of time. The moths are the white glue-like residue on the pad. It's a good habit to occasionally separate your rug from your rug pad and vacuum both to ensure that both are cleaned (and inspected) periodically.
Sometimes the moth damage is quite evident as there will be a hole (or holes) where there was once your rug (see photo above).
Other times, you know moths are eating your rugs by the dotted appearance that your rug suddenly has as in the photo above. If you see any of your rugs get similar damage, take care to isolate your rug immediately from all other woolen goods and have your rug professionally cleaned as soon as possible.