Storage and pests

Laying a rug flat

A folded rug will hold creases. Find the nap first: run your hand across the pile toward the fringe, and it will feel smooth one way and rough the other. Stand at the end with the nap running toward you, roll the rug up as tightly as you can from that end, then unroll it slowly and smooth it down as you go.

Storage

A rug going into storage for more than a few months should be cleaned first, sprayed with insecticide, and wrapped in plastic or a tough synthetic paper such as Tyvek building paper. Do not use newspaper. It is acidic, and offers no protection from insects or moisture.

Make sure the rug is completely dry. Store it somewhere clean and dry and out of reach of rodents, and look in on it periodically.

Moths

Moths and carpet beetles will destroy a wool rug. Check the edges, and check anywhere the rug sits under furniture. If you find bugs or eggs, act immediately. A real infestation usually means having the house treated and every wool rug cleaned.