Packing a rug for the move is quite different from packing other household items because your rug has a high chance of getting damaged during transportation — if you don’t do it right.
In addition to taking great care in wrapping it up tight, you must also make sure there are no folds or knots that could potentially damage it further. If you have valuable oriental rugs or Persian rugs at your home, then you need extra care when packing them.
So to ensure your rugs arrives with no tears or infestation, make sure to follow these step-by-step directions on how to pack a rug for moving.
5 Simple Steps on How to Pack Rug for Moving
If you’re planning to pack your rugs on your own, then you need to be clear on the best packing practices. There are some things you should avoid to make sure that there isn’t any rot or mould infestation in your rug during transportation.
So make sure to follow these steps one by one to make sure that your rug gets delivered to your new home in the exact same condition as it was packed.
Step 1: Clean the Rug Before Packing
Before you start packing large area rugs for moving, it is vital that you clean them properly first. This will ensure no dust or dirt gets trapped inside the fabric and ruin its quality once unpacked at the new location.
You can use a carpet cleaner or mild detergent to clean the rug if you have one at home, or if you don’t have either of those things, you can use warm water and baking soda to wash it instead. Or you can have the rugs professionally cleaned to keep them ready for packing. You need to deep clean the rugs for moving if there is considerable dirt or stains so that it doesn’t damage the rest of the rug.
Once cleaned, make sure to dry it completely so that there isn’t any moisture trapped inside. If you don’t have time to wait for it to dry completely, use a blow dryer on a a low heat setting to speed up the drying process. It is advisable not to use too much heat as this may cause damage to your rug fibres and dyes.
Even if you aren’t professionally cleaning the rugs, make sure to vacuum them and dry them before you roll the rug.
Step 2: Prepare the Base to Pack Rugs
Once you’ve cleaned the area rugs for moving, you’ll now need to start packing.
Put down some moving pads and sheets before placing the area rug upside on a flat surface. This will serve as the rug’s backing as you roll it up. If you’re unsure where to find these kinds of supplies, ask your local hardware store or home improvement center for assistance.
Open up all folds as much as possible before removing any staples from underneath each fold of the rug so that you can easily unfold it later.
Step 3: Protect the Edges of the Rug
The next step is to protect the edges of the rug by wrapping them in cloth or packing paper so that they do not get damaged during transit. This can be done using double-sided packing tape or masking tape if available.
Make sure that no loose threads are hanging out of the rug, which may get entangled in other objects during transit or even cause injuries when people walk over them.
Step 4: Roll the Rug Upside
You have two ways of packing rugs for moving: rolling and folding them up using padding material like bubble wrap or packing paper sheets between layers of fabric so that they don’t get creased.
It’s often best to roll the rug so that there are no creases or damage to the rug. The packing technique involved in folding the rug can get damaged at the creases when you unfold it back. So, always try to roll naturally in a tight circle against the direction of the nap. This is especially important if you’re trying to pack oriental rugs or Persian rugs.
The nap is on the side of the rug that feels smooth. So once you’ve identified the nap, you need to roll it in one direction of the nap in a tight bundle against it without too much pressure.
Start rolling the rug tightly from one end until you reach the other end. Now tie off each end with rope, plastic ties or twine so that it does not unravel in the moving truck.
Step 5: Cover the Rolled Up Rug
The best way to protect your rug from damage in the moving truck is to wrap it in plastic or kraft paper and secure it with packing tape. Make sure that all loose ends are covered by the packing tape so that no accumulated dust or dirt will get inside once the package has been opened at its destination.
Many prefer to use brown kraft paper over other packing materials to cover the rolled up area rug since plastic can trap moisture even if a little is present. And this can soon encourage mould and other bacteria to develop inside the rug.
If you’re using plastic wrap to protect from external moisture, place a piece of cardboard or kraft paper between the plastic wrap and rug to absorb the moisture from within. Now tuck the wrap or paper into the folds of the large oriental rug to secure the ends. You’ll then need to pack rugs inside cardboard boxes and seal them for long-term storage.
How to Protect Oriental Rugs for Storage
If you’re packing large oriental rugs or a Persian rug pile, you need to be extra careful. When you’re rolling the Persian rug or oriental rug for packing and hear a crack or resistance, then check for any dry rot issues. Oriental or Persian rug pile tend to be more susceptible to such issues, so check them before packing.
Also, if you’re planning to keep your oriental rug pile in storage for a long time, then it’s best to roll it with a muslin cloth and kraft paper and secure them with twine.
Hire Professional Movers to Handle Your Move
If you have a large rug that is too big for your car, you may consider hiring professional movers instead of trying to move it yourself. This will ensure that they can pack your rugs for moving safely.
If you’re looking for an expert removal company to help with your house move at affordable rates, reach out to our experts at Move My Stuff today. We help you with everything from packing your oriental rug, your appliances and furniture to unpacking them all at your new place, along with storage facilities.
