What have I done? A seemingly useless rug.

As long as it's not a real meaty bone 😁

I have just washed a 1950s crepe cocktail dress which was my mother's.

It took 5 gentle (flat) bayh washes and 12+ rinses. I have spent the best part of two days pulling, spraying, teasing and gently steaming it back into shape. It is dry clean only.

The local specialist dry cleaners thought it was unlikely to clean well and I admit I am a very "good" hand-washer having washed cotton velvet, pleated silk chiffon, wool coats and everything in between. I was quite panicky initially with this because it has complex folds - and I won't know till my daughter tries it on again - but fingers crossed! 😬

I still have some mending to do on it but am hoping it hasn't shrunk too much and my daughter will still be able to wear it to her brother's wedding next month.

I have had no joy with my viscose velvet chair. 😥

How strange to buy something you clearly like and immediately start worrying about cleaning it! Just put it on the floor and enjoy it. It probably won't need more than a going over with a vacuum cleaner for absolutely ages. (In fact I don't think I've ever actually cleaned a rug!)

JackyB

Two fairly easy-care fibres I would have thought . Probably easier to clean than you think. The cleaning instructions are possibly overcautious.

Completely agree JackyB

and you bought the rug because you liked it,, just enjoy it..

If you like it put it beside your bed and enjoy it every morning,
don’t worry about the future.

I use a carpet washer dryer on mine, it's fine

A neighbour left three thick Indian rugs, neatly folded, out for the dustmen. She said I was welcome to them but they were filthy and cost the earth and sixpence to clean. I put them in the washing machine and had over ten years use from them before they started to unravel and the backing disintegrate. My neighbour was VERY disgruntled and said she just wished she’d had the nerve to wash them.

Soniah I'm very interested to hear this - is it a viscose/acrylic rug?

The rug sounds lovely. Can it be vacuumed easily.? If so use it and vacuum regularly. I have a cream coloured rug with areas of silk in it. It is in front of the fireplace and been there a few years. It shows no sign of needing cleaning. I have learnt that cleaning carpets is a quick way to see them deteriorate becoming dirtier quicker so any improvement is short lived. I would put down and just enjoy.

Centuries ago rugs were hung on the wall. A friend of mine who was not short of a few bob would not buy expensive carpets suggesting that paying loads of money for something everyone walked on was a waste of money.

Use it snd enjoy it. Life’s too short to worry about a rug 😊

I wish in hindsight that we/ I had not bought a silk carpet-runner in India, years ago. It was my choice.
It is beautiful and we had it shipped over, paying import taxes. I had wanted to use it as a hall runner, but when we laid it down, it was an inch too wide!
We did have it in the lounge, from front to back, but it really didn't go.
So, for a good few years it has been rolled up in the spare bedroom. I had thought of hanging it down the stairwell, but changed my mind.
It was an expensive mistake. What to do with it? Should I investigate whether a rug shop might want to buy it, or send it to an auction house?

Auntieflo
EBay is your friend with this.

Maybon1 I’ve always hung rugs on the wall. I agree with your friend.