What have I done? A seemingly useless rug.

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

Auntieflo
EBay is your friend with this.

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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..

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!)

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. 😥

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

Yes - agreed; I'm ground down completely where over indulgence of the dog is concerned - a lone voice of discipline!

Lovesbach you are being kind to your dog😂😂

Years ago I had a dry clean only black skirt with white stripes. I couldn’t afford the dry cleaners all the time and it became so dingy I was about to throw it out, but decided I had nothing to lose so I washed it. It came up beautifully and I had lots more wear from it. I agree with Visgirl that sometimes manufacturers put a disclaimer on to protect themselves.

Hopefully your rug will be fine. Enjoy. Just don’t let anyone on it with outdoor shoes on.

Thanks for the advice, and yes - how right you are! It is lovely, and if it lasts six months I can say I have been lucky to enjoy a thing of beauty for that time. How GNetters put things into perspective. Currently, small dog is relaxing on its silky surface and chewing a rubber bone.....perhaps I'll give it three months.

What have I done? A seemingly useless rug.

You have bought an object of great beauty. Enjoy it!

Viscose is silky smooth and truly beautiful but i think it will not do well if you wet it.
It is not the same as a viscose dress which can be pulled back into shape and ironed.

I made a similar mistake with recovering a chair in a beautiful plush viscose velvet fabric. It had water accidentally splashed on it almost on day one. I have never been able to remove the water marks. I would say keep it dry .

It will be more fragile than other rug fibres so I wouldn't beat it. It may well shed anyway. I'd hoover very lightly.
Try to use it somewhere out of the brighr sun as well - as it may fade...

But, I know it will be just totally beautiful - so enjoy it. It will make you smile.

It wears quickly compared to wool and even silk I think but it will bring you joy, and life is short.

Just accept you may not have it so "perfectly beautiful" forever.

Why oh why do we all stress about stuff that might never be a problem, or if it does come up in the future, never seems so bad by then?

We all do it! Must be a woman thing.

If it’s beautiful and you love it then please enjoy using it, worry about cleaning in when it happens.

I should have added for those that kindly offered comments; it is too heavy for use as a throw, or a wall hanging, and in answer to JackyB I have tried uploading a photo, but my technical skills failed. I might well hang it over the line and give it a good beating in a week or so - a theraputic exercise while I consider my own stupidity in buying such a delicate item for a home with many feet, and even more paws. I was carried away by the fact that it was beautiful, and in a sale!

Can we see a picture?

Thanks for all those helpful comments - I've calmed down now and decided to just go ahead and use it, and deal with the cleaning problem when it arises. If it is ruined - well, it is only a rug! I too thought it would be easy to clean - I have viscose dresses that wash well, and acrylic is quite hardy, but the online advice seemed to suggest I would have less trouble cleaning a rug made from white velvet and tissue paper. Thank you all.