To Fringe Or Not To Fringe?

To fringe or not to fringe?

Ah the fringe on a rug, it is a love hate kind of relationship. People either love them or hate them. Let’s take a look at it today and go over a few points on fringes.

What is it?

Simply put, fringe defined is “an ornamental border of threads left loose or formed into tassels or twists.” On your rugs, they are most often on the warps of the rug(s). The warps of the rug are the long strands that the yarns are knot to in order to create the rug (primarily for hand knotted rugs).

Does it add value to my rug?

The short answer is more than likely no. It is often times; it is simply a byproduct of the process or it enhances the look to the eye of the designer. As time goes on, the knots can begin to pull away and unravel and that of course, will impact the over all value of a rug. More often than not the hand-woven rug(s) fringe(s) will be the ones to unravel first. Machine made rugs generally have the fringe added after the rug is created. Then it is glued or sewn on to the already made rug.

What are they made of?

Fringes are generally made of 2 types of fibers, cotton or wool. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each.

Wool fibers are (generally speaking) the best for fringes (and rugs) as it is fabulous for hiding dirt. The natural scales that the fiber has is excellent for hiding dirt. Think of the scales as an upside-down, half open umbrella. It catches the dirt and conceals it. When those scales get full, they begin to look dull and dirty. When we clean them with a flushing treatment, those scales release the dirt and then our process finishes cleaning the fibers.

Cotton fringes are very difficult to clean. Think of it like a fresh, white cotton sheets. They are so beautiful at first. They are freshly bleached (quite strongly) from the company that made them. Over time the brightness naturally dulls and they slowly take on a gray or yellow hue. We have special products to help brighten them. Do keep in mind cotton strength will break down after repeated brightening treatments. Anytime we clean the fringes, we do run the risk of damaging the fibers, but it must be done.

If your fringe is ripping off when they are walked on, this is a sure sign of old or worn fringe.

What can be done if my fringe is damaged?

Your fringe can be replaced. We have rug specialist that can replace or sometimes repair the fringe, depending on what needs to be done.

From Davis to El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Granite Bay, Lincoln and all points in between. We are here to help keep your home looking beautiful! Be sure to check out our before and after gallery to see our work