Care and Repair Many rugmakers began their craft by repairing a family heirloom. Fortunately, they realized the value of the rugs they found and had the sense to restore them. So many rugs were lost to future generations of appreciators because they were tossed out by unknowing soles who thought they were just some old, torn, useless rugs, probably machine made. Perhaps it never occurred to them that rugs, even those in bad condition can be restored. Often, if the restorer is experienced, even the most discerning collector can't tell where the old and new meet.
Some rugs are beyond repair.
If you fall in love with a rug that isn't in perfect condition hold it up to the light. If it's filled with holes it may have dry rot and will surely fall apart. This sort of disrepair is impossible to fix. If you have a rug that needs restoring, it's important to find someone who knows what they're doing. When your rug needs cleaning, don't send it to any dry cleaner.