Lexington, KY - A staple in Chevy Chase Plaza since 1978, Dana Kelly Rugs is primarily a retail shop, specializing in new and old Oriental rugs of many varieties; however, a good deal of the shop's attention is devoted to helping rug owners repair their rugs. While dozens of rugs are shipped to Turkey for repairs each month, the shop executes many repairs in-house, including fixing the siding or ends of the rug, repairing or replacing frayed or worn-off fringe, patching torn spots (depending on the size and scope of the tear), and adjusting the size of rug. Repairs can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a year, depending on the extent of the damage and whether it's something that can be fixed in-house or shipped off.
According to Kelly, most of the repairs he oversees are for damage by pets; fixing "housewife repairs" (i.e., failed DIY attempts to spruce up a damaged rug) is another top-ranking repair.
He recommends taking the following preventative measures to keep your rug in tip-top shape: put a pad under it; rotate it every nine to 12 months; vacuum it regularly; don't put potted plants on it (they can cause it to dry rot); and have it professionally cleaned every three to five years (if you gently rub a damp dish towel on it and it picks up dirt, it's time to have it cleaned).
Like most luxury items, sales of oriental rugs have decreased in recent years, as a result, Kelly has seen an increasing number of repair jobs come through his shop.
"People are fixing rather than buying new, because they want to keep what they've got," he said. "It's not as expensive as if they have to replace the whole thing."