Help wool rug in washing machine

belfastgirl23

As per title - a kind friend put my wool ikea rug through the wash while staying in my house. I have no idea why, except that it can get quite grubby looking if not hoovered regularly. Dried in the sun and it's gone all bumpy and wrinkly. Does any one have any advice? It's a long thin runner rug and was quite expensive but is a trip hazard now. For info it's a flat rug i.e. no pile. I've googled but the only advice I can find is a unanimous 'do not put your wool rug in a washing machine'. Which while clearly sound is not helpful!

jackyann

I'm sorry, I don't, other than to explain.
The wool was not pre-shrunk, and now it has shrunk unevenly. Very patient stretching will remedy slightly - imagine the fibres all shrinking and trying to stretch them out again - but it is likely to remain uneven.
People have got used to being able to wash wool because these days it is often pre-shrunk and mixed with other fibres, but really it needs careful handling.

I would try contacting Ikea - they might just have some specific advice, or do something nice like giving you a discount coupon.

You are being kind about your friend - I think it quite a careless thing to do; but of course, some friends (even somewhat careless ones) are worth more than rugs!

Shropshirelass

Good advice above from Jackyann.

I have had two goat's wool rugs for 25+ years, which I wash every 2 - 3 years in the washing machine on a cool temp. I then lie them flat to dry e.g. on garden table or on a tile floor in the sun. They soon flatten more with being trodden on. They have faded over the years, but are still soft to bare toes, they are bedside rugs. They were loose weave, but have shrunk slightly.
Good luck, I don't think you should give up on yours yet.

Primrose

Would laying it it out under a mattress on which you sleep for a few days help to flatten it out?

JIL

There was something in the daily mail yesterday advising making a spray with fabric conditioner and gently pulling it into shape. That was for a woollen cardigan, it may help a wool rug?

culpepper

You could try the hair conditioner or baby shampoo thing that is recommended for shrunken garments.
Its about a 3rd of a cup to a washing up basin full of water. (might need to do it in bath and adjust amounts.)
Immerse the rug fully in it and leave to soak about 10 mins.
Remove rug and gently squeeze.
Roll it in a dry towel to absorb as much liquid as pos (dont rinse out the liquid).
Stretch carefully with your hands and then lie flat on second dry towel and leave to dry.

Can also be done with vinegar and water if you dont have the other.

If its long you might have to wait to do it in the garden.

jackyann

I can see how conditioner would help, making the fibres more slippery and easier to pull back to shape.
I don't see how shampoo or vinegar would achieve that, but would be interested to know.
Please OP, if you have time, will you let us now how you get on? Maybe your friend will help you teasing our the matted fibres!

monnagran

I can only think that your friend put the rug on a hot wash. My father made a little rug from the readicut catalogue to go in front of his armchair where his feet rested and made the carpet dirty.
This was pure wool and it used to get filthy. I washed it many, many times in the WM on a cool wash and it always came up as good as new.

No help to you, but the hair conditioner/fabric conditioner tip looks like your best bet. I think your watchword should be "cool and gentle."

belfastgirl23

Thank you all! At the minute I'm trying dry methods (suspending from a line in hope it will stretch a bit and hand stretching too). I have no appetite for putting it back in the machine as I'm not sure how the machine survived the first go. And can't see it drying in this weather! I might try the mattress next, then the spray with fabric conditioner. Will let you know how it goes! I appreciate the help!

Btw I have no clue on the reason for it being washed except there were children here so nearly afraid to ask!

rosedangerfield77

Did you manage to get your rug back to normal?! I’ve managed to shrink a similar rug and wondered what worked to correct it?  

squiggles

rosedangerfield77 said:

Did you manage to get your rug back to normal?! I’ve managed to shrink a similar rug and wondered what worked to correct it?  

My rug at the back door is 100% wool and it goes in the washer few times a year. It comes out all rucked up and curled. I hang it over the line until it’s nearly dry but will still need airing off. I then hoover it a few times and in a couple of day’s it’s flat again. I think the weight of the hoover (dyson) pulls it back to its correct shape again.