Storing Your Favorite Rug In The Garage Provides Pests A New Home.

Storing old rugs in the garage area is common practice in many households. However, a garage is not the best place to store quickly degradable items like rugs. You have probably kept one in a garage for a few seasons, only to take it out and see it filled with mold, mildew, or worse: Pests! Garage units tend to collect extreme amounts of dust. Couple that with their moist nature, and you have a recipe for disaster. 

Storing rugs is quite tricky; there are many things you have to consider to do it properly, but it's not impossible to do it at home. Rugs and carpets can last up to 10 years when properly stored and cared for; however, storing rugs the wrong way may make them last significantly less than expected. It's time to learn why garages and pests are your rugs' worst enemies and how to properly store rugs.

Changing temperatures, humidity levels, and dirt inside garage areas play an essential role in damaging rugs. Simultaneously, these factors provide the perfect environment for pests to grow and multiply. 

Most garages have concrete floors, which are porous and permeable, allowing humidity coming from the soil beneath to pass through. When humidity is trapped inside an enclosed room, bugs and other pest start growing. Just as moths are known for infesting closets and damaging clothes, carpet beetles are the most common pest in rugs and carpets. These little bugs eat the keratin present in natural fibers like silk, wool, leather, skin cells, hair, and nails. 

If you store a dirty or dusty rug in the garage, the chances of it promoting bug infestations increase exponentially. Excessive dirt on the rug fibers also attracts bugs, enabling them to eat the fibers and make holes. If this happens to you, it's best to evaluate the damage and decide if it's worth repairing or getting rid of the rug for good.

To properly store a rug, you must first clean it thoroughly. This will keep pests at bay and prevent bad smells from forming. Vacuum, wash, and dry it completely before putting it in a plastic bag inside indoor closets or under a bed. Doing this will eliminate the soil particles present on the rug fibers that can allow pests to thrive and prevent future pest problems.

Another helpful tip is to use fabric-friendly pesticides as an extra layer to protect against pests before storing your rugs away. Some options like this one from Amazon will help you with this issue.

In addition, it's best to store rugs away from floors to avoid moisture from getting to your rugs or carpet. Keep them on high shelves or in upper closet areas for better results.

Also, remember to roll your rugs tightly with the grain to avoid damage. Store them upright to prevent creases on the fabric, and unroll them once a month to prevent marks from forming. After knowing these tips, you will have ideally-stored rugs that will preserve pest-free and stand the test of time. You got this!