How to move a rug

Before moving day

Vacuum the rug on both sides. Grit in the pile rubs against the fibers when the rug is rolled and shifted around.

Make sure it is completely dry. A rug that travels damp, rolled tight in a truck, can start to smell or grow mold within days.

Measure it and write the size on a tag. It helps you plan the new room and find the right rug when boxes pile up.

Roll it, never fold it

Folding puts sharp creases in the foundation and can crack the warp and weft of an older rug. Roll it along its length instead, around a cardboard tube if you have one.

Roll in the direction of the pile, so the fibers lie flat. Run a hand along the rug to find it: the smooth direction is the way the pile lies.

A small, thin rug such as a light kilim can be folded loosely for a short trip, but rolling is still safer.

Wrap it for the trip

Wrap the roll in a moving blanket, kraft paper or plastic stretch wrap, and tie it every couple of feet with rope or twine. Do not put tape on the rug itself.

Plastic is fine for the few days of a move. Unwrap the rug as soon as you arrive so moisture does not stay trapped inside.

Carry it the right way

A large wool rug is heavy and floppy. Carry it with two people, one at each end, and keep it level so the roll does not bend in the middle.

Never drag a rug across the floor or pull it by the fringe. The fringe is the end of the rug’s foundation, and pulling on it can loosen the knots behind it.

In the truck, lay the roll flat on top of boxes or along the floor. Standing a rug on end for hours can crease it.

At the new place

Load the rug last so it comes off first. Lay the pad and rug before the furniture goes in, so nobody has to lift a sofa or a bed later.

If the rug comes out with ripples or curled corners, give it a few days flat in a warm room. Rolling it the other way for a day helps a stubborn curl.

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