![How to pack rugs when moving house](https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/area-rug-1.jpg)
Highlights
- Packing area rugs for moving is not too complicated – you only need to know a few important packing concepts.
- Packing Oriental rugs, however, is a completely different matter. Persian rugs are not only large and heavy but they are often very valuable too.
- The detailed steps below will show you the best way to pack rugs for moving – both small area rugs and big Persian rugs.
- How to pack rugs for moving: small area rugs
- Step 1. Decide if moving your rug is worth it
- Step 2. Clean the rug before packing it
- Step 3. Turn the rug upside down
- Step 4. Identify the direction of the rug pile
- Step 5. Roll the area rug against the grain
- Step 6. Tie up the area rug
- Step 7. Wrap up the area rug
- Step 8. Use paper only for wrapping your rug
- How to pack oriental rugs for moving: large Persian rugs
- Step 1. Vacuum the oriental rug
- Step 2. Turn the Persian rug upside down
- Step 3. Fold the Persian rug lengthwise into thirds
- Step 4. Find the direction of the nap
- Step 5. Fold the oriental rug properly
- Step 6. Roll the oriental rug
- Step 7. Form a rug bundle
- Step 8. Secure the folded rug
- Step 9. Wrap the rug bundle with paper
So, you’ve got a house move looming? It’s okay, we got you covered, like we always do.
Some household items will always be more difficult to pack and move than others. For example, all the area rugs in your home – you can’t just pack those in cardboard boxes, can you?
Oh, and you shouldn’t just roll your area rugs any way you feel like and throw them into the back of a moving truck.
When packing rugs for moving, you just have to follow the proper packing steps to make sure the floor coverings reach the new home in pristine condition.
That’s especially critical when you’re moving very expensive and even more valuable oriental rugs, such as high-quality hand-woven Persian rugs.
Read on to learn the best way to pack area rugs when moving – both the ordinary stiff-backed inexpensive rugs and the extraordinary hand-made super-expensive Persian rugs.
How to pack rugs for moving: small area rugs
First of all, let’s describe in great detail how to pack rugs when moving – the small fairly inexpensive types of rugs that can be commonly found in most homes.
The good news is that small area rugs are much easier to pack and move than large expensive oriental ones – you can wrap those rugs all by yourself and you’ll only need some basic packing supplies such as packing paper, a couple of strings or twines per rug, and some packing tape.
The bad news? You may have a hard time deciding whether it’ll be worth packing and moving some of your cheap area rugs in the first place.
After all, you should bear in mind that it can be much more expensive to move area rugs to another home than to just leave them behind and buy new ones after the move.
Here’s how to pack a rug for moving:
Step 1. Decide if moving your rug is worth it
Decide on a case-by-case basis whether your common area rugs are worth the time, money, and effort to be packed and transported to the new home.
Here are some questions to help you decide the fate of your rugs:
- Are they relatively new?
- What’s the quality of their craftsmanship: high, low, really low?
- Are they worn out, stained, or torn?
- How much did you pay for them in the first place?
- Do you like them, like REALLY like them?
- Do they have any sentimental value for you?
Step 2. Clean the rug before packing it
Clean the rug before packing it for a move because you wouldn’t want to move any accumulated dust, dirt, hairs, bad odors, and all sorts of unwanted debris to the new house or apartment. Don’t skip this step, especially when you have a dog, a cat, or a bird as a pet.
So, vacuum the area rug thoroughly, then, if possible, leave the rug out in the sun for several hours.
If an area rug happens to be seriously stained or soiled up but you’re still not willing to part with it, then you can have it professionally cleaned before packing and moving it.
Step 3. Turn the rug upside down
![How to pack rugs for wrapping](https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/small-area-rug.jpg)
You need to do this when you’re about to roll a rug for shipping so that the rug pile is facing the floor during the packing process.
This is an important detail to have in mind to avoid untimely damage to your area rugs and small carpets.
If you choose to disregard this safety step and roll your rug with the fibers facing you, then you’ll put additional pressure on the rug’s backing and m stretch or even crack it since the majority of inexpensive rugs happen to have stiff backs.
Step 4. Identify the direction of the rug pile
Identify the direction of the rug pile. Area rugs are manufactured in a way that creates a specific direction of the fibers – aka as a nap. So, to pack area rugs properly, you’ll need to determine the nap orientation.
Do this by lifting one end of the area rug and running your palm over its fiber surface – you should feel the resistance of the fibers when you’re going in one direction and a smooth feeling when you’re going the other way.
When folding rugs for moving, you’ll need to do it against the grain.
Step 5. Roll the area rug against the grain
This step is all about learning how to roll a rug for shipping.
So, start rolling it slowly and carefully in order to form a tight cylinder-like bundle. Keep folding your area rug straight – should you feel that the fold is starting to go left or right, go back a little bit and straighten it up.
Ultimately, a good and tight rug roll will guarantee you much easier and safer transportation of your area rug to the new residence.
Step 6. Tie up the area rug
Tie the rolled-up area rug using one piece of string or twine on one end, and another one on the other end of the cylinder-shaped rug bundle.
You don’t want your folded area rug to start unfolding while you’re carrying it to the moving vehicle or worse – inside the truck.
You’re strongly advised not to use packing tape to tie up your rug as it will damage it.
Step 7. Wrap up the area rug
Wrap your rolled-up area rug completely using a couple of sheets of hard brown paper – also known as Kraft paper, then tape it up.
One big roll of brown Kraft paper (30 x 1800 inches, 150 feet long) costs around $20 and can be bought online or at most home improvement stores.
If you don’t have that specific type of wrapping paper, then you can use the regular white soft packing paper, but you’ll need to use more sheets at the same time to provide the same level of protection.
Step 8. Use paper only for wrapping your rug
Use only paper to wrap a rug for shipping.
Don’t wrap your rug in plastic because thick plastic materials will prevent the rug fibers from breathing and may trap moisture, thus creating the perfect environment for mold and mildew to form and grow.
That’s especially important if you’re wrapping a rug for storage.
I want to get a Persian rug soon. However, I will be moving to a new house this upcoming spring. It does seem like I should get a professional to help me move it. I liked your suggestion about vacuuming it before I try moving it.