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RUG DYES: A
CAUTIONARY TALE IN THE AGE OF VISCOSE
In
this "after washing" photo of a rug with white wool ground and raised
black viscose motif, the black dye would not have run onto the white sections
if the proper dye for viscose had been used.
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SOUTH
HACKENSACK, N.J. -- As viscose yarns are increasingly used in rugs woven both
at home and abroad, manufacturers should take extra precautions that they are
using the appropriate dyes to prevent future cleaning issues. So says Hamid Zarei, founder of New Jersey-based Revita
Rugs, a leader in rug cleaning, dyeing and restoration.
"Companies in India, Nepal and Turkey
are incorrectly using wool dyes for rugs made with viscose. This is especially problematic when the rug
is a blend of fibers such as wool and viscose," Zarei explained.
He points to a recent case of a client's black and white flatweave
rug, in which the wool was white and the viscose yarns were dyed black.
"When we cleaned the rug, the viscose yarns turned white, indicating that
they had been dyed with wool dyes which are acidic dyes. Manufacturers need to know that viscose needs
salt-based dyes like those used for cotton. If they use wool dyes on viscose,
the rugs will completely discolor in cleaning and transfer color from the
viscose dye to the wool."
This is an education issue for the rug industry, he
continued. "We are seeing more and
more of these issues with viscose rugs, but the problem can be easily solved if
importers and retailers spread the word to their suppliers."
Indeed, not all restoration and cleaning companies have the
equipment and training to restore the color to viscose yarns that have been
discolored in the cleaning process, as shown in the following step by step Before and After
photos provided by Revita Rugs.
When received by Revita Rugs, the soiled and stained
flatweave rug of wool and viscose is photographed for documentation purposes.
A close-up detail shot of the wool and viscose rug before
cleaning shows the stains that must be removed.
A detail image of the transfer of color from the black
viscose to white wool after the first cleaning.
After the second washing, the viscose yarns lose their
color. This photos also shows the color after
it has been restored to part of the rug.
The final "after" photo shows the completely
cleaned and restored wool and viscose rug.