4 Problems with Hand-Knotted Rugs

By Joshua Scheide | December 29, 2025

You've been researching handcrafted rugs for your dining room for weeks. You finally find one with the perfect colors, in the size you need and it fits your budget. You order it. Three months later it arrives. You unroll it in your dining room, and it couldn’t fit any better.

Then you vacuum it for the first time. Your vacuum canister fills with fuzz. You vacuum again two days later—more fuzz. A week passes—still shedding. You're starting to wonder if you bought a defective rug.

That's normal. It's also something that would have been nice to know before you ordered.

Hand-knotted rugs come with some hassles that don't show up in the product photos. Shedding is just one of them. But they’re all manageable if you know what to expect.

You want this rug for Thanksgiving. It's September. There’s a good chance you’re already too late.

Hand-knotted rugs take time, and not every manufacturer keeps inventory.

Even if the artisans crafting the rug are especially skilled, they’re probably maxing out around 10,000 or so knots per day on any given rug. For an area rug that has 700,000 knots, you’re looking at a months-long wait time. Unless an importer has some inventory in stock you’ll need to plan to wait for your new piece.

Unfortunately, your furniture delivery schedule doesn’t influence the necessary production time when it comes to traditionally woven rugs.

Managing the Timeline

Order early in your renovation. The rug can be one of the first things you purchase, even if installation is months away. If your deadline is inflexible and less than 3 months away, you need a rug that's already made and in stock somewhere—which usually means machine-made.

Why is your vacuum filling up every time you run it over your newly opened rug?

This happens because during the knotting process, thousands of individual fibers get tied onto the rug's foundation. Short fibers that didn't lock into knots stay in the pile. When you walk on the rug or vacuum it, these work their way out. You'll see visible piles of fiber after vacuuming for the first 3-6 months. Some rugs shed for up to a year.

It can look like your new investment is literally falling apart. But it’s just the loose fibers working their way out. Once they’re gone, the rug will stabilize and the remaining dense, durable pile can last generations.

Machine-made rugs don't shed like this because they use different construction. The shedding is actually a sign you bought something authentic.

Managing the Shedding

Vacuum weekly but gently—use suction-only settings, no beater bars. The regular vacuuming actually helps remove loose fibers faster. And give it time. The first few months are the worst. By month six, shedding typically decreases significantly.

Those rich colors you fell in love with? Over time, they’re going to change. There's no way around it.

It might take decades, or sometimes centuries, but depending on the blend of dyes and materials, a hand-knotted rug will develop fading and a patina of sorts eventually.

The real problem, though, isn't this gradual, even fading. That’s actually desirable long term as a sign of authenticity.

The problem is when part of your rug sits in direct sun and part doesn't. You develop visible ‘sun tracks’ where colors look completely different. The sunny section becomes paler while the shaded portion stays vibrant. It looks bad, and there's no fixing it once it happens.

This limits which rooms you can easily place a handcrafted rug in. Even a few hours of direct afternoon sun daily will fade colors noticeably within a couple years.

Managing the Fading

There are a few easy ways to limit the fading to its natural, desirable levels and avoid destructive, acute sun damage.

·        Use UV-protective window treatments. This doesn't eliminate fading—it slows it down.

·        Rotate your rug every 6-12 months so different areas receive light, creating more even fading.

·        Be selective about your room choices—spaces with moderate, indirect light work best.

·        Know that neutral colors endure the longest.

While you can DIY the maintenance of a traditionally woven rug, you’re often dealing with sensitive materials and dyes that don’t play well with all household cleaning products.

Professional cleaning of wool or silk will cost around $200-$500+ depending on the rug size. Most places will tell you to have the rug cleaned every 12 to 18 months, but unless it’s in a high traffic area every three to five years is perfectly acceptable.

Spills also usually need professional cleaning. You can blot (don’t rub!) a spill immediately to remove as much offending liquid as possible, but you’ll probably want a professional to handle removing any deeper blemishes. Pet accidents can permanently stain these rugs even with immediate cleaning.

Managing the Maintenance

Choose appropriate rooms—dining rooms, living rooms, and bedrooms work beautifully. Avoid bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, and outdoor spaces entirely. Use quality rug pads. Vacuum weekly but gently. Budget for occasional professional cleaning. And be realistic about your lifestyle—young children with juice boxes and multiple dogs with accidents affect whether a handcrafted rug makes sense for you right now.

If these rugs have all these challenges, why do historic homeowners keep buying them?

Because when you want authentic period character, the trade-offs are worth it. Hand-knotted rugs last 100+ years with proper care. They develop beautiful patina over time. They can be repaired and restored. And well-maintained pieces can actually increase in value over time.

You're not buying temporary floor covering—you're buying something your great-grandchildren will inherit.

How do I know if shedding is normal or a defect?

Normal shedding produces loose individual fibers. Defective shedding involves chunks of the rug coming apart or visible bald spots. If you can see backing through the pile and you purchased your rug through Old California, contact us immediately and we'll help you work with the manufacturer.

Can hand-knotted rugs be repaired if damaged?

Yes. Skilled restorers can re-knot damaged sections, replace fringe, and stabilize foundations. This is what makes them generational—they can actually be fixed, unlike machine-made rugs you just throw away.

How much does professional cleaning cost?

Expect $200-$500+ depending on size, materials and soil level. Large rugs (9x12+) cost more. Budget for this every 3-5 years as part of ownership.

Can I put one in my kitchen if I'm really careful?

We wouldn't recommend it. Even careful cooks drop things. Spills are inevitable. The constant foot traffic creates wear. Save the hand-knotted rug for your dining room where it'll be more appreciated and is less prone to damage.

Hand-knotted rugs shed for months, fade in sunlight, take 3-6 months to arrive, and require maintenance you can't skip. These may all be minor inconveniences—but they're real considerations that affect whether a handcrafted rug is right for your home.

But thousands of historic homeowners navigate these challenges successfully because the result is worth it: authentic, generational rugs that honor their homes' architectural character.

We've helped historic homeowners make informed decisions about their homes since 1989. We're bringing that same commitment to our rug selection. Have more questions? Send us an email.

Ready to explore hand-knotted rugs for your historic home? Shop our collection.

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