How to store a rug: rolling, wrapping and moths

By Emma Whitfield · Published 11 October 2026

Clean the rug, make sure it is completely dry, roll it (never fold it) with the pile facing out, and wrap it in something that breathes. A sealed plastic bag is safe only for a rug that is bone dry and going into a cool, dry store; anywhere damp, plastic holds moisture against the fibre. Keep it out of the loft and garage if you can, and put a moth trap near any stored wool.

Step by step

  1. Clean it first. Vacuum both sides with suction only and spot-clean any marks (SisalRugs.com). On a wool rug this also matters for moths: the University of Kentucky says cleaning kills eggs and larvae and removes odours that attract them. See how to clean a wool rug or how to clean a jute rug.
  2. Make sure it is completely dry. Rug Love insists on "clean and completely dry". A wool rug can feel dry while still holding water, so give it longer than you think; our guide to drying a wet rug explains why.
  3. Roll it, do not fold it. Folding stresses the fibres and leaves creases (SisalRugs.com, Rug Love).
  4. Roll with the pile facing out, in the direction of the pile. Lay the rug pile side down and roll the way the pile lies, not against it. Details below.
  5. Use a tube for a large or heavy rug. The Canadian Conservation Institute recommends a tube with a diameter suited to the object, up to a large Sonotube for carpets, covered with polyethylene sheeting as a barrier against the cardboard's acidity.
  6. Wrap it in something breathable. A clean cotton sheet or muslin (Rug Love), or kraft paper or Tyvek (SisalRugs.com). The CCI uses acid-free tissue or prewashed cotton sheeting.
  7. Store it off the floor, somewhere cool, dry and dark, and check it every so often (Rug Love). When you do, re-roll it the other way to stop creases setting.

Pile in or pile out?

Advice conflicts, even from the same retailer: SisalRugs.com's curling guide says to store rugs with the pile facing in, while its storage guide recommends rolling with the pile facing out. The textile conservation guidance is consistent. The Canadian Conservation Institute says pile carpets should be rolled "right side face down so that the pile appears on the outside of the roll", and to roll in the direction of the pile so it is not crushed. The Textile Specialty Group's storage chapter on the conservation wiki says pile fabrics should be rolled face-out. For anything longer than a house move, roll pile out.

Plastic bags: when sealing is fine and when it is not

Two pieces of advice seem to contradict each other. Rug Love and SisalRugs.com say avoid plastic, because it is not breathable and traps moisture, which leads to mould. The University of Kentucky's clothes moth guidance says the opposite for moth protection: seal cleaned wool items in tight-fitting plastic bags or containers.

Both are right, under different conditions. A sealed bag stops moths and dust getting in, but it also stops moisture getting out. So a sealed bag is fine when:

A spare-room wardrobe or under-bed space in a heated house fits that description. A damp loft, a garage or a garden shed does not: there, use a breathable wrap and check it more often.

Storage bag and moth monitoring

A sealed bag for a dry indoor store, traps to tell you if moths are around.

  1. Rug Storage Bag sealed storage bag for rugs up to 180 x 270 cm

    3 mil polyethylene bag with no vent holes and a reclosable tie, listed for rugs up to 180 × 270 cm (the bag is 51 × 233 cm for a rolled rug). Use it only for a clean, completely dry rug in a cool, dry place.

    Rug Storage Bag sealed storage bag for rugs up to 180 x 270 cm: see the price on Amazon.co.uk

  2. London Moth Killer pheromone moth traps, pack of 10

    Ten sticky pheromone traps for the common clothes moth. The listing says each trap lasts four months once opened and is designed to monitor and catch moths. Put one near stored wool.

    London Moth Killer pheromone moth traps, pack of 10: see the price on Amazon.co.uk

Affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices are set by Amazon and change often.

Lofts, garages and outbuildings

Rug Love advises against attics, basements and garages because of temperature swings and high humidity, and recommends a cool, dry, dark place instead. SisalRugs.com adds that natural fibres such as jute and sisal are "definitely not moisture-resistant" and suggests a dehumidifier if the storage area is damp. If the loft is the only space you have, keep the roll off the boards, use a breathable wrap rather than a sealed bag, and check it for damp and pests regularly.

Moths and stored wool

English Heritage's fact sheet on the webbing clothes moth explains why a rolled wool rug is at risk: the larvae graze on woollen textiles, prefer dark, undisturbed places, and particularly like layers of wool. In heated buildings they can complete two life cycles a year. The University of Kentucky adds that rugs in regular use and routinely vacuumed are seldom infested, which is exactly what a stored rug is not. Signs of attack are irregular holes, silk webbing and gritty pellets called frass (English Heritage). English Heritage also notes that clean cotton is not normally attacked.

For the full prevention routine, see moth prevention on a wool rug.

Mistakes to avoid

Frequently asked questions

Should a rug be rolled with the pile in or out?

Out, for storage. The Canadian Conservation Institute says pile carpets should be rolled face down so the pile ends up on the outside of the roll, rolling in the direction of the pile so it is not crushed, and the textile conservators' guidance agrees that pile fabrics go face-out. Some retailers say pile in; for anything longer than a house move, follow the conservators.

Can I store a rug in a sealed plastic bag?

Only if the rug is clean and completely dry and the bag goes somewhere cool and dry. Sealing keeps moths and dust out, but Rug Love and SisalRugs.com both warn that plastic traps moisture and can lead to mould. In a damp loft, garage or outbuilding, use a breathable wrap instead.

Is the loft or garage a good place to store a rug?

Not ideal. Rug Love advises against attics, basements and garages because of temperature swings and humidity, and recommends a cool, dry, dark place. If the loft is the only option, keep the rug off the floor, wrap it in something breathable and check it regularly.

How do I stop moths getting into a stored wool rug?

Clean it before storing it, wrap it, and check it. The University of Kentucky notes that cleaning kills eggs and larvae and removes the odours that attract them, and English Heritage says the larvae prefer dark, undisturbed places, which is exactly what a stored rug is. A pheromone trap nearby shows you whether moths are active.

Can I fold a rug to store it?

Avoid it. SisalRugs.com and Rug Love both say roll rather than fold, because folds stress the fibres and leave creases.

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