Is There Anything You Can Apply to Braided Rugs to Keep the Color From Fading?

Ultraviolet Protection

• Sunlight is the most common cause of fading. Treatment with a solution that protects against ultraviolet rays prevents fading in rugs and other textiles the same way sunscreen prevents sunburn in people. Some ultraviolet blockers are intended for consumer use, while others must be applied by a professional, as part of the carpet cleaning process.

Brighten a Faded Rug

• Saltwater may brighten a rug that already has faded. Master rug maker and author Diana Blake Gray, writing on the Rugmaker's Homestead website, recommends soaking faded rugmaking wool in a saltwater bath. Although soaking a rug is imprudent because the saltwater can't effectively be rinsed, you can treat the carpet's surface. The SaltWorks salt company advises scrubbing the fibers with a cloth that has been soaked in a strong saltwater solution and wrung out.

Minimize a Faded Appearance

• Turning a braided rug allows it to fade evenly, so the color change is less noticeable. Periodically rotate the carpet so that, over time, the entire surface gets equal exposure to sunlight. You can repeat this process by flipping the carpet over and rotating the other side. This technique also encourages even wear.

Extra Protection Against Fading

• Avoid exposing your braided rug to direct sunlight by moving it to another part of your home or by installing sheer curtain panels on your windows to filter the sunlight. If you live in a humid climate, dehumidifying your home can slow fading, too. According to the carpet dying company Color Your Carpet, humidity activates a reaction in ozone that causes a bleaching action. Blue dye is the first affected, while red and yellow generally remain unchanged. The sign of ozone fading is a color change that results from the removal of blue from the carpet's original color.