Oriental and Specialty Area Rug Cleaning
Serving Winston-Salem, Lexington, Kernersville, and High Point NC
Oriental Rug fibers are very different from those found in residential and commercial broadloom carpet. There is far more natural fiber such as wool, cotton, silk and jute used in specialty rugs than in broadloom carpet and synthetic rugs. Backings used on Oriental rugs are very different, as natural foundation yarns are more prominent in rugs as opposed to separate synthetic backing fabrics for tufted carpet. The construction of these rugs are very different as well. Woven constructions are most prevalent in area rugs, as opposed to tufting being the dominant construction in the broadloom market. Lastly, the cleaning technology is different as well.
While some rugs may be cleaned onsite at your home or business, it’s best to clean Oriental and specialty area rugs in a specialized off-site facility. Having your rugs cleaned off-site allows us to give them special attention and treatment for a more thorough cleaning, controlled drying, and the use of various tools and processes that are not available on location in your home or office. Your rug will receive our thorough cleaning process to get maximum soil and spot removal for the best results. It is recommended that any rug (as well as carpet) exposed to heavy traffic, be cleaned at least annually. Failure to clean your rug(s) annually may result in permanent damage to the rugs and flooring materials under and around the rug.
Let’s walk through our detailed and thorough area rug cleaning process:
Our technician will arrive at your home at a pre-determined date and time that works best for your schedule to inspect and pick up your rug(s). We offer free pick up and delivery on rug and/or carpet cleaning services over $150 (a $25 transport fee will be added to all rug cleaning services less than $150). During our initial inspection we will gather information on your rug, such as type of rug and inherent characteristics and conditions that will be helpful when cleaning the rug(s) as well as photo document your cherished rug.
Once your rug is delivered to our shop, it will be carefully pre-vacuumed with a Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI)-approved commercial vacuum to remove surface hair, dander, lint and other dirt and debris. Woven rugs, especially hand-knotted wool pile rugs hide substantially more dirt and debris than wall-to-wall carpet. Studies performed by the Eureka Company found that a 9 x 12 rug could hold as much as 87 pounds of dirt. First, we’ll ‘dust’ your rug using the best technique for the type of rug. Gently beating the rug from the backside with a specialized machine allows soils to sift downward and out of the pile. This is the most important step in cleaning any rug, as dry dirt can cut the rug’s delicate fibers and cause premature wear. Following dusting, the rug’s face is vacuumed once again to remove fine particles left on the surface.
Next, we will perform a prolonged colorfastness test to determine which cleaning method to employ to avoid potential color migration problems while achieving the most effective cleaning results. Then we will move on to treating any and all spots on your rug. Any potentially difficult spots will be pre-treated with special solution to increase chances of removal. It’s important to note that most area rugs are made with natural fibers. All of the cleaning agents we apply to your rug have been tested by the WoolSafe Organization (www.woolsafeusa.org). Pre-conditioning your rug prior to cleaning allows the soil to be thoroughly dissolved and emulsified prior to the actual cleaning process for maximum dirt removal. And we not only treat and pre-condition your rug, but also the fringe along the edges of the rug (if applicable).
