How To Choose An Oriental Rug Cleaning Company In SW Florida

When presenting lectures to various professional organizations, we are often asked, “how does a rug owner know who to choose when caring for their cherished area rug?”

First off, the rug owner needs to know the processes the rug cleaning company uses to clean area rugs.

Many high production rug cleaning plants use mechanical equipment similar to a large washtub.  They dump up to a dozen rugs at a time into this tank and a large paddle agitates the rugs.  They use this process because they can wash many rugs at a time and it doesn’t take much skill or salary to pay someone to hit the “start button.”  Another problem with this process is that their client’s rug is being washed with many others that could contain pet urine, biological issues, Kool-aid, etc.

At Oriental Rug Salon, we wash each rug by hand and an individualized bath is created after a thoroughly exhaustive 24-hour inspection process.  Rugs are washed by highly experienced technicians trained to recognize the cleaning needs of each rug and can react immediately should a problem arise during the cleaning process.

When choosing a rug cleaning company, you should ask the following questions:

What Are Your Qualifications?

A reputable rug restoration expert will be certified in rug care, specifically, not just carpet care. Are you exclusively a rug cleaning company, or do you “dabble” in rug cleaning as a side when your main core business is carpet, tile, and upholstery cleaning?

Oriental Rug Salon is an internationally certified WoolSafe Service Provider.  In addition, we are a Certified Partner with the international Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the prestigious Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI).  Our technicians are experts in wool and silk rug cleaning, and rug cleaning and repair is all we do.

Are You Experienced in Cleaning Wool and Silk Rugs?

By themselves, training and certifications give a person the right to call themselves a competent professional; however, only experience can make them a true master of their craft.

Experienced rug cleaning professionals can identify a modern wool Tabriz and know instantly that there is a good chance the dark red dyes will bleed into the ivory field and embellishments. Experienced technicians know how to prevent rug bleeding and dye migration.  A quality rug cleaning company will also employ a professional/certified Rug Master responsible for all facets of the cleaning and repair services.

Silk rug cleaning requires an even more advanced level of skill. The pile on a silk rug can be permanently damaged if specific considerations are not taken in the cleaning process.

What Level Of Insurance Do You Maintain?

Area rug cleaning requires a specific type of insurance covering the cleaning company and client against damage caused to the rug while working on it. Standard business liability insurance maintained by many carpet and rug cleaning businesses does not provide coverage if a rug is irreparably damaged.

Another risk that needs to be addressed is the possibility of damage or theft of rugs while being transported to and from a client’s home. Oriental Rug Salon maintains two million dollars of specialty insurance to make sure clients are compensated if their rug is stolen or damaged while in transit or during the cleaning process.

Specialty insurance is necessary in the event that the van carrying your rug is involved in an accident resulting in a fire or other loss involving your area rug.  The same is true if your rug is damaged by the technicians moving your area rug from your home to the rug cleaning plant.

Oriental Rug Salon has never had an insurance claim, has never lost a rug, and has never damaged a client’s cherished textile.

What Trade Associations Are You Members Of?

Membership with the WoolSafe Institute, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, and the International Carpet & Rug Institute shows that a company is willing to commit to a code of practice that protects consumers. It also gives the consumer a third party that can arbitrate if any issues arise, which aren’t dealt with to their satisfaction.

Is Your Company An “Accredited” Member Of the Better Business Bureau?

Businesses that have been “accredited” by the Better Business Bureau mean that the BBB has determined the company meets accreditation standards, including a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accreditation Standards represent standards for business accreditation by BBB.

Accredited Businesses have been thoroughly vetted by the Better Business Bureau, including background and industry reputation checks and licensing, and must be re-accredited annually.

Oriental Rug Salon and our affiliate company, Tru-Clean Surface Care, are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau.  In addition, we are a seven-year-in-a-row-winner of the coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award.

Who you choose to care for your cherished wool or silk area rugs matters. 

Too often, we’ve seen heirloom area rugs ruined because of incompetent rug and carpet cleaning companies.  You should NEVER allow a carpet cleaning company the opportunity to care for your rug. We’ve repaired dozens of area rugs cleaned by carpet cleaning companies in the client’s home by technicians who had no idea what they were doing and used improper cleaning solutions causing dye migration to a client’s rug.

Oriental Rug Salon is the “cleaner of choice” to many of SW Florida’s top area rug collectors, interior designers, rug retailers, and clients who cherish their wool and silk area rugs and are desirous of a quality cleaning.

Should you ever have any questions concerning the cleaning or repair of your Oriental, Persian, Turkish, or other wool or silk textile, please feel free to give us a call anytime at 239-424-8171 or visit us online at www.OrientalRugsalon.com.

Visit our Video Library