Why Area Rugs “Bleed”
Why We Test Every Rug We Clean
On an annual basis, Oriental Rug Salon receives dozens of Oriental, Persian, Turkish, and a variety of wool and silk area rugs from rug owners, carpet cleaning companies, and even Oriental rug cleaners due to improper cleaning. The most common problem is that the rug’s dyes have migrated or “bled” into other rug colors, causing a tie-dyed effect.
Occasionally a rug owner will take matters into their own hands and improperly spot treat an area on their rug, causing an even bigger problem due to dyes migrating. Carpet cleaning companies also decide they’re “rug cleaning professionals” and improperly clean an area rug in a client’s home or in their company’s parking lot, either destroying it or causing severe dye migration.
Why Oriental Rugs Bleed
- Improper cleaning – A carpet cleaning company, the rugs owner, or an improperly trained rug cleaning facility uses the wrong cleaning solutions, too high of heat, or improper spotting agents to treat a stain.
- Pet Urine – Pet urine staining can be the “kiss of death” to an Oriental, Persian, or other wool or silk area rug. Urine is deposited in an “acid state” and then becomes alkaline over the next several weeks if left untreated. If the pet accident isn’t addressed immediately, permanent damage can occur, including dye migration, odor, or dry rot.
- High Heat – Carpet cleaning companies are notorious for using high heat from truck-mounted equipment to steam clean area rugs. Worse, they use an alkaline cleaning solution (the same one they apply to wall-to-wall carpeting) in their cleaning process. High alkaline mixed with steam is a disaster waiting to happen. Rugs that are vegetable-dyed, over-dyed, contain excessive dyes or inks, will color bleed, and in many instances, this damage is permanent.
- In-Home Cleaning – Occasionally, a rug owner will rent a “carpet cleaning machine” from a grocery or big box store and “do it themselves.” They purchase the branded cleaning solutions recommended by the rental company, spray it on the unstable wool or silk face yarns, and just like magic, problems occur. In addition to possible dye migration, residues from the cleaning solutions remain behind, where over time, the alkaline properties of the cleaner will turn a colorfast rug into a bleeder.
- Fugitive Dyes – Fugitive dyes occur due to improper exposure to moisture or water, especially from a flood or a poor cleaning attempt. Fugitive dyes can also happen due to over-dying when a rug dealer or manufacturer uses a process to make a rug look like an antique or brighten the colors. Fugitive dyes are highly unstable, and only a professional should clean them.
At Oriental Rug Salon, we test each rug and every color on the rug for a period of 24-hours to test dye stability. If a color “bleeds” or transfers during this vital test, the rug colors are stabilized using a proprietary process so the rug can be washed.
Oriental Rug Salon is a full-service rug cleaning, repair, and appraisal company serving clients throughout the United States. We are based in Cape Coral, FL, and offer FREE pick up and delivery for most rugs throughout SW Florida.
Oriental Rug Salon is a Wool Safe Approved Service Provider, a Certified Partner with the prestigious Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), and the International Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI). Our cleaning solutions are allergen-free, safe for all-natural fiber rugs, pets, and infants.
For more information about Oriental Rug Salon, please visit us online at www.OrientalRugSalon.com or “call us on the carpet” any time at 239-424-8171.
You can also visit us on our Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/OrientalRugSalon
