Oriental Rug Cleaning Specialists

Oriental and Persian area rugs are exquisite works of art but require special care and attention when cleaning. While cleaning your rug in the comfort of your home may seem like a good idea, it’s essential to understand why this is not the best approach. In this blog post, Oriental Rug Salon’s Rug Master explores why you should never have your Oriental or Persian area rug cleaned in your home.

Lack of Professional Equipment

Cleaning an Oriental or Persian rug is not as simple as vacuuming or spot cleaning. These rugs require specialized equipment and techniques to clean them thoroughly and safely. You can avoid damaging your rug’s fibers, colors, and delicate details with the right company. Oriental Rug Salon has access to the equipment, cleaning solutions, and certified professionals to clean your rug to the highest standard.

Incorrect Cleaning Techniques

Cleaning an Oriental or Persian rug is not a one-size-fits-all process. Different rugs require different cleaning techniques depending on the rug’s fibers, dyes, and construction. Incorrect cleaning techniques can cause damage to the rug, such as fading, discoloration, or even unraveling the fibers. A professional rug cleaner will be able to assess your rug and use the correct cleaning techniques to ensure it is cleaned safely and effectively.

Drying Time

Oriental and Persian rugs are made from delicate fibers, and improper drying can cause significant damage. If your rug is not dried correctly, it can become moldy, develop odors, or even shrink. A professional rug cleaning company such as Oriental Rug Salon has specialized drying equipment that will ensure your rug is dried quickly and thoroughly.

Dyes Can Bleed

Many hand-knotted rugs are constructed using natural fibers. Natural fibers should constantly be tested for dye stability before being washed. If dyes bleed in your home, an on-site fix may not be possible.

Surface Clean Results

Rugs should be cleaned through and through with full submersion cleaning. This includes the top of the face fiber all the way down to its base and the back of the rug. Cleaning all of a thick hand-knotted rug just is not possible in the home.  We offer dry and other specialty cleanings for the small percentage of rugs that can not be cleaned using full submersion.

Fringe Cleaning? Forget About It!

Fringe cleaning can be difficult even in a rug-washing facility. Some fringes require specialty detergents to be applied and left to dwell deep into the fiber to loosen impacted soils. Dwell time followed by a thorough freshwater cold rinse would create quite a mess on your hard surface flooring, which is why in-plant cleaning is always recommended.

Correction of Preexisting Conditions

Some issues we encounter during rug examinations are pet urine spots & stains, dye bleeding, small pulls or tears, loose or unraveling fringes, and weak foundation fibers. All of these concerns must be addressed properly while your rug is in your home. A carpet cleaning technician may not have the specialty certification and experience necessary to address the myriad of problems that can occur with surface cleaning.

Inspection of Pests

Each year we see more rugs with moth and insect infestations. When we have rugs at our facility, we can inspect for insects and fix the problem before they harm the rug!  We can also apply a souring agent designed to make wool and silk unappealing to moths, carpet beetles, and other insects.

The Risk of Residue

If you clean your rug in your home, you risk leaving residue behind. This can be due to using the wrong cleaning products or not rinsing the rug thoroughly. Residue can cause damage to the rug over time, causing discoloration and making it more difficult to clean in the future. An in-plant cleaning allows Oriental Rug Salon to use the correct, allergen-free cleaning solutions coupled with a pH-conditioned rinse to ensure no residue is left behind.

Dusting and Badgering – Nope!  Not Even Close.

It is only possible to thoroughly clean a wool or silk area rug with a thoroughly exhaustive dusting. Wool and silk area rugs have a dense foundation that will hold on to soils, and other contaminates regardless of the type of vacuum cleaner a rug owner may use.  Dusting and badgering an area rug is the process of sending over 40,000 harmonic vibrations through the rug safely, forcing the foundation to release contaminants.  Carpet cleaning equipment is best left to wall-to-wall carpeting, not cherished wool and silk.  Carpet cleaning companies can only deliver “surface clean” results and could ruin your area rug beyond repair.  Watch this video for more information on carpet cleaning versus rug cleaning.

Protecting Your Investment

An Oriental or Persian area rug is a significant investment, and you want to ensure it is protected. Cleaning your rug in your home is a risk you don’t have to take. By using Oriental Rug Salon, you can be confident that your rug will be cleaned safely and effectively, protecting your investment for years to come.

Oriental Rug Salon is a full-service Oriental and Persian rug cleaning company serving clients throughout the United States. Our 6,000-square-foot cleaning plant is located in Cape Coral, and we offer local pick-up and delivery for most area rugs throughout Lee, Collier, and Charlotte County.

Oriental Rug Salon is a WoolSafe Certified Service Provider, Certified by the prestigious Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the International Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI).  We clean area rugs by hand using Carpet & Rug Institute-approved cleaning solutions, complete repairs and restoration, rug storage, and appraisals.

If Oriental Rug Salon can ever be of service for your area rug cleaning, repair, restoration, or appraisal needs, please feel free to give us a call any time.  You can also visit us online at https://orientalrugsalon.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OrientalRugSalon/

In conclusion, cleaning your Oriental or Persian area rug in your home is not recommended. These rugs require specialized equipment, techniques, and products to ensure they are cleaned safely and effectively. By using Oriental Rug Salon, you can protect your investment and ensure that your rug is cleaned to the highest standard.