Follow Your Rug Through Our Wash Process
The “art” of rug cleaning is as old as the art of rug weaving. For centuries rugs have been cleaned overseas in the rivers and waterways of the countryside, and we bring the simple but thorough bathing process to our facility. We use vinegar to set the dyes for the cleaning process, use shampoos approved for use on wool and natural fibers, and give the rug a thorough bath. Our main goal is to do what is best and safest for your favorite rug, and we do not use harsh chemicals, bleaching agents, or other hazardous materials on your textiles. We are trained in the proper cleaning and care of specialty, oriental, and area rugs.
Rug Dusting
Wool fibers can hide pounds of dry particulate soil before ever looking "dirty". This is the reason that we perform a thorough rug dusting on your rug, before it begins the actual wash process. As you can see from the pictures we're able to remove pounds of dry soil from your rug, which makes the cleaning process even more thorough.
Fine grit that hides in your rug is an abrasive and causes damage to wool fibers. It will shorten the life of your rug if not effectively dealt with. Weekly vacuuming (with a cannister vacuum or hand held upholstery attachment) and bi-annual cleaning is recommended for rugs under moderate use. Cleaning should always be done in a rug plant and not in your home.
Rug Washing (Shampooing)
Shampoos approved for wool are used in our process. We will wet down the rug and then use a rotary shampoo machine with a soft brush to lightly shampoo your rug. The shampoo is designed to break-down the soils that have attached themselves to your rug fibers. After the shampoo process we will start thoroughly rinsing your rug. We will keep rinsing your rug until the water runs clear so we leave no sticky residue behind. (In-home rug cleaning leaves behind chemical residue that can lead to fading, discoloration, and quicker resoiling … not unlike using a “no-rinse” shampoo in your hair … which is why it is not recommended for rugs that you want to have thoroughly and safely cleaned).
Rug Drying
Once your rug is thorougly rinsed clean we'll want to get it dry as quickly as possible. We'll use the "water-claw" extraction process to get the maximum amount of moisture out of your rug. At this time we'll also spend some extra time of the fringes of your rug. After the moisture extraction process is complete, we'll position your rug with its "fuzzy" side down and have air movers blow air over your rug to speed up its drying. As the final drying step we employ a dehumidifier which is designed to bring the humidity level within our drying area down. This way most rugs will be dry within 6-8 hours after its wash.
Rug Finishing and Grooming (Brushing)
Proper grooming with soft horse hair brushes give the finishing touches to a freshly cleaned rug. All rugs have a “nap” or pile direction. If you pet your rug (like you would your dog) you can feel when you are running your hand “with” the nap, and “against” it. It’s this directional quality that causes one end of your rug to look lighter than the opposite end as the fibers reflect the light differently depending on which way they are pointing. (Walk around your rug and see the different between it’s light and dark directions, sometimes they are very dramatic!)
When you spill on your rug and want to clean it up, always make sure you BLOT with the grain and do not scrub. Aggressive scrubbing can cause permanent wool distortion and damage.
Once your rug is groomed and inspected one last time, we'll roll your rug from the bottom up and tie it with sissal twine. Now your rug is ready to be picked-up (or delivered).