Do rugs need to be dry-cleaned?
Oriental rugs have been wet washed for as long as rugs have been being woven. The preferred method cleaning for natural fiber rugs (recommended by Wools of New Zealand and the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration) is an immersion wet wash, because it is gentle, and also thorough rinsing removes residue from the fibers. Dry cleaning methods leave chemical residue that can lead to discoloration, and irritation to sensitive people or pets. Also, with no dusting step, the majority of the soil in the rug remains after the dry cleaning process is completed
How often should rugs be cleaned?
For a rug under moderate use, the longest you should wait in-between professional cleaning is two years. Entry rugs that get high traffic, or rugs that are in areas with a lot of activity from small children or pets, can be cleaned annually. Because wool has the ability to hide a great amount of soil and contaminants before it “looks” dirty, a consistent dusting (vacuuming) routine is important to help you extend the length of time in between professional cleanings.
Can rugs be cleaned in the home?
The recommended method for cleaning natural fiber (wool, cotton and silk) rugs is an immersion wet wash. Dusting and thorough rinsing are the 2 most important steps in the professional cleaning process, and both are not possible with an in-home surface cleaning method. This can lead to “soapy mud” being left in the foundation of the rug, because the soap mixes with the foundation dirt and the lack of thorough rinsing leaves this behind. This can mean that the rug has a sticky feel to it afterwards, which will attract dirt to it more quickly. It can also lead to premature sun fade and also fiber wear. The fringe cannot be cleaned in the home either.
Inspection
Each rug is inspected for pre-existing conditions. Many times, soil covers up dye lot variations (abrash), fiber staining, prior dye bleeding, worn areas or white knots that become "uncovered" after the wash. Some of these weaving characteristics can possibly be repaired or reversed.
Rugs transported to our facility will be inspected after its arrival and we will contact you with any work recommendations or pre-wash "discoveries” not seen at the time the rug was picked up.
Dusting
Once the pre-wash inspection is complete and the work proceeds, the first step is dusting. Some rugs can hold up to one pound of dirt per square foot before it will "look" dirty. Flooding a rug with pounds of fine grit and dirt in the foundation creates mud...so dusting is an important first step to the wash process.
Flooding
The dyes of your rug are tested for colorfastness. If the dyes are not colorfast, they are treated with a dye lock process to set the dyes during the wash process. The rug is then given a cold water, mild shampoo bath, using soft brushes for mild agitation. The rug is then soaked and spotting procedures are gently applied for odors and spots. The rug is then thoroughly rinsed with Culliganâ soft water to remove the shampoo, soils and residues. The water is then extracted from the rug leaving it damp.
DRYING
Rugs are then dried without the use of high heat (so there is no worry of shrinkage).
FRINGE WORK AND FINISHING
Fringe tassels are washed an additional time after the bath. The tassels are then dried. The rug is given a final grooming with a brush (fabric protector is applied if requested), and then rolled and ready to go home. |