Moisten a white towel, then rub the rug to see if any soil is transferred onto the towel. Light brown transferring suggests very light carbon soiling. Dark brown suggests your rug is ready for cleaning. Black tells you your Oriental rug is very dirty.
Will cleaning wear out my special, fine, antique ug?
No, not at all! Properly done professional cleaning will not wear your rug out. Actually the 8-step wash process below will help your rug's longevity. Here's how proper cleaning works: Woolite-type mild detergents and generous amounts of cold-water rinsing (preferably soft water) will actually rejuvenate and re-moisturize your rug's wools, preserving and enhancing them. Since wool is an organic and natural fiber which contains large amounts of natural lanolin oils, it is important to use generous amounts of soft cold water and Woolite detergents for cleaning it.
Why shouldn't a wall-to-wall-type carpet cleaner clean my wool area rugs?
Since rugs need to go through a cycled wash process with cleaning the rug's entire back and fringe, an actual wall-to-wall-type carpet cleaner can clean only the surface of the rug. Incidentally, hot water should never be used on wool, as it changes the yarn texture.
What if the colors have bled in my Oriental rug?
Dyes that are not colorfast can bleed if not set prior to cleaning and restoration. Unfortunately we cannot fix this particular problem. We always test rugs for colorfastness and will not wash a rug that will bleed. Some consumers find some relief by carefully placing the rug for a few days in the summer sun and letting the sun's ultraviolet rays pull out some of the run colors. Caution must be exercised here with exposure to the sun because overexposure can result in faded colors.
What happens if I'm not happy with the cleaning job?
If for some reason you are not happy with our cleaning, you simply don't pay the cleaning charges; however, we do have to charge for the shipping costs back to you.
Yes, we do. Whether we are repairing or restoring, we re-fringe, re-edge, and re-weave holes. We first find the right colored wools to match your rug's texture and color. With hand-knotted and handmade rugs we repair them by hand. With machined rugs we machine-repair them. So the repair technique depends on the type of rug. We also have skilled repair facilities for large re-weaving jobs.
How much does rug repair cost?
Please call 1-800-624-7847 or email
to get a free estimate. Please provide the type of rug, the size, and the type of repair needed, be it fringes, edges, tears, holes, and the like.
How often should I have my rug restoration done?
Depending on the location and traffic on the rug, the cleaning of hand-knotted rugs can vary from 2 to 5 years. If your Persian rug is a light color it will be easy to distinguish soiling on the face of the rug. The below guide may somewhat help you.
Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and entrance-ways: every 2 years
Living rooms, dining rooms, and family rooms: every 3 to 5 years
Bedrooms: every 5 years
Walls: every 10 years
Extremely reasonable! We'll be happy to give you an estimate once
we know what type of rug you have and what kind of shape it's in. You
can even send us a digital photograph if you're not sure how to
describe it.
Our prices include shipping to and from our state-of-the-art
rug-cleaning facility in Washington state. FedEx gives us a flat rate
for any of the 48 continental states (sorry, Alaska and Hawaii!).
You'll find our prices are comparable to what your local rug cleaner
would charge, with a bit extra to cover the shipping. But what you're
really paying for is the convenience of door-to-door service. There's
no extra charge for the peace of mind you'll have knowing that your
prized possession is safe in the hands of two world-class companies
you can trust -- FedEx and RugSpa.
When do I pay you for the rug-cleaning/restoration services, and
what forms of payment do you accept?
Payment is due when we have finished with your rug and are ready to
ship it back. We accept all major credit cards, including debit cards
as long as they have the Visa or MasterCard logo. We also take
personal checks by mail (please allow 10-12 business days for your
check to clear before we ship your rug back).
Our total and complete quoted cleaning estimate to you will include full shipping and the Washington State sales tax.
How do I ship my area rug to you?
We will arrange all shipping for rug cleaning. When you are ready, ask us to send you our free Rug Transport Kit, which includes a shipping sleeve. You then roll and slide your rug into the shipping sleeve. Full details and procedures are explained on our rug shipping page.
What if my and-knotted rug is damaged during shipment?
All shipping, both incoming and outgoing, is fully covered by our insurance. We prefer that you declare your rug's value on check-in so we can cover it for your assessed value.
Yes, we can. If you want your rug appraised after cleaning, please specify whether it is for fair market value or replacement value. Fair market value is normally done for resale or estate market purposes. Replacement value is normally what the rug is insured for.
Do you accept commercial contractors in addition to residential customers?
Yes, we also accept commercial contractors.
How can I clean my own wool Oriental rug myself?
A warm and dry day is a must. You will first need to have a clean, warm, dry concrete driveway on which to lay your rug upside down. Vacuum it very slowly to dislodge sand, dirt, and dust from deep within the rug's pile. Next, turn your rug right-side-up and again vacuum it thoroughly. After these two steps are accomplished, use a carpet-cleaning machine (borrow or rent one if necessary), and using cold water clean the back and front of the rug and set the pile in the proper direction to dry by using large fans. You have just surface-cleaned your rug!
If you want to really thoroughly clean your rug and don't mind hard work, instead of using a machine, color-test your rug's dyes for stability. Then soak your rug in cold water thoroughly and use Woolite detergent and soap on both back and front of the rug along with rinsing with a garden hose, followed by several scrapings in between rinsing. Lastly you need to extract all the water with a wet vac and hang your rug on a fence to dry. After your rug is dry you will also probably need to rinse your fringe again with warm water and let them dry. Follow all cleaning with brushing and vacuuming the pile, and trimming your fringe tips. (A warm and dry day is still a must.)
Please note: If this sounds like a lot of work, it may very well be easier for you to send the rug to us since we have all the equipment and the expertise.
How can I tell if my area rug needs cleaning?