Our Rug Cleaning Process

Our 11-step hand-wash process

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   Step 1: Pre-Wash Inspection

   Each rug is inspected using Xenon lighting for any pre-existing conditions. Many times, soil covers up dye variations, fiber staining, prior dye bleeding, worn areas or white knots that become “uncovered” after the wash.

   Our pre-wash inspection will also detail any fringe issues, pet urine or insect damage as well as any other concerns we may have. We will photograph the rug and discuss our findings with you before moving to step 2.

   If you bring your rug to our shop we will perform the inspection with you present. If we pick up your rug, our technicians will perform the pre-wash inspection and call you with their findings. We can also e-mail pictures of our findings if necessary.

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   Step 2: Color & Dye Test

   A prudent first step when a rug comes into our rug washing plant is to perform a dye test before getting the rug wet. A rug may bleed due to fugitive dyes, excess dye applied when the rug was made, exposure to high heat or alkalinity by its owner or a carpet cleaner, pet urine, or past in-home cleanings (Rug Doctor, personal rug cleaning machines, etc.).

   Without thorough testing there is no way to plan and prepare for safely washing a rug. If our test reveals a rug will “bleed,” our craftsmen determine the best way to clean it and we convey our findings to you.

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   Step 3: Dusting

   Wool fibers under the microscope look like fish scales that can hide dirt, grit, pet dander, dust mites, soil and other contaminants. A wool rug can hold POUNDS of soil in its fibers before beginning to look dirty.

   So before flooding a rug with water that would turn that dirt to mud, we thoroughly vacuum both sides and then use a specialized dusting machine that applies over 40,000 harmonic waves through the rug – dislodging dirt not only from the fibers but from the foundation warps and wefts as well.

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   Step 4: Treat Stubborn Spots

   At the conclusion of the dusting process, all spots are treated with specialty spotting solutions to help loosen them prior to the washing process.

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   Step 5: Pet Urine Decontamination & Treatment

   Many of our clients have beloved pets that periodically wreak havoc on their fine area rugs. When rugs have pet urine issues, our technicians isolate the rug, apply live enzymes to the contaminated areas and allow the treatment to dwell for a minimum of 24 hours. This isolation process guarantees complete decontamination of any urine, feces and vomit and prepares the rug for cleaning.

   Our pet urine and odor treatment processes are so thorough we guarantee the odor will be gone and the rug will be decontaminated. This matters: pets – especially cats – have very strong senses, and if they can smell residual urine they are much more prone to return to the same spot.

   We can effectively treat most rugs for urine decontamination. If we feel a rug is beyond salvaging, we will tell you. To determine this, our Oriental rug care specialists will need to inspect the rug in person.

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   Step 6: Full Bath Submersion

   In almost every instance rugs are bathed using the full submersion hand-wash process. We fill a large rug bath with cleaning solutions specific to your textile, and both sides of the rug are washed using a horsehair brush. This hands-on approach lets our technicians “touch” every inch of your treasured heirloom while delivering personal attention and the deepest clean possible.

   The rug is washed using mild rug shampoo and cool water just like you would wash your wool or cotton sweater. We avoid hot water, harsh detergents, and high heat.

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   Step 7: pH Conditioned Rinse

   Once your rug has been thoroughly cleaned it is rinsed to remove all of the soils and cleaning agents. It may surprise you to know that Oriental Rug Salon’s rinsing process is so thorough that our final rinse water is actually clean enough to drink! Caution! We do not recommend you try this with any other company’s rinse water!

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   Step 8: Drying Process

   Depending on the age and structural composition of each rug, we either hang it to dry or lay it flat on an elevated drying bed. Air movers help facilitate drying, and dehumidifiers control the drying environment.

   By not using hot water during washing or high heat in drying, you avoid the worry of shrinking. As with new clothing, there may be a very slight shrinking of perhaps an inch at a rug’s very first cleaning; after that it is no longer a concern – unless the rug is improperly cleaned with high-heat carpet cleaning machines in your home, which can shrink, misshape, bleed and harm your rugs.

   You should NEVER allow your rugs to be cleaned in your home by a carpet cleaning company.

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   Step 9: Fringe Work & Detailing

   Fringe on a hand-made Oriental, wool or silk rug is actually the extension of the rug’s “warps” and is usually cotton. Since most fringe is white, it shows dirt easily, and dull, dirty fringe diminishes the looks of your beautiful area rug.

   During cleaning, fringe tassels are scrubbed and treated with a specialty fringe cleaner. Cotton fringe is absorbent and difficult to clean (think of your kid’s shoelaces), but with the right amount of attention and elbow grease we can make your fringe look practically brand new again. Once dry, we give it a final going over with a horsehair brush.

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    Step 10: Optional Fiber Guard Protection

    When wool is sheared from the animal, its natural protection is no longer produced, subjecting it to faster wear and permanent staining.

    To help protect your freshly cleaned rug from spills, sun fading and wear we recommend an application of fiber protection. With proper care and protection, Oriental, wool and silk area rugs will last for generations.

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    Step 11: Final Inspection – Wrapped for Storage or Delivery

    After a day at the salon, the rug is ready for final inspection. The owner of the company personally inspects each rug to make sure the quality of the cleaning and/or repair meets our high standards.

    The surface is conditioned and tamped to dry. We then inspect under Xenon lighting to make certain no bacteria or urine salts are present, check the surface, foundation, warps and wefts with a moisture meter to be sure they are 100% dry, and test the surface with a silk cloth to grade softness and deodorization. Finally, your rug is prepared for delivery or for storage in our indoor controlled environment.