What is the best way to clean an Oriental rug?

There are many different theories about the best way to clean Oriental rugs. In reality, there are several considerations to determine what is the best way to clean them.  Do you have a hand-knotted or machine-made rug and is it make of wool, silk, or synthetic fiber?  Next, what overall condition is it in, and are there any special problems such as pet stains. 

First, we will consider the cost difference.  The cost of each process could vary from say $1.00 per square foot to $5.00 per square foot, just for the cleaning alone. 

There are three different options. One option is cleaning the rug in your home. This can be done usually if the rug has been well maintained, the fringe is really in good shape and there is either no pet stains and odor problems or very few.  This process will by far be the least expensive and under the right conditions can serve you very well.

Next, we will discuss sending the rug out for cleaning.  There are two different processes for this but both will incur the additional cost of having the rug picked up and delivered. The cost of this can vary due to the size of the rug, whether you need one, two, or even three men to do this, and the amount of furniture that needs to be moved.

Once the rug is picked up, the actual process of cleaning varies by basically two types.  With both cleaning processes, the rug body is first vacuumed or dusted to remove any dry soils. Then the differences come.  Some rugs will be spot treated for any special conditions or problems then they will be steam cleaned and rinsed. Next, the fringe will be cleaned separately and this will vary depending upon the fiber content, color, and condition of the fringe.  Lastly, the rug will be hung to dry. This is usually considered one of the best most controlled cleaning processes that there is little to no downside to and the cost is very reasonable.

The other inplant cleaning process involves emerging the rug in cold water, often called a soak tank.  Then using a scrubbing machine and a rug shampoo to agitate the rug to break the bond between any soil or stains and the fibers. The rug is then rinsed and different processes are used to remove any excess water from squeegee it, putting the rug through wringers, or even putting the rug into a centrifuge machine to spin the excess water from the rug. The rug then is either laid flat to dry or hung up to dry. This process is great if a rug has a severe odor problem from pet urine stains.  Other than that, there are also several risks involved with this method to consider.  The overwetting can cause the cotton fibers in the rug to shrink causing the rug to curl on the edges. Another problem is that if the dyes are not properly tested for stability, the dyes can run both from the cleaning process due to the over-wetting or even in the drying process.  I would only recommend this process if a rug had severe problems with odors and the carpet cleaner did not make you sign a disclaimer that would release him from any liability for dye migration or any other damage. There is more damage done by this method than any other cleaning process. Also, the agitation from the scrubbing machine creates a lot of additional wear to the fibers. Think of how many times you have heard to blot a stain, do not rub it.  Alec’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning LLC has the experience and knowledge to know not only what is best for your rug but will discuss with you options that we feel are in your best interest.   We can advise you on the best method to clean your Oriental rug. Call us today at 781-871-4428 or visit our website for more information on our company at http://www.Alecscarpetandupholsterycleaning.com