How Area Rug Cleaning Works

In-plant rug cleaning, immersion rug cleaning, Hand-washing

Your Rug Might Be Hiding More Than Just Dirt from Foot Traffic —Why Selecting the Right Rug Cleaning is Important

Your rug does more than add beauty and warmth to your space—it’s quietly working as a natural air filter. Wool area rugs and Oriental rugs don’t just tie the room together—they trap airborne pollutants; let me explain.

That static charge you feel when pulling off a wool sweater? In a wool area rug, it also attracts airborne particles, such as smoke, fine soil, allergens, grime, and toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and other VOC compounds. Pulling them from the air you breathe. Your rug holds onto these particles, locking them away and helping to purify the air in your home or office. But here’s the catch—if your rug isn’t cleaned correctly, it stops helping and starts hurting.

Wool rugs aren’t like carpets; typical steam cleaning and shampoo methods only touch the surface, leaving deep soil and pollutants trapped in the fibers. Over time, this can create a musty, unhealthy environment right under your feet.

The rug below is "full," and this soil cannot be removed with steam cleaning or shampoos. No, this rug needs a multi-step dusting, washing, and detailing to remove this heavy amount of soiling.

That’s why professional, full-immersion rug washing is critical. It’s the only method that removes deeply embedded soil, allergens, and pollutants without damaging your rug.

So yes—cleaning your rugs isn’t just about looks. It’s about health. It’s about air quality. It’s about protecting your investment and your family.

Choosing the Right Cleaning Method

The best cleaning method for Oriental rugs and most area rugs is a full immersion wash. This cleaning process involves washing the whole rug in water and detergent, not just the face yarns common with carpet cleaning, steam cleaning, and hot water extraction. Soil in area rugs goes to the core and back of the rug, and the only way to remove these deeply embedded soils is a full wash.

The cleaning process starts with dry soil removal, which is the removal of insoluble soils, such as sand, from rugs before washing.

Dry soil removed from an Oriental rug

The Experience and Expertise of Area Rug Cleaners

When selecting an area rug cleaning service, seek out certified rug specialists; experienced professionals with extensive knowledge of wet cleaning tend to provide more satisfactory services than less experienced ones. Companies such as Renaissance Rug Cleaning offer comprehensive solutions like deep cleaning for dirt and odor removal, specialized care, and utilization of advanced tools that guarantee spotless results every time.

In-Home vs. Off-Site Cleaning for Area Rugs

in-home rug cleaning

Why In-Home Rug Cleaning Can Do More Harm Than Good

When it comes to cleaning your area rugs, where they’re cleaned matters just as much as how they’re cleaned.

Sure, in-home carpet cleaners may offer to clean your rugs where they lie—but that convenience comes at a cost. Especially if your rug is made from natural fibers like wool, silk, or cotton, this shortcut can lead to color bleeding, fiber damage, mildew from slow drying, and perhaps most importantly, leaves deeply embedded soil behind.

Here’s the truth:

 Rugs, especially Oriental and hand-knotted pieces, should never be treated like wall-to-wall carpet. In-home cleaning equipment only cleans the surface. It can't remove the dense soil, allergens, and contaminants packed deep into the foundation of your rug. Worse yet, the rug often dries unevenly, which invites mold, mildew, and permanent staining.

At a dedicated off-site rug cleaning facility, your rug gets the deep,

thorough care it deserves:

• Dust and dry soil are removed before washing

• Colors are tested for stability before any water touches the fibers

• Full immersion cleaning flushes out embedded dirt, odors, and allergens

• Controlled drying prevents shrinkage, dye run, and mildew

  
  

None of these can be done effectively in your home

Rug centrifuges at Renaissance specialized in-plant rug drying equipment.

For instance, when dealing with more delicate fabrics like natural fibers or hand-woven carpets (such as those offered by Stanley Steemer), it may be best to opt for an external location where a comprehensive treatment can safely occur. This is especially true if pet urine odors are present that require additional attention and care. This will help preserve color vibrancy while delivering deep clean results from rigorous washing methods exclusively found outside of home premises.

 In-Plant Rug Cleaners process

Off-site area rug cleaning is a comprehensive and careful method of giving delicate rugs, or handwoven ones, the special care they need.

The advantages of this type of service include the application of protective fabric, which keeps the rug intact for longer. It also improves air quality and reduces respiratory issues due to less dust circulation through increased immune system performance thanks to eliminating deeply embedded grime within its threads. The turnaround time is about 1 - 2 weeks, although it can be delayed at times, reaching 7 – 10 days as well.

Inspection and Assessment

The rug cleaning process for area rugs starts with a thorough inspection. Assessing aspects such as age, state, color features, and fiber type is essential to deciding on the best approach to use during cleaning.

Oriental rug inspection

Here's a step-by-step overview of the process and steps:

1.  Inspection and Dusting: The rug is inspected for any pre-existing conditions, such as colorfastness, damage, or weak spots. Then, it is thoroughly dusted to remove loose dirt, debris, and insoluble soils like sand.

2. Pre-Treatment: Stains and heavily soiled areas are pre-treated with appropriate cleaning agents to break down grime and oils and help remove stains.

3. Full Immersion: There are variations; a rug might be submerged in a large wash tub or pool filled with water and a specialized cleaning solution. The rug is gently agitated to ensure the cleaning solution penetrates deeply into the fibers.

4. Rinsing: After soaking, the rug is rinsed thoroughly to remove all cleaning agents and loosened dirt. This is often a combination of washing where the rug is raised multiple times to ensure all detergent and soil contaminants are removed.

5. Drying: Drying is often a combination of water removals such as centrifugal extraction to remove up to 90% of mosture and controlled drying.   It's important to dry the rug quickly and thoroughly to prevent mold and mildew growth.

6. Fringe Cleaning: If the rug has fringes, they are cleaned during washing but may need additional attention to ensure they are bright and free from dirt.

7. Rug Repair: Rugs take a beating on the floor, and fringe ends, tassels, and sides need repair

8. Final Inspection and Grooming: Once dry, the rug is inspected again for any remaining spots, odors or issues. The pile of the rug may be groomed to restore its natural appearance and texture.

Rug hand washing

How Often Should Rugs Be Cleaned

Cleaning intervals can be complex; no two rugs receive the same use, so cleaning intervals vary by foot traffic, location such as a kitchen or high-traffic entry, and need more frequent cleaning in some cases yearly. Or a low-traffic formal dining room or a guest bedroom that can go years between cleaning.

DIY vs. Professional Cleaning

Deciding between a professional area rug cleaning service and DIY methods can be tricky. It all depends on your budget, the type of carpet you own, and your requirements. In general, the specialized equipment of in-plat or off-site cleaning can't be matched by in-home cleaning.

How to Find a Reputable Rug Cleaner in Your Area

1. Look for a Specialist (Not a Carpet Cleaner Who “Also Does Rugs”)

• Red flag: Many carpet cleaners offer “rug cleaning” as an add-on service, but they may use hot water extraction (steam cleaning), which can ruin natural fibers, cause dye bleed, or shrink your rug.

• What to look for: A dedicated rug cleaning workshop specializing in hand-washing and immersion cleaning Oriental and area rugs.

  
  

2. Check Certifications and Affiliations

• Reputable cleaners often belong to professional organizations like:

  • ARCS (Association of Rug Care Specialists)

  • Woolsafe

  • IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification)

• These certifications mean they’ve been trained in the proper techniques and ethics.

  
  

3. Ask About Their Cleaning Process

• A trustworthy rug cleaner should walk you through:

  • Dry soil removal

  • Colorfastness testing

  • Hand-washing or immersion cleaning

  • Drying in a controlled environment

  • Fringe and edge inspection

• Be cautious if they can’t explain their process clearly.

  
  

4. Read Reviews—Look for Clues Beyond Just “Good Service”

• Look for specific mentions of:

  • Expertise with antique, Persian, or wool rugs

  • Removing pet odors/stains without damage

  • Longstanding service and repeat clients

• Tip: Check both Google and Yelp, and search reviews using keywords like “wool rug,” “Persian,” or “odor removal.”

  
  

5. See If They Offer In-House Work (Not Outsourcing)

• Some companies collect rugs and then outsource them to third parties. Always ask:

  • “Do you clean the rugs yourself or send them out?”

• In-house workshops are typically more accountable and provide better service.

  
  

6. Ask for a Free Inspection or Quote

• A good rug cleaner should offer a free consultation or inspection to identify fiber type, condition, and potential issues like moth damage, dry rot, or dye instability.

• Avoid companies that quote you without even seeing the rug.

  
  

7. Visit Their Facility (If Possible)

• Reputable rug cleaners allow you to visit and tour their workshop; it’s a great sign of transparency.

• You’ll see the care & custody level and equipment used for proper rug washing.

• The process and pricing should always be transparent, and transparent.

  
  

8.Rug Cleaning Red Flags

• When a rug cleaner doesn't list a business address

• Doesn't maintain regular hours

• Does not allow visits to their workshop

• A website full of stock generic images

• Lack of knowledge about your rugs (age, origin, fiber type)