1. Inspection
Rugs can be delicate. They can also be incredibly tough…in many cases lasting hundreds or sometimes thousands of years… but they CAN be delicate!
So the first thing we do BEFORE we wash any rug is a very thorough and careful inspection. We check for color bleeding and crocking, dimensional stability, (shrinkage) and we make sure that the rug is structurally sound so that there is no damage done during the cleaning process.
Next, we analyze any problems the rug might have. Are there salts present from urine contamination? Are there spots, stains, fading, etc? Finally, taking all of that into account, we determine which cleaning process is most appropriate to use on each rug. We must use a process that will correct the problems, WITHOUT causing any damage.
✓ If there are excess dyes in the rug that are likely to bleed, we can either use a process to remove them, or lock them down so that they won’t bleed.
✓ If a rug is likely to shrink, we can either use a cleaning process that will prevent shrinkage, or use a drying process that will prevent shrinkage.
Many rug cleaners use primarily one process. We use several different processes, ranging from low-moisture cleaning, solvent-based dry cleaning, to full-immersion rug washing. Having all of these options available allows us to do a better job and solve more problems than we could if we just used one primary cleaning method.
2. Dusting
rugbadgerYou’d be amazed at how much soil an oriental rug can hold. (In one study, a rug held up to nine pounds per square yard without even looking dirty!)
This soil works its way into the weave of the rug, abrasively damaging the fibers, and is very difficult to remove with vacuuming alone. In fact, vacuuming flat-out doesn’t work with most quality rugs, since often the weave is very dense.
We use the Rug Badger™ machine, which is designed for professional rug washers. The Rug Badger™ thoroughly and safely vibrates all the dry soil out of the rug.
This process removes the dry soil before it gets wet. It’s actually much harder to remove wet soil, since it basically turns into mud.
This process is called ‘dusting’ in the industry, and a good thorough dusting is the first step to getting your rugs truly clean.
3. Vacuuming
After removing as much dry soil as possible with the Rug Badger™, we thoroughly vacuum the rugs with a specially designed vacuum to completely remove ALL remaining dry soil, front and back.
4. Cleaning or Washing
Next, depending on the results of our initial inspection of your rug, we use the safest, most effective method to clean your rug. This can involve using a low-moisture process, solvent-based dry cleaning, extraction cleaning, or full immersion rug washing.
If the rug has been contaminated with urine, we treat the rug with a special sanitizing and deodorizing process that in most cases removes ALL the odor (Please see Pet Issues section at the bottom of this page.)
The point of all of this is to restore your rug to the best condition possible, and to preserve your rug for a lifetime.
5. Drying
Next, your rug is thoroughly dried.
Our controlled drying environment allows us to quickly and completely dry the rugs after the cleaning process.
Getting the rugs dry quickly protects the rugs from damage that can occur as a result of slow drying, and our electronic winch system safely lifts even the heaviest wet rugs into the most effective drying position, and does it safely.
The rugs are dried using powerful air movers that quickly evaporate the moisture from all surfaces of the rug, simultaneously.
6. Hand Finishing
After drying, your rug is carefully removed from the drying rack and is hand-finished.
This is a step where we hand-clean the fringe, do a general inspection to make certain that we’ve successfully removed all the spots, and make sure that our sanitizing treatment was successful. (i.e. no odor!)
We do this step because we want to make sure that you love the way your rugs look and feel when we return them to you!
7. Protector/Topical Treatments
Most of our clients choose to have a fabric protector applied to their rugs, and this step is where we apply that protector as well as any other topical treatments that the rug might require. (Moth-proofing, anti-allergen treatments, deodorizer, anti-static treatments, etc.)
We highly recommend protectors to preserve the rug. They can prevent staining of the fibers and make cleanup easier.
There are different types of protectors available. We even have a protector which will help protect your rug from UV damage. (Fading, etc.) We can help you choose the best protector for your rug.
8. Grooming
Next, we groom your rug to perfection, restoring the nap, combing the fringe, and bringing out its beauty so you can show it off in that special area in your home.
9. Final Inspection
Finally, we do a thorough inspection to insure your rug is in the best possible condition and meets our high standards of cleanliness and overall workmanship when we return it to you.