Posted on November 2, 2019 by Behnam Rugs

Rug Cleaning Disasters: What Happens When You Try to Do it Yourself

Recently, a customer brought a fine Egyptian 100% silk rug in to Behnam Rugs that had been treated with chemicals to remove a pet stain as well as thrown in the washing machine.

The homeowners entrusted the care of their rug to their housekeeper who first used a carpet cleaning product to try and remove the stain and odor. When the first household cleaner did not remove the stain, she tried another, and another cleaner, layering chemicals deep into the rug’s pile.

When this did not work, she threw the rug into the washing machine, along with a few others for good measure, effectively ruining all but the rug brought in to us. The rugs experienced shrinkage, deep creases, and uneven borders.

Behnam Rugs is one of the only companies that utilize blocking to rectify shrinkage. After washing, we block the rug in a rectangular frame larger than the rug. When the rug is crooked or uneven, we use the frame to clamp and pull the uneven portion until it matches the rest of the rug. This is an effective process that requires us to create a frame especially for your rug, which most companies don’t bother to do.

The rugs that didn’t make it were permanently creased and also unable to lay flat due to the fibers of these delicate rugs getting bunched and stretched out by the washing cycle and heat.

Here’s why both these cleaning approaches are huge mistakes.

A fine rug is not the same as a carpet, and you should never use carpet cleaning products on it.

These products use strong chemicals to try and remove stains.

Some of the harmful ingredients found in commercial carpet stain removal solutions include formaldehyde, acids, lye, ammonia, chlorine, and other dangerous chemicals harmful not just to your fine rug but also to your health and the health of your pets.

The chemical reactions that occur can stain the rug further as well as damage the fibers, whether they’re wool, silk, or cotton.

Carpets are generally made of synthetic fibers that can handle harsher chemicals when it comes to removing a stain.

The rug brought into us had a chemical stain, not from the pet urine, but from the attempted treatment with carpet cleaners.

At Behnam Rugs we use mild organic shampoos as well as live bacteria enzymes that effectively eat the odors in your fine rug.

These two approaches to cleaning are gentle on rugs but tough on dirt and odors.

Our hand washing methods have been passed down for generations from Old Persia and were invented to care for exquisite pieces that are not made to withstand harsh chemicals and washing machines. We gently wash silk rugs by hand in order to restore the rug without damaging the silk fibers.

Never take your fine rug to a carpet cleaner, as the same mistakes this housekeeper made at home will be repeated by these companies.

At Behnam Rugs we believe that when it comes to rug cleaning, experience matters. If you decide to spot clean your rug at home, please read our article in the Dallas Morning News first. Call 972-733-0400 to schedule professional cleaning.