Posted on November 7, 2020 by Behnam Rugs

Which Rug Services are Right for You

If you own fine rugs, professional cleaning is a must. But that is not the only service your rug will need over its lifetime. Proper storage, timely repairs, protection, appraisal, and insect removal are also your responsibility if you want your rug to stand the test of time.

Every rug has its own personality. He or she becomes a treasured part of your family, filled with memories both good and bad. Taking special care of these “family” members allows us to enjoy their beauty for generations. 

In this blog, we will break down the importance of rug cleaning services and what they entail, expanding your knowledge of caring for fine rugs, and preparing you for your rug ownership journey.

Fine rugs need to be cleaned professionally every 3 to 5 years. You should work with a business that specializes in cleaning rugs, not carpet. Rugs and carpet require very different types of care, and what’s safe for carpet is not generally safe for rugs. Do not trust your rug to a carpet cleaning service that uses machines in any capacity. When machinery agitates the rug’s fibers to spread cleaners and remove dirt, the integrity of the rug is often damaged, leading to unraveling and a need for repairs. In addition, carpet cleaners leave soap residue within the body of your rug that will cause color runs and other damage.

Your rug should be treated with shampoos designed to cleanse delicate wool, cotton, and silk rugs, not carpet. If your rug has odor from pet accidents, a professional rug cleaner will use special enzymes produced by bacteria that eliminate these odors as part of their waste digestion process. This biological process is completely safe and never harms your rugs.

You should also note that the age, material, dyes, and condition of the rug dictate how it needs to be treated during the cleaning process. For example, a silk rug should be treated differently from a wool rug, even though they are both made of natural materials, just as viscose rayon and polyester rugs should be cared for differently even though they are both synthetic materials.

Rug cleaning is not a “One Size Fits All” operation. A reputable rug cleaning company will assess and inspect your rug thoroughly before washing and tailor the process to maximize the benefits of cleaning. A rug master will have an extensive working knowledge of rug cleaning and background that enables them to identify what your rug needs with accuracy and finesse. They will be able to tell the origin, value, age, and how the rug should be washed just by looking at it.

Odor elimination is typically provided by rug cleaning services at a small additional cost. If your rug does not smell, you don’t need to invest in this treatment. If your rug does have odor due to pet accidents or smoke exposure, odor elimination treatments are guaranteed to remove the odors. We recommend using a live bacteria enzyme treatment, as this is a safe and natural process that gets rid of all odors and stains.

When shopping around for a rug cleaning service, call or search their website to find out each step of their cleaning process. We’ve included our 10 Step Cleaning Process below so that you have a framework of what to look for.

Behnam Rugs 10 Step Cleaning Process

1. Initial Inspection
2. Pre-wash treatment for existing stains and imperfections
3. Organic shampoo application
4. Hand-washing the surface and back of the rug three times each using brushes and paddles
5. Rinsing the surface and back of the rug after each round of brushing and paddling until water runs clear 
6. Deodorization using a bacterial enzyme bath to address unpleasant odors from pet urine, smoke residue, or other sources
7. Drying on a flat surface using sun and wind
8. Dry paddling the rug front and back to remove any remaining dirt
9. Final inspection
10. Grooming to set the pile in its original direction and straighten the fringe

As we mentioned, cleaning is not the only service your rug will need in its lifetime. Proper storage, timely repairs, protection, odor elimination, appraisal, and insect removal are services you should be prepared to utilize.

Proper Storage

As rugs are works of art that can last for generations, in their lifetime they will most likely be stored away at least once. Storing your rug properly will prevent damage from pests, as well as creasing, color runs, and dry, brittle fibers. If you need to store your rug, you should have it professionally cleaned first. This will remove dirt and debris that is attractive to mice, moths, and carpet beetles. A dirty rug does not breathe well and can make the rug fibers more delicate and breakable.

The rug should be stored completely dry. Make sure to wrap your rug in breathable material such as cotton or muslin. Wrapping your rug securely is essential if you do not want your rug to become mice and moth fodder. Roll your rug in the direction of the grain and store it horizontally to protect its shape and minimize stress.

Choose a temperature-controlled area that is cool and dry to store your rug. If possible, there should be good air circulation, and if there is not, use a fan. Avoid storing it in an area that receives sunlight. Finally, if your rug is valuable, get it appraised and insured, so that if it becomes damaged in storage insurance covers the repairs or replacement.

Timely Repairs

Next, repairs should be enacted in a timely manner. In many instances of damage, the process is dynamic- the damaged area increases with time due to wear, traffic, or insect activity. For example, if your fringe has begun to unravel due to a pet chewing it, the fringe will continue to become more and more unraveled, increasing the area that needs to be repaired, and therefore, the cost.

Protection

If you own a fine rug, you should be doing everything in your power to protect and preserve its integrity. This includes using rug padding, which prevents the rug from warping and extends the life of the rug. Without padding, the foundation of the rug shifts and changes from traffic and furniture pulling at the rug when it is walked on. The quality of knots decreases without padding protection. 

Appraisal

No matter what you paid for your rug, an appraisal documents the actual value of your rug. Behnam Rugs offers free verbal appraisals if you just want a general idea of what your rug is worth. If your rug is indeed quite valuable, we recommend a written appraisal for insurance purposes and creating a rug portfolio.

Insect Removal

Finally, the last service you may need is insect removal and often related necessary repairs. Regularly check the front and back of your rugs for moth and carpet beetle activity. These pests love dark, neglected spaces. Moth activity makes your rugs look threadbare, and their larvae and webbing are visible to the naked eye when you take a close look at your rug, especially on the back.

Keeping your rugs clean and inspecting them frequently is the best way to prevent, or at the very least, minimize insect damage. Vacuum your rugs often, without the beater brush extension. If you do notice signs of insect damage, call an expert immediately. The sooner you get the rug to them, the sooner the bugs can be removed and the damage assessed. 

As you can see, rug cleaning services cover a wide range of work. Behnam Rugs performs every service listed in this article, we’re your full-service rug center and cleaning facility. Call 972-733-0400 to schedule cleaning, repairs, and restoration. Behnam Rugs, generations of expertise, knowledge, and care.