At Least Seven Things You Need to Know About Rug Cleaning.

First, Not all rugs are made the same. There are many different fibers used for the warp and weft yarns as well as the face fibers. Blended fibers are used for many rugs for feel, look, cost and a host of other possibilities in rug making. Most high quality rugs will be woven construction, while many lesser quality rugs will be tufted. Handwoven and tufted are different than machine woven or tufted. The value of a rug is determined by all of the variables described and also by who and where the rug will have been made, its age, sentimental value and much more.

Second, All of the variables, due to the structure and fibers used to complete a said rug, have a huge bearing on the cleaning process, that will be most effective to thoroughly clean the face fibers and the woven construction of most rug backings.

Third, Color stability is always something that has to be determined before a rug is cleaned. Dyes are not always the same and the use of dyes are varied with different fibers, making some stable, while others, subject to bleeding or crocking.

Fourth, Quality of a rug in relation to all the above, relates to the original cost of the product. Many times, the cost to clean an area rug purchased, is as much or more than the piece will have been purchased for.  The cost of cleaning a textile is not subject to the the value of the piece and only relates to the required process to clean the piece properly.

Fifth, Not all cleaning services provide a proper cleaning process for rugs. Having a rug, cleaned on site when other cleaning is being done is a topical clean only, leaving the soil trapped and muddied in the woven base of most rugs. Thus when handled, rolled up and repositioned, a lot of fine sand and the like will be seen coming out of it onto the floor, or be on the floor already, to be seen as the piece is rolled up.

Sixth, All rugs need more than one process to be thoroughly cleaned to reduce the trapped dust and dirt in the tightly woven backing. Dust and dirt in rugs can amount to pounds trapped that needs to be removed, depending on size and duration of use between proper cleaning and if the cleaning processes, if any in between have in reality, added to the soil trapping, making a stiffened, mud filled woven back.  After a thorough cleaning, a small trace of fiber dust may be visible due to handling, however very little if any, heavy dust.

Seventh, Many fine rugs may need to be dry-cleaned to preserve coloration. this process costs more, however, should be done before a rug gets heavily soiled, as it is not an immersion process. As a result, appearance is the first requirement, and the face fibers are the focus, thus a woven backing may still have dust trapped that will fall out during handling. This dust is fine and will not re-soil the rug. Dry vacuum the rug prior to use once placed and your good to go til next cleaning. Remember to have the rug cleaned more regularly for best care.