Our Unique 8 Step Cleaning Process

Step One: Pre-Inspection

We thoroughly inspect your rug to determine what type of fiber your rug is made of, the density of the pile, the type of weave and its country of origin. We measure your rug and inspect its overall condition. Then we test for color fastness and inspect the condition of the fringe. All of these things help us determine the type of cleaning and care it needs. We then provide you a copy of our findings so you can rest assured that your treasured rug is in safe hands.

Step Two: Dusting

We consider dusting the most important step of our process. We have found through experience that rugs can hold a large amount of dust, dry soil and other particulate matter that if not removed can act like sandpaper on your rugs fibers, cutting the yarn, and reducing the life of the rug over time. This soil can also turn into cement like mud if not properly removed before cleaning also causing damage to a rug. We use the Rug Badger, a dusting machine, which used over the back of the rug, vibrates this deeply embedded soil and particulate matter from the rugs fibers and foundation. We then turn the rug over and thoroughly vacuum the top surface of the rug to remove any remaining dirt before cleaning.

Step Three: Odor Removal

Before we clean your rug we check for any odors that may be trapped deep within the fibers and foundation of your rug. Pets, Smoke, Mildew, and other odors can be difficult to eliminate using regular cleaning products. We have many specialized, gentle products to treat these odors once we have identified them. Odors, even difficult to treat pet puddle odors, are no match for our natural neutralizing process.

Step Four: Cleaning

Not every type of fiber and yarn used to construct rugs should be cleaned using the same process. Some rugs require our dry cleaning method. Other rugs respond better to our submersion cleaning done in our custom made bath which is similar to the traditional river washing done for thousands of years in the countries where many of these rugs are made. We pay special attention to stain and spot removal and the prevention of color loss or dye bleeding. We don’t put rugs together in the same bath. All rugs are cleaned individually and by hand, using low pH products to ensure safe, gentle and pure results with no residue.

Step Five: Rinsing

We employ a soft water rinse for rugs that are washed in our custom “river washing” bath with water constantly flowing through the rug until there is nothing running through the rug but cool clear water. If a rug is not completely rinsed, residues can be left behind that could result in fading, discoloration, erosion of fibers or premature re-soiling. After we rinse your rug, there are no soils, harmful chlorine or chemical residues left behind. This thorough rinsing leaves your rug soft and silky to the touch.

Step Six: Grooming

Proper grooming of your rug is another important step in our rug care process. We carefully brush your rug in the direction the knots are tied which determines the direction of the rug’s pile. This allows your rug to dry properly allowing for uniform texture and light reflection to ensure your rug retains its maximum beauty. This is when we also pay special attention to the fringe, detangling it to allow it to dry properly so that no damage occurs.

Step Seven: Drying

We first dry your rug flat to ensure that there is no color bleeding or browning. Once the rug is sufficiently dry, the rug is hung to finish drying in our thermostatically controlled drying room with gentle warm air encircling the entire rug to speed up the process. Before being removed from our tower, the rugs are tested using a moisture detection probe or meter. You can be sure that your rug is completely dry before it is returned to you.

Step Eight: Post Inspection

We re-inspect your rug to make sure it is the cleanest it can possibly be. We post vacuum and dust to make sure there is no particulate matter left in your rug. If we detect any remaining soil or spots that can be removed we will repeat any necessary steps. We absolutely love caring for these beautiful works of art and pride ourselves in our thorough but gentle process.