Rug cleaning in Mid and West Hertfordshire

Is cleaning a rug different from cleaning a carpet?

Often it is. A fitted carpet is held to the floor and has a backing designed for that. A rug is loose, can be cleaned on both faces, and may be made from fibres and dyes that need much more care. A modern machine-made rug in a synthetic fibre can sometimes be treated much like a carpet. A hand-knotted wool rug, a silk piece or an old rug coloured with natural dyes may need an entirely different approach.

What kinds of rug do people ask about?

• machine-made rugs in polypropylene, polyester or nylon
• wool rugs, whether machine-made or hand-tufted
• hand-knotted rugs from Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, India and elsewhere
• flatweaves such as kilims and dhurries
• viscose rugs, sometimes sold as art silk or bamboo silk, which can mark easily when wet
• sheepskins, cowhides and deep shaggy rugs

When does a rug need specialist cleaning off site?

Antique, handmade, silk and valuable rugs are often better cleaned at a specialist's premises than on your floor. Away from the home, a rug can be dusted thoroughly, washed under controlled conditions, rinsed fully and then dried flat or hung, none of which is easy to do safely in a sitting room. Rugs with fragile fringes, unstable dyes, moth damage or old repairs also tend to benefit.

Not every carpet cleaner offers off-site rug cleaning. If yours may need it, say so. The cleaner might handle it, or might tell you that a rug specialist would be the better choice.

Why do some rugs bleed or shrink?

Some dyes, particularly in older handmade rugs, are not colourfast and can run once they are wet. Cotton foundations can shrink unevenly, which leaves a rug wavy or out of square. Viscose loses strength when wet and can turn patchy or rough if it is soaked. A careful cleaner checks the dyes and fibres before starting and will tell you if a rug should not be wet-cleaned at all.

Can a rug be cleaned at home?

Many can. Synthetic and machine-made wool rugs are often cleaned in place, ideally with a waterproof sheet underneath so no moisture reaches the floor below. If the rug sits on wooden boards or a finished floor, mention it, because damp trapped under a rug can mark some finishes. Look on the back of the rug for a care label too.

What about moths and carpet beetles?

Wool rugs under furniture, or in rooms that are rarely used, can attract clothes moths and carpet beetles. Signs include bald patches, loose tufts, small cases or larvae, and fine webbing. Cleaning removes debris and some of the larvae, but it is not the same as treating an infestation. If you have spotted any of these signs, say so, and the cleaner can explain the options.

What about the fringes?

On a hand-knotted rug, the fringe is normally the ends of the warp threads that run through the whole rug, so it is part of its structure rather than a trim sewn on afterwards. Fringes are often cotton and can yellow or brown with age and cleaning. Pulling loose threads or cutting the fringe back can weaken the ends of the rug. Mention any fraying or knots coming loose, and the cleaner can say whether a rug repairer should look at it first.

How should I look after a rug between cleans?

• Vacuum it often, with the beater bar switched off for delicate or fringed rugs.
• Turn it now and then so it wears and fades evenly.
• Use a rug pad or underlay to stop slipping and cut down wear.
• Blot spills at once with a clean white cloth instead of rubbing.
• Keep it out of strong direct sunlight where possible.

What details should I include?

• your postcode
• the size of each rug and what it is made of, if you know
• whether it is handmade, antique or of sentimental value
• any stains, smells, moth damage or worn fringes
• whether you would prefer it cleaned at home, or would be happy for it to go away for cleaning if that is offered

What happens next?

If you consent and a local carpet cleaner covers your postcode, they receive your enquiry and nobody else does. Whether the rug is cleaned at home or elsewhere, and what it costs, is for you and them to agree.