Rugs

- From Ikea to The Orient

 

Modern Rugs

My cleaning process for modern, non-speciality rugs is broadly the same as that for modern carpets (see here), your advantage here is that I can collect your rugs and return them to your home when they're all dry, clean and fresh.
(jump to Pricing)

Oriental and Speciality Rugs

These are more akin to pieces of art than they are to wall to wall carpet so require and deserve special attentions. Only specialist cleaners such as myself should carry out the cleaning of such rugs; with proper care & maintenance they will last for generations. I can provide the safest and best cleaning results for your handmade or machine made rugs, bringing out the richness of their colours and luxurious softness of their fabric, as well as preserving them for your future.

On this page I have outlined the process by which I wash your rugs. I say wash because there are many tradesmen selling rug 'cleaning' in your home cheaper than I can offer my service for. Often they simply spray down a harsh chemical solvent then hoover up its crystallised residue. This is, at best, a 'top show' affair and unremoved residues can cause skin irritation and are what has lead to the belief that cleaning your rugs leads to quicker resoiling. Or they may simply have purchased similar equipment to mine but lack the training or experience to give the rug any more than a quick 'once-over' rather than the multi-staged deep wash & stain removal of my service.

 

Before I Clean

Identification - There are many types of Speciality Rugs, including different types of fabric (wools, silks and synthetics), a broad range of weave structures and a vast array of dyes (from vegetable-based to modern acid dyes). From my analysis I make the best choice of cleaning solution, water temperature, jet pressure and vacuum suction strength for your rug.

Dry Soil Removal - This involves a combination of 'whipping' (gentler than beating) and vacuuming, essential to loosen and begin to remove the deepest, trodden in soil particles. It is this soil that, every time you stand on your rug, grinds against its fibres and leads that 'flat' and eventually 'threadbare' look. Your regular vacuuming with your domestic machine helps but only a periodic professional wash can remove this deep dirt.

Pre-Clean Stain Treatment - Some stains, by their chemical nature, must be tackled dry.

Pre-Spray - The greener detergents I use will now require a brief 'soak', the same way you care for your delicate clothing items, so I dampen your rug and massage the cleaning solution in.

Cleaning

Now I can perform the main, Wet Wash & Extraction. This is done with care and using only hand tool attachments, firstly to spray the next stage of my chosen cleansing solution evenly into your rug (separating the fibres as I go), and then to rinse and extract all the solution and cleanly remove it to a waste water tank (some machines simply recycle the same solution through the rug). My principal machine is the Extracta Exel. It has high levels of power & control (needed when cleaning fragile, often antique fabrics) and is the ultimate choice for the serious professional.

Rinse & Conditioning - This will neutralise and remove any detergent residues that can cause resoiling and then apply my eco-friendly conditioner, leaving a softer, brighter rug that will stay clean longer.

Final Finishing - I'll carefully groom your rug's pile, resulting in fast uniform drying and fresh, soft, and beautiful appearance.

Drying - This needs to be timed to cater for delicate fibres and avoid dyes 'bleeding'. If the cleaning is done in your own home then I can employ Turbo Dryers if appropriate to the fabric. If cleaned in my workshop then your rugs will be returned to you fully dry.

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Pricing

Let me start by saying there are certainly some offering a cheaper service than mine (please read other parts of this page to understand how & why). My pricing reflects the time & care I take over providing a deep, thorough and proper wash for your rugs.

	Modern Rugs	Small Medium Large	£15 - £25 £30 - £40 £45 - £55
	Speciality Rugs	Small Medium Large	£20 - £25 £30 - £40 £45 - £55

Prices vary depending on the level & type of soiling and how long the clean takes. I am always happy to pop round and give you a no obligation, no charge, accurate quote (which I will stick to).

Included in the price are the specialist skills required for the removal of spots & stains such as:

wine ink paint make-up shoe polish blood

pet stains vomit wax coffee / tea chocolate chewing gum

rust crayons juice glue grease / oil tar

Extras
	Pet flea & Carpet Moth treatment (£5 - £10)
	Anti-Allergy treatment (£5 - £10)
	Stain Protection treatment (£5 - £15)
	Anti-Flame treatment (£5 - £15)

© 2011 Cleaner Living