What the job covers
Cleaning matched to the rug type and dyes, lifting embedded grit, hair and dulling soil to bring the colour and pile back to life.
- Rug type, fibre and dyes assessed up front
- Dry soil and embedded hair lifted out first
- Cleaning method chosen to be safe for the fibre
- Marks and spots treated where the fibre allows
- Collection and return possible in some areas (just ask)
How a rug clean is done
We start by checking the rug. The fibre, the backing and the dyes all change how we treat it, so we look before we touch anything wet. A dry pass lifts loose grit and hair out of the pile, then we test a small hidden area for colour-fastness so nothing bleeds once the cleaning solution goes on.
After that we work the right solution through the pile, agitate gently to release the dulling soil that sits down near the base, and rinse and extract. Stubborn marks get spot-treated by hand rather than soaked, which keeps the rug from getting wetter than it needs to be.
Wool, synthetic and delicate rugs
The fibre sets the method. Synthetic rugs in nylon or polypropylene are hard-wearing and take a fairly standard wet clean without much fuss. Wool and other natural fibres are softer and react badly to heat and heavy soaking, so we use cooler water, milder solutions and a slower, more careful dry to protect the pile and stop any shrinkage.
- Synthetic pile cleans readily and dries quickly.
- Wool wants gentle handling, cooler water and slow drying.
- Antique, silk and viscose rugs are specialist work; we may use a low-moisture method or decline a piece we can’t safely clean.
On-site or collected and returned
Most rugs we clean in your home. We lay protection down, work on the rug where it sits and leave it to dry in place, which suits the majority of everyday wool and synthetic pieces.
Some rugs do better cleaned off-site, where they can be washed and dried flat under controlled conditions. In parts of London, Manchester and Liverpool we can collect a rug and return it once it’s ready. Tell us roughly where you are and we’ll confirm whether collection reaches your address before anything is booked.
Drying and looking after the rug after
Drying matters as much as the wash. A rug left damp can smell or mark the floor beneath it, so we extract as much moisture as we can and set it up to finish drying with good airflow. Wool takes longer than synthetic, and a thick or large rug longer still.
Once it’s dry, a regular vacuum and a quick lift of spills before they settle will keep it looking fresh for far longer between cleans. Turning the rug now and then evens out the wear.