Oriental & Area Rug Cleaning

At Platinum Care, we understand that your delicate fabrics are an expensive investment that, unlike regular carpets and upholstery, can last up to 150 years or more with proper care and attention

That’s why we ensure that your area & oriental rugs are carefully treated only by our certified, trained area rug specialists in our unique plant using a process combining Old World craftsmanship, new technology, and powerful yet gentle cleaning solutions. It’s powerfully soft on your investment textiles!

Authentic Hand-Washing For Fine Textiles

Your oriental and area rugs are not just art treasures. They are also very valuable investments. That’s why we clean them with so much care and attention to detail.

Utilizing the basic elements of air and water, we customize the cleaning process for the needs of each individual rug.

With patented tools and equipment designed specifically for the cleaning of oriental rugs, we provide a thorough and effective, yet gentle, cleaning process that is powerfully soft. Depending on the particular fibers, dyes, soils, and construction of the rug, we’ll draw from the cleaning techniques described below.

What really comes out of an oriental rug – after vacuuming – during the dusting process?

It’s amazing!  The rugs look clean, but woven area rugs are much denser than wall to wall carpeting and hold much more soil that cannot be vacuumed out. This is what has to be removed before rugs can be treated.

We clean oriental and fine area rugs at our in-plant rug spa, utilizing up to 12 different cleaning methods custom-selected to meet the cleaning and care needs and requirements of your rugs. Our ultimate goal is always to balance the cleaning needs of the rug with our client’s goals, always keeping in mind the essential nature and value of the rug.

Step 1: Pre-Inspection and Pick Up
We will analyze, test, and evaluate  your rug and its inherent qualities that may affect it’s cleaning. We will outline the expected results and cleaning “prescription”. Our company will come to your home to pick up your rug, or you may drop it by our facility.

Step 2: Dry Soil Removal
We use a variety of techniques to “dust” the rugs from the front and back. Dusting may be accomplished through specially designed machine agitation, the use of air tools and different forms of compressed air, vacuum attachments, or various combinations of these tools to foster maximum dry soil removal without disturbing the structure and integrity of the rug. This is critical, since dry particulate soil usually makes up about 80% of the soiling in a rug and is typically deeply embedded in woven rug piles.

Step 3: Dye Lock
All rugs are tested for colorfastness to look for dye bleeding and crocking. Dye loss, dye transfer, and color migration can be damaging to your rug(s) and must be controlled and avoided wherever possible. Many rugs are treated with a specially formulated solution to lock in dyes before the cleaning process begins.

Step 4: Urine or Microbial Decontamination
Rugs that are embedded with urine or carpet moths, or rugs that suffer from conditions that may have already, or might possibly, lead to microbial contamination (water-damaged rugs, sewage-damaged rugs, or trauma rugs, for example) are treated with sanitizers, disinfectants, sterilizers, and/or a decontamination bath to alleviate the specific problems. In many instances, this process needs to be repeated to ensure that the rug can be safely returned to the client or to eradicate any odors.

Step 5: Pre-Condition
Depending on fiber content and soiling type, the rug will be pre-treated to emulsify the soils.

Step 6: Pre-Spot and Fringe Preparation
Any potentially difficult spots will be pre-treated with special solutions to increase chances of removal. The fringe is also pre-treated for maximum soil removal.

Step 7: Shampoo
Most rugs are cleaned with an Oriental Rug Shampoo that is especially designed to get maximum cleaning while protecting sensitive natural fibers. Other rug cleaning agents may also be applied as a foam for sensitive rugs, or in other forms such as absorbent powders or encapsulating agents for exceptionally delicate, color-sensitive, or moisture-averse rugs and fibers.

Step 8: Wash & Rinse
Our rug spa utilizes a broad range of cleaning methods, from full immersion cleaning and rinsing to minimal or no-moisture cleaning with dry soil extraction. We are determined to safely produce the best possible results with every method that we can employ.

Step 9: Flushing & Extraction
Using specially designed centrifugal extractors and/or direct application of rinsing agents and embracing the principle of First In, First Out, rugs that demand and can tolerate a thoroughly wet cleaning process are fully flushed with water again to completely remove any lingering soils or cleaning agents.

Step 10: Acid Rinse/Fabric Softeners
A final acid rinse returns your rug’s pH to a level that will lock in dyes, soften fabrics, and helps prevent or neutralize browning, yellowing, and watermarking. The rug is then lightly groomed for a soft, gentle feel.

Step 11: Controlled Drying
Your rug is either hung on special drying beams or laid flat on a perforated wooden blocking table, augmented by powerful air movers and dehumidifiers, in a controlled drying environment. Some rugs are even “blocked” to either prevent or correct distortion of the weft yarns of the rug’s backing material.

Step 12: Finishing
When the rug is dry, it is combed and finished with soft groomers made for specialty rugs.

Step 13: Post Inspection and Delivery
Our cleaning specialist will give the rug a final inspection and release it for pick up or delivery. Your rug will be wrapped in brown Kraft paper to protect it from dust and environmental soils until it is picked up or delivered. Rugs that are being prepared for storage may instead be wrapped in Tyvek for better moisture resistance.