Cleaning area rugs on site?

**paulosully** · 04-16-2010, 10:07 AM

I get a lot of requests for rug cleaning which I generally shy away from. I understand the best way to clean good quality area rugs is in a rug plant and I don't have one. Although I am looking for someone to hopefully sub this out to.
But what about generic lower quality area rugs. Is there a safe way to clean these onsite? My biggest concern is that most times these rugs are on wood floors and I worry about moisture wicking down into the wood.

Can I do this on site or is my best bet to find someone with a rug plant to partner with?

Thanks.

**Scott W** · 04-16-2010, 11:34 AM

I would suggest that the best cleaning is done at a rug plant. If you get more than a dozen or so rugs a week and have the space, you could set up a mini-plant for giving rugs a thorough flushing or submersion.

One concern is knowing for sure what are better quality or natural fiber rugs from olefin machine made rugs. You would need to at least do some basic ID include fiber and construction method.

One option for on location cleaning would be to move the rug over to a carpeted area. If the rug is very large, this could be difficult.

If you do a surface cleaning, the rug should look better, but it is not the type of cleaning a clinet has the right to expect if you are charging several dollars per sq. ft.

**Rug Washer** · 04-17-2010, 01:32 AM

With on location work, I won't call it cleaning because you really aren't CLEANING, you are not doing your customer any good. You can't dust properly, you can't control drying, you can't clean fringe, you will drive dirt deeper into the foundation in other words you are a Hack. You would do more for your customer by giving them proper vacuuming instructions and how to handle accidents. Get your self educated, if you know you're going to like Rug Cleaning.
How do you know you will like it? Well I'd say...Do you love cleaning Upholstery ?? The detail oriented person that loves cleaning upholstery I think might be a good candidate to wash rugs. Patience is a virtue but Rug Washing is a passion.

**LisaWagner** · 04-17-2010, 03:13 AM

If the area rugs are SYNTHETIC - then you can surface clean them, though washing is more thorough, most will not spend more to clean a rug than they paid to buy it. So the answer is, it depends.

If it is an oriental rug, or any natural fiber rugs, wash them.

But - with synthetics, it still would be better to bring them to your location (even if you have no plant) - and thoroughly clean as well as you can with your truckmount. You can use heat and solutions that will do well on those specific synthetic rugs.

Natural fiber - different story completely, and with WOVEN rugs especially, Ron is on target - you do more damage than good surface cleaning them.

I have a report on rug cleaning on my blog that hits the main points of cleaning properly, and also debunks some of the rug BS being spread around right now. Check it out, then decide what to do. It's a great opportunity, if you are wired for it. At the very least you can subcontract to a plant.

Lisa

**davenjai** · 04-17-2010, 09:51 AM

I do it all the time. Many "rugs" are bound wall to wall carpet. Those rugs have no business being washed, as you just destroy the glue. One client's house is all wood floors, yet you hardly see the wood as almost everything is covered in Nylon broadloom. It has to be done there.

You need to know if your system will get the backing wet or not. Test this out at home, on different rug types. Olefin/Poly being the most likely problem. You need to check the backing right after cleaning, again in 30 minutes and once again in another 30 minutes. Do the testing over BARE concrete in your garage when it is at room temperature/humidity. The concrete will show moisture from the rug. You can adjust technique to prevent it, like no water on the upstroke and/or lowering pressure. The big no no, is solvents. They will penetrate to the wood instantly. You can use a plastic bag with paper towels on top to protect the wood if solvents are needed.

**the rugman** · 04-17-2010, 11:23 AM

If they are small cheapo rugs you can clean them with an uph tool and put them out on a deck to dry. Even if they are cheapos but are large and have fringes I would take them out to clean. I clean lots of 8x10 olefin rugs in my shop. Not really for me to say if they are worth cleaning - up to the customer. I just cleaned a bunch of rugs from a fire - they really should have been tossed. Not that I couldn't clean them - they were really old and crappy! Maybe they had sentimental value?