Oriental Rug Cleaning in Pelham Bay, Bronx

In plenty of Pelham Bay houses, the finest rug sits under the dining room table. It was often a big purchase back when the family bought the house, or it arrived when a parent downsized and handed it on. Either way, it is the rug people would grab first in a fire.

A Persian is woven knot by knot on a loom, unlike a factory rug glued to a backing. Its pile is usually wool, now and then silk, its colors may come from plants, and its tassels are the loose ends of the base threads. Scalding rinses and strong chemicals can make those colors bleed and pull the base out of square.

For that reason they never see a scrubbing machine. Collection is from your door, cleaning happens at our plant, and the rug comes home dry and ready to lay.

Inspection is step one. Flipping the rug shows the knot density and construction; the face shows worn lanes, moth trails or old patches. Each color is blotted to see whether it bleeds.

Under a dining table, a rug collects years of crumbs and grit ground in by chair legs. That dry dirt is shaken and beaten out first, because grit trapped near the knots slowly saws through the wool.

Then the rug is bathed and hand-brushed with a pH-gentle shampoo, always with the nap. Silk gets softer brushes and cooler water. Afterward it hangs or lies in a warm, dry drying room until the base is completely dry, so it stays square.

Basements are risky places for a rolled-up rug. Damp air feeds mildew and moths love dark, undisturbed wool. If one is stored downstairs, have it checked, and store it wrapped in cotton sheeting rather than plastic.

Tassels are washed and groomed on every rug, and you will hear about any loose edges or small repairs worth doing.

Factory-made rugs in other rooms go through our standard wash; see Pelham Bay area rug cleaning.

Persian and oriental rug pickups in Pelham Bay are booked at 1-800-589-4364 or through the request form, and a first order earns 10% off your first cleaning. The dining chairs on that rug can be done too through our upholstery service.