Oriental Rug Cleaning in Gramercy, NYC

Gramercy has many homes with fine rugs: a Persian handed down from parents, a Caucasian rug bought decades ago, a silk piece in a quiet study. These rugs can last generations if they are cleaned the right way.

We wash hand-knotted rugs by hand at our facility. Before any water touches the rug, we check how it was made, which fibers it uses and whether the dyes are stable.

We start by looking at the back of the rug, where the knots show. That tells us how it was made and how much handling it can take. We note any worn areas, loose edges or old repairs and share them with you.

Next comes a dye test on each color. Older rugs may use natural dyes that can bleed. If any color moves, we adjust the wash to protect it.

The rug is then washed by hand, rinsed until the water runs clear, and dried flat and slowly. Fringe is cleaned and combed straight.

Moths are the main enemy of wool rugs in quiet homes. They prefer the dark spaces under beds, sofas and chests. If you see bare patches or tiny white cases, ask for moth treatment.

Pickup and delivery are free. In a doorman building we follow the house rules; in a townhouse we carry the rug down by hand. Most rugs are back in about a week.

Between washes, turn the rug each season, keep it out of strong sun and vacuum without a beater bar.

Many prewar co-ops have parquet or herringbone floors, and older rugs often sit on a thin, worn pad that lets them slide. A fresh pad protects both the rug and the wood.

Putting a rug away for the summer? Clean it first. Moths are drawn to soiled wool, and a rolled, dirty rug in a closet is exactly what they look for. Once it is clean, wrap it in breathable cloth, not plastic.

For machine-made rugs, see area rug cleaning in Gramercy, or the full Gramercy page. We hand-wash rugs from the East Village too. Call 1-800-589-4364 to book a free pickup.