Oriental Rug Cleaning in Washington Heights, NYC

Hand-knotted rugs turn up in many Washington Heights and Hudson Heights homes, in roomy prewar living rooms and in the Art Deco apartments along Fort Washington Avenue and Cabrini Boulevard. Some were bought new, some were wedding gifts, and some came from a parent or grandparent.

We clean them the traditional way, by hand. Before any washing, the knots and foundation are inspected, the fiber is identified and every dye is checked.

Many uptown families keep a good rug rolled in a closet for years, waiting for the right apartment. Rugs stored that way can pick up moth damage or musty smells, and they are worth a careful wash before they go down on the floor again.

Turning the rug over tells us most of what we need to know. Tight knots and a sound foundation can take a thorough wash. Weak spots, old patches or worn edges mean we slow down and treat those areas gently.

Wool, the usual fiber, handles a bath well. Silk and viscose are another story: wet, they weaken, so we make sure which one we have before any washing.

Strong reds and navy are where bleeding usually starts. Each one is checked first, and the wash is adjusted if any color looks unstable.

Some Art Deco apartments in Hudson Heights have sunken living rooms or a step between rooms, and a rug that drapes over an edge can wear along that line. We look for that kind of wear and point it out.

Afterward comes a long rinse and a slow, even drying time. The fringe is cleaned and combed, and the rug is back home in about a week, carried in and laid in place by our crew at no charge.

For rugs that get strong river light, turning them a half circle once or twice a year spreads the sun across both ends.

Machine-made rugs belong with our area rug cleaning, and the Washington Heights page covers sofas, carpets and mattresses. North of Dyckman Street, see oriental rug cleaning in Inwood. Questions about an heirloom? Ring us at 1-800-589-4364.