Our Proven Rug Cleaning Process in Bellingham & Mount Vernon

Steps 1 & 2: Pre-Rug Cleaning Inspection

• We make every effort to determine the origin of your Oriental carpet.
• A close inspection of the foundation, knots, fringe, kilim, colors, patterns, pile fiber, and pile density can reveal clues of origin.
• Determining the correct wool shampoo requires an experts evaluation of colorfastness as it relates to composition and PH.
• The overall condition, origin, colorfastness and construction will provide us with the information we need to determine the correct area rug cleaning process.
• Unlike clothing we do not have the luxury of referencing a tag for instructions. Our certified IICRC rug cleaner will outline the rug cleaning instructions once a pre-cleaning inspection has been completed.

Step 3: Reasons We Dust Rugs Before Cleaning

• Most Oriental rugs include a high percentage of wool. By its nature, wool hides dirt, debris, and other insoluble substances that must be removed before a proper washing can take place. Can you imagine washing a pair of jeans with pockets full of dust and dirt?
• More than 75% of soil found in wool rugs is deeply embedded particulate matter at the base of the rug’s foundation. If not removed, this debris can cause abrasive damage to the rug’s fibers. Basically, the dirt acts like sandpaper and with each step you take on a dirty rug it slowly wears on the rug, shortening the rug’s life span.
• Using our Tumble Duster (Big Blue) can remove several pounds of dirt, debris from large pile rugs. We have actually filled half a dozen five-gallon buckets with dirt and dust from a single Chinese rug. Also, insect larvae, and other contaminants are removed in the process rug before washing. We remove thousands of pounds of contaminants from rugs every year with this amazing piece of equipment.

Step 4: Evaluate Colorfastness & PH

Evaluating a rugs colorfastness for immersion washing is the most critical component in restoring beauty and value to fine rugs. It truly is an art/craft very few people or companies possess. We have a commanding confidence working with natural and synthetic dyes, and the natural fibers they bind with, such as, wool, silk, cotton and linens. This single step separates Steam Sweepers Rug Cleaning from others.

Step 5: Rug Cleaning & Washing Procedures

• Immersion Washing

  Cold water immersion is a hands-on method where your rug is laid flat so the fibers, foundation and fringe can be completely immersed in cold water. A gentle shampoo formulated specifically for natural fibers such as wool, silk and cotton is used to release dirt, grime and odors. Once soiling is removed from your rug, the washing vat is drained and filled with freshwater for a complete rinsing. Water is then extracted from the rug and hung on a drying rack in our temperature-controlled drying room where your rug is able to completely and properly dry.

  80% percent of all rugs in the world are candidates for immersion washing. The processes below are used for those particular rugs. For rugs that are not a good fit for immersion washing, we have other methods as well.

Step 6: Rinsing Process

Fresh Water

• Rinsing and flushing with fresh clean cold water is 100% natural.
• We keep pumping clear the water until it running clean and clear.
• No wool shampoo, sticky residues, grime or dirt behind. It’s cleaner than when it was new in many cases.
• In-home surface cleaners leave behind chemical residue that can lead to fading, discoloration, quick re-soiling, and possible dye bleed.
• Without getting too technical, it’s very important to complete the rug cleaning process by leaving your rug in a state in which the dyes remain set.
• Have you ever left shampoo residue in your hair after showering? Leaving residue in a fine rug for an extended period will damage it.

Step 7: Grooming Prior to Drying

• After being washed, rinsed, and extracted we groom the fibers in the correct position to prepare for the drying stage of the rug cleaning process.
• The “nap” or pile direction must be corrected by grooming.
• Have you ever allowed your hair to dry straight out of the shower without brushing or combing? It may be clean but is sure doesn’t look good.

Step 8: Tower Drying

• Temperature, humidity, and airflow are critical factors when drying wool rugs.
• Our Drying Tower allows warm dry air to encircle the entire rug, expediting the process.
• Some rugs need to be dried flat.
• We utilize increased air flow in combination with heat and low humidity to accelerate the procedure.
• The area rug cleaning process is not complete until your completely dry.
• If you’ve ever left your laundry in the washer for a couple days you understand the importance of speeding up the drying process.
• Our Rugs dry in 24 hrs.