Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Oriental and specialty rugs are all unique and different. Please call 800-232-7129 or submit your information in a quote form on the contact us page for a free quote for your particular rug. Remember, we also have pick up and delivery in the NY, NJ and CT metropolitan areas! We make it really easy.

We have our own cleaning and repair facility. It is the largest in the country! We are family owned, 5th generation business, since 1896. We have washed over 5 million rugs for over 500,000 clients. We have 3 Certified Rug Specialists (CRS) on staff and there are only 55 in the country. We offer a 100% Risk Free Guarantee and we make it really easy!

We have a great – completely green and chemical free cleaning process – that can be performed in your home or in our cleaning facility and it is called ResponsibleCare.

All of the ResponsibleCare cleaning products including Allergy Relief Treatment are hypoallergenic, non-toxic, dye and perfume free, contain no volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), phosphates or other hazardous materials and are biodegradable and environmentally safe. In addition, they are derived from renewable fruit and vegetable seeds. The products are virtually odor free and have been specially formulated for use around people with allergic illnesses and chemical sensitivities. They can be safely and effectively used in homes with children and pets. Allergy Relief Treatment is so safe that it can even be used on your pets! Allergy Relief Treatment contains no benzyl benzoate and is not a pesticide or miticide.

Yes, chances are its accumulated soil, pet hair, or pet dander that are the source for allergy symptoms. These can be removed effectively with a thorough cleaning from our experts.

We would recommend using our “Green Cleaning” ResponsibleCare cleaning option as described above.

This is absolutely the worst thing you can do to a handmade rug or area carpet. By cleaning the rug in home the dust and sand cannot be removed; you cannot properly rinse the rug and flush out all the dirt and contaminates, you cannot dry it completely on both sides and if it has fringes they cannot be cleaned.

It may sound easier, cheaper, and quicker to have a rug cleaned in your home but you get what you pay for, and risk damaging the rug as well as your floors. This service is generally sold or recommended by in-home cleaning companies that do not have a proper facility. Do not fall for their false, misleading information.

Please call 800-232-7129 to speak with an expert, or request an immediate quote for your particular carpet cleaning needs.

Yes. You should consult your carpet manufacturer for a schedule to regularly vacuum and professionally clean your carpet. Do not wait until the carpeting looks obviously dirty before beginning any cleaning efforts. That can actually damage the carpet, because the longer the dirt and dust remains in the carpet the more likely it is to literally cut away at the carpet fibers like sandpaper. Waiting to clean the carpeting can also affect the health of your family members and visitors to your home. Experts say a square foot of the average nylon wall-to-wall carpeting can hold more than a pound of dirt, dust, and allergens; this growing pile of dirt can be particularly difficult to see with tan and brown carpeting.

We use steam cleaning. Steam cleaning, or hot water extraction, uses a soap solution that is sprayed onto the carpet and then is lifted out or extracted removing the soap, water and dirt. Despite the name, steam is not even used in the process. Of all the cleaning methods available to you, this is by far the best, and when properly done will produce the greatest results.

The timeline on cleaning your installed wall-to-wall carpet can vary; however, most jobs are completed in one to 3 hours, with 8 hours to allow the carpet to dry completely.

Yes we do! We have a team of 12 highly trained experts skilled in the fine art of rug restoration and repair. Our master craftspeople can do almost any type of repair on both antique and contemporary handmade rugs, custom made rugs, and machine made rugs. We can expertly reweave holes, re-nap worn areas, restore moth damage, repair seams, reduce a rug’s size, rewrap the binding on the side, reweave worn or missing fringes, sew on artificial fringes, unravel, and overcast worn fringes and patch holes.

Yes, all fringes wear over time and can be repaired or replaced. We can also sew machine-made fringes over the worn fringe or reweave new fringes in by hand that match the existing fringe exactly.

Call us! When your rug arrives at our facility, we will evaluate it and make a recommendation for repair. Our master craftsmen can reweave or add additional material to holes or spots, depending on the severity of the damage.

Wear is harder to treat than damage. Our experts are happy to evaluate your piece and help you make the most informed choices possible.

We proudly serve the NY, NJ, CT, Metropolitan area! Our cleaning plant is located in East Orange, NJ. In addition to being the world’s largest cleaning and restoration factory, we are also the world’s greenest as well.

Yes! Pick-up and delivery are available to customers in the NY, NJ, CT, Metropolitan area. We offer prompt, professional home appointments using our own employees. We also move the furniture that is on top of the rugs so you don’t have to lift a thing. We make it really easy. Simply contact us to schedule pick-up or delivery.

Yes. There is a very nice discount on our cleaning services when you bring your rugs and carpets to our facility. When you arrive, we will take the rugs out of your vehicle and bring them into our facility – you do not have to lift or move anything. Please call our office at 800-232-7129, in advance to make arrangements to drop of your rugs at our world class cleaning facility.

Our office hours are:

Monday and Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm EST
Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm EST
Saturday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm EST

Sure – it’s really pretty simple. Take your rug(s) to a UPS or FedEx store and have them ship it to us. We will inspect the rug and provide you with a comprehensive plan to restore your rug. We will then ship it back to you via UPS or common carrier at no charge to you.

After the cleaning and repair process is complete, we can have rugs delivered to any location of your choice within our service area; or we can wrap them to be shipped anywhere in the country.

We can clean and repair most any kind of area rug such as Persian, Turkish, Chinese, Indian, Nepalese, Kilims, Oriental (antique or new), wool, silk, Linen, Viscos, Navajo, Karastan, Gabbe, flat-woven, hooked, braided, tufted, Custom Tufted, Tibetan, modern designer rugs, shag, or Flokati. Our craftsmen are experts have the knowledge and experience to clean, repair, and restore your treasures.

We are rug cleaning and care experts with over 120 years of experience in the industry. If your rug needs cleaning or repair we will explain what can be done and provide you with an estimate. We will address any special concerns you have and can provide a detailed plan for cleaning, restoration, and repair if needed.

Yes. As a part of our green cleaning initiative, all the products we use are safe for use in the home.

Our expert technicians can safely clean damaged or fragile rugs without causing further damage. Cleaning methods are modified for a specific rug’s needs. All rugs are thoroughly inspected prior to cleaning to ensure any spots of concern are addressed accordingly. These types of rugs are hand cleaned by one of our CRS (Certified Rug Specialists).

Call us. We can pick up your loose rugs and carpets and properly, effectively and most important safely eliminate the infestation.

After you call us, the next step is to contact a licensed pest control expert who specializes in dealing with moths. They will need to come into your home and treat items such as installed carpet, clothing, furniture etc.

The entire process will take approximately three weeks from pick up to delivery back. We can also hold your rugs and carpets until an exterminator can come to your home and perform their services.

What we do is pick up your rugs and bring them to our facility where we immediately place the rugs in our walk-in deep freezer. The rugs are kept in the freezer at approximately -10 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 days. Then the rug is sent to a thorough washing process where the rug is cleaned, and completely dried. Then the rugs go back to the freezer for three more days at -10 to -15 degrees below zero. When this step is completed the rugs are hung up in our dry room overnight, then they go to a final inspection, wrapping and delivery back to you.

The freezing process will have no negative side effects on your rugs and carpets. Our freezing process follows the protocol developed and used by leading research university and museums around the country. The freezing process is something these organizations use to be sure that items coming into their collections are not contaminated. They also need to be sure that their existing collections are not infected by any new items they introduce.

The freezing process will have no negative side effects on your rugs and carpets. Our freezing process follows the protocol developed and used by leading research university and museums around the country. The freezing process is something these organizations use to be sure that items coming into their collections are not contaminated. They also need to be sure that their existing collections are not infected by any new items they introduce.

Moths are insects and like all insects that can get in through an open window or door, a torn screen, a small crack or space under a door or in an open crevice in your house or apartment. Regardless of how they arrive, there are a number of ways to help protect your rugs carpets and clothing and other items from clothes moths. Cornell University’s Insect Diagnostic Laboratory offers these tips:

1. Thoroughly inspect vulnerable clothes, fabrics and stored items at least once a year for moth larvae and damage. Consider discarding damaged items if it is difficult to repair them satisfactorily.

2. Check areas around the home where moths may hide, looking for signs of infestation. Remove items from closets and drawers and vacuum thoroughly, trapping the lint on which larvae can feed.

3. Clean regularly to help prevent lint, dust or hair from accumulating. Vacuum rugs and carpets, drapes, upholstered furniture and pet bedding. Vacuum under furniture that is seldom moved and along baseboards where wool lint might accumulate.

4. Vacuum inside closets, around water heaters and other appliances, near air vents and ducts and in cracks and crevices along floors.

5. Clean clothing and other fabrics thoroughly before storing them, especially if you will do so for a long period. Place items in secure plastic bags or airtight containers.

6. When shopping for woolens or wool blends, consider buying items that the manufacturer has treated with a moth-resistant compound. Professional cleaners may also be able to add mothproofing to certain items..

Moths will not eat a manmade fiber such as nylon, linen, viscos, polypropylene, Olefin, polyester. Please note that this is no reason not to purchase wool rugs and carpet. Wool is an amazing fiber that has been used in Handmade rugs for thousands of years and in wall to wall carpet for over 100 hundred years. With proper care and maintenance handmade rugs can last for generations. Wool is soft, has amazing colors, hides soil and has tremendous resiliency (the ability to bounce back).

Simply follow these steps:

• Vacuum at least once a week

• Move furniture to vacuum under skirts and upholstery

• Use the vacuum attachment to get behind beds, in corners and in closets

• Clean all wool carpet and rugs once every one to two years depending on usage.

After we return your rugs and carpets that have gone through the eradication process your moth problem is solved BUT you must have the rest of your home treated by a professional exterminator. Don’t bring the rugs and carpets back home until this important step has been completed.

Absolutely. Moths and other insects like dirty, quite, and dark areas to eat wool and thrive. Frequent vacuuming, cleaning and movement will greatly remove the chance of moths and bugs becoming a problem in your home.

The frequency of cleaning can vary depending on how much traffic the rug gets. Rugs in entryways, hallways, and eating areas may need cleaning every six months. Rugs in lower traffic areas rugs may only need cleaning every two or three years.

Great question. There are several ways to determine whether a rug is handmade or machine made. In either case, our experts will be glad to examine your treasure and tell you more about it and what makes it unique.

Of course rugs can be washed—but it’s best to leave this to the experts. Rug washing requires the expertise of certified technicians and master craftsmen to ensure your rug is cleaned and handled properly. We have three Certified Rug Specialists on staff and there are only 55 in the country.

We can clean and repair most any kind of area rug such as Persian, Turkish, Chinese, Indian, Nepalese, Kilims Oriental (antique or new), wool, silk, Viscose, Linen, Navajo, Karastan, Gabbe, flat-woven, hooked, braided, tufted, Tibetan, modern designer rugs, shag, or Flokati. Our craftsmen are experts have the knowledge and experience to clean, repair, and restore your treasures.

After an initial inspection, our experts remove as much dry soil as possible mechanically. Rugs are then submerged in water, washed flat with detergents and cleaning agents, thoroughly rinsed, centrifuged to extract as much water as possible and then are air-dried in fewer than eight hours. Dry rugs are re-inspected, groomed, and returned looking their best.

Yes. When you start seeing your fringe looking discolored and dingy, your rug and the fringe could use a good professional rug cleaning. You may feel like your fringe is past the point of no return with major soiling and staining – but you may be surprised how clean it will come with a good cleaning. For worn fringe, we may be able to give it a good trim to even up the edges. We also offer fringe repair services.

Our expert technicians can safely clean damaged or fragile rugs without causing further damage. Cleaning methods are modified for a specific rug’s needs. All rugs are thoroughly inspected prior to cleaning to ensure any spots of concern are addressed accordingly. These types of rugs are hand cleaned by one of our CRS (Certified Rug Specialists).

Slide your hand back and forth from one fringe to the other and you will feel the difference, or look closely to see the direction the pile lays in. While looking ‘down’ on the rug pile, it will appear lighter and shiny. While looking ‘into’ the rug pile, it will appear darker and more richly colored.

Yes. Most stains can be removed, though results might vary depending on the type of stain and what’s been previously done to the stain. Our expert cleaning technicians take great care to remove stains as best as possible. In addition to having three CRS (Certified Rug specialists) on staff we also have a Chemical Engineer who can address really difficult stains and color run problems.

Yes, our expert technicians can remove mildew from rugs if it is not very old. There are cases when mildew can be permanent.

Yes! Home treatments can effectively minimize fresh stains. The key is a quick action that doesn’t make things worse. First, while still wet, blot spots immediately with something absorbent such as paper towels or cotton rags. Don’t add water and don’t scrub. Blot both the front and back of the rug until no more moisture can be removed.

Next, check to see if any of the rug’s dye has transferred to your towels or rags. If you see dye transfer, stop and let the rug dry. If not, you can blot out more of the stain with a sponge dampened (not dripping) with water and a drop of liquid dish detergent. Get the area as dry as possible by pressing paper towels on the nap and then elevate the area so it can dry from both sides. If the stain is visible after the rug is dry, give us a call.

Don’t worry or panic! Anything you can’t get out now can be removed later by a professional cleaner, even wine and urine stains that have dried on the rug. Don’t try to flood a stain with large amounts of water. This can create other problems. Just wait to have them worked on by one of our technicians. You can also keep one of our spotting kits handy in the event of any spills.

Yes, try spot cleaning with a sponge dampened (not dripping) with a weak solution of water and a drop of liquid dish detergent. Stop if you see any dye bleed. Blot the rug as dry as possible by pressing paper towels on the nap. Then elevate the area so it can dry from both sides. Do not try to rinse or flood the rug with water. This can be done by one of our cleaning technicians or when the rug comes to our facility for complete cleaning.

You can also keep one of our spotting kits handy in the event of any spills.
Most other household cleaning agents (Fantastic, Oxyclean, laundry bleach, etc.) are too powerful for home use on natural fiber and may do more harm than good.

Yes, most color run can be improved or removed entirely. While procedures to remove color run are simple, it takes experience and skill for consistently good results.

Yes. Rugs that have shifted out of shape can be stretched or blocked to improve their shape. Once we see your rug, we can give you a good idea of how much it can be improved.

It is possible for some rugs to sustain minor shrinkage due to the cleaning process. This is more likely on rugs the have never been washed. Some rugs may also become slightly larger. Please note that most handmade area rugs are not square before cleaning.

Canister vacuums with hard surface attachments are very gentle, making them ideal for fragile rugs or to clean fringes, but are not powerful soil removers. Upright vacuums with spinning beater bar/brush assemblies are very effective but can remove fibers or cause damage over time if used without care. The type and condition of your rug are important factors when choosing a vacuum. Give us a call if you’d like to discuss what might be best for you.