Can Rugs Be Dry Cleaned?

Yes, most rugs can be dry cleaned. In fact, dry cleaning is often the safest way to clean your rug, especially if it’s valuable or delicate.

But there’s more to it than just dropping your rug off at the local dry cleaner. Let’s look at what you need to know.

What Is Dry Cleaning?

Dry cleaning isn’t actually dry. Instead of using water, it uses special chemicals to clean your rug. The main chemical is called perchloroethylene, or “perc” for short. This liquid dissolves dirt and stains without soaking the fibres like water does.

The process is gentler than regular washing because there’s no water to make fibres swell or shrink. This makes it perfect for rugs that can’t handle getting wet.

Which Rugs Need Dry Cleaning?

Some rugs must be dry cleaned. Others can be cleaned different ways, but dry cleaning is still the best choice.

Wool rugs are perfect for dry cleaning. Wool can shrink badly in water, but dry cleaning keeps the fibres safe. Most good wool rugs should go to the dry cleaner.

Silk rugs almost always need dry cleaning. Silk is very delicate and water can damage it or make the colours run.

Antique rugs should be dry cleaned by experts. These rugs are often fragile and worth a lot of money. Don’t risk them with home cleaning.

Rugs with mixed materials work well with dry cleaning. If your rug has different fibres or materials, dry cleaning handles them all safely.

Persian and Oriental rugs usually need dry cleaning. These rugs often have special dyes and construction that water-based cleaning can damage.

Rugs with backing problems should be dry cleaned. If the backing is old, cracked, or coming loose, dry cleaning won’t make it worse like water might.

Which Rugs Can’t Be Dry Cleaned?

Most rugs can be dry cleaned, but there are a few exceptions.

Jute rugs might not handle dry cleaning well. The chemicals can make jute fibres brittle and weak.

Some rubber-backed rugs can have problems. Very old rubber backing might react badly to dry cleaning chemicals.

Heavily damaged rugs might fall apart during cleaning. If your rug is already falling to pieces, dry cleaning might finish the job.

The good news is that professional rug cleaners can usually tell you if your rug is safe to clean.

Why Choose Dry Cleaning?

Dry cleaning has several big advantages over other cleaning methods.

It’s safer for delicate rugs. There’s no risk of shrinking, stretching, or colour bleeding like there is with water.

It works on all stains. Dry cleaning chemicals are very good at removing different types of dirt and stains.

Your rug keeps its shape. Because there’s no water to make fibres swell, your rug comes back the same size and shape.

Colours stay bright. Dry cleaning doesn’t make colours fade or run like water can.

It’s faster to dry. Your rug won’t be damp for days like it might be after water cleaning.

What Happens During Dry Cleaning?

The dry cleaning process is quite simple, but it needs special equipment.

First, the cleaner looks at your rug carefully. They check what it’s made of and look for any damage or special stains.

Next, they treat any bad stains with special products. Different stains need different treatments.

Then your rug goes into a big machine that looks a bit like a washing machine. But instead of water, it uses the cleaning chemicals.

The machine gently moves your rug around in the chemicals. This loosens dirt and dissolves stains.

After cleaning, the machine spins out the chemicals and your rug goes into a dryer. This removes any leftover chemical smell.

Finally, they check your rug again and might brush it to make the pile look good.

Regular Dry Cleaner vs Rug Specialist

You might wonder if you can take your rug to the same dry cleaner that does your clothes. Sometimes you can, but it’s not always the best choice.

Regular dry cleaners can handle small, simple rugs. If you have a basic cotton or synthetic rug, they might do fine.

Rug specialists are better for anything valuable or delicate. They have special equipment just for rugs and know how to handle different materials.

Big rugs usually need a specialist. Most regular dry cleaners can’t handle large rugs properly.

Expensive rugs should always go to specialists. They know how to handle valuable pieces safely.

How Much Does It Cost?

Dry cleaning costs depend on several things.

Size matters most. Bigger rugs cost more to clean. A small rug might cost £20-40, whilst a large room-sized rug could be £100-200 or more.

Material affects price. Delicate materials like silk cost more to clean than tough synthetics.

Condition makes a difference. Very dirty rugs or those with lots of stains cost more because they need extra work.

Location changes prices. London cleaners usually cost more than those in smaller towns.

Specialists cost more. Rug experts charge more than regular dry cleaners, but they often do better work.

How Often Should You Dry Clean?

You don’t need to dry clean your rugs very often.

High-traffic rugs might need cleaning every 1-2 years. These are rugs in busy areas like hallways or living rooms.

Low-traffic rugs can go 3-5 years between cleanings. Bedroom rugs or those in quiet areas don’t get as dirty.

Very expensive rugs should be cleaned by professionals whenever they need it. Don’t let dirt build up and damage valuable pieces.

When accidents happen, get stains treated quickly. The sooner you deal with spills, the better chance of getting them out.

Signs Your Rug Needs Cleaning

Sometimes it’s obvious your rug needs cleaning. Other times, the signs are more subtle.

Visible dirt is the clearest sign. If you can see dirt or stains, it’s time for cleaning.

Bad smells mean your rug needs attention. Pet odours, food smells, or just a musty smell all mean cleaning time.

Dull colours can mean dirt is building up. Clean rugs have brighter, more vibrant colours.

Rough texture might mean your rug is dirty. Clean rugs feel softer and more pleasant.

Allergies getting worse could be a sign. Dirty rugs can hold allergens that make some people feel unwell.

What About DIY Dry Cleaning?

You might see products that claim to dry clean rugs at home. These usually don’t work as well as professional cleaning.

Home products are much weaker than what professionals use. They might freshen your rug but won’t deep clean it.

You don’t have the right equipment. Professional machines are much more powerful than anything you can use at home.

You might damage your rug. Without proper training, you could use the wrong product and cause problems.

It’s not much cheaper. By the time you buy products and spend your time, professional cleaning isn’t much more expensive.

Preparing Your Rug for Dry Cleaning

There are a few things you can do to help get the best results.

Vacuum thoroughly before taking your rug in. This removes surface dirt and makes the deep cleaning more effective.

Point out stains to the cleaner. Tell them what caused each stain if you know. This helps them choose the right treatment.

Mention any previous cleaning. If you’ve tried to clean stains yourself, tell the cleaner what you used.

Ask about timeframe. Find out how long cleaning will take so you can plan accordingly.

Check insurance. Make sure the cleaner has insurance in case something goes wrong with your valuable rug.

What to Expect When You Get Your Rug Back

A properly dry cleaned rug should look much better than when you dropped it off.

Colours should be brighter. Clean rugs have more vibrant colours than dirty ones.

It should smell fresh. There shouldn’t be any chemical smells or old odours.

The texture should be pleasant. Clean rugs feel softer and more comfortable underfoot.

Stains should be gone or much lighter. While not every stain can be removed completely, most should be much better.

It should look evenly cleaned. There shouldn’t be clean spots and dirty spots.

Making the Right Choice

Dry cleaning is an excellent choice for most rugs, especially valuable or delicate ones. It’s safe, effective, and helps your rugs last longer.

The key is choosing the right cleaner. For basic rugs, a regular dry cleaner might be fine. For anything special, find a rug specialist.

Remember, regular professional cleaning helps your rugs stay beautiful and last longer. It’s an investment in keeping your home looking its best.

At The Rugs Collection, we always recommend professional cleaning for our customers’ rugs. It’s the safest way to keep them looking wonderful for years to come.