What Happens If You Never Clean Your Rug?

A look inside our specialist rug cleaning process—and why the method matters just as much as the result.

The Heart of Our Craft

If you live in London and own a handmade rug, chances are you’ve Googled some variation of “rug cleaning near me” and been faced with a sea of results. Everyone seems to offer “professional rug cleaning,” but what does that really mean?

At The Persian Rug Cleaning Company, rug cleaning isn’t just a service. It’s the heart of our craft. We’ve built our reputation on specialist knowledge, obsessive attention to detail, and an understanding that a rug is never just a rug—it’s a work of art, a family heirloom, or the centrepiece of a home.

Why the Process Matters

Most London carpet cleaners offering rug cleaning are really set up for wall-to-wall fitted carpets. They might have a hot water extraction machine in a van and offer to clean your rug on your living room floor. This kind of surface cleaning can brighten things up temporarily—but it won’t remove the grit, the oils, or the deeply embedded contaminants hidden in the foundation of the rug.

It might even cause damage, especially to rugs made of wool or silk, or those with unstable dyes. That’s why we bring every rug into our dedicated facility, where it goes through a multi-stage, fully controlled cleaning process designed to be as safe as it is thorough.

Step 1: Pre-Inspection and Dye Testing

Every rug is unique. Before we even consider cleaning, we carry out a detailed inspection. We check the fibre type (wool, silk, cotton), the knot density, the weave structure, and any existing damage or dye migration. Then we perform dye tests and pH tests to ensure that the cleaning process will be safe and won’t cause colours to bleed or run.

This step is crucial. It’s what sets us apart from companies that go straight to spraying and scrubbing.

Step 2: Dusting and Dry Soil Removal

You can’t get a rug clean without removing the dry soil first. And yet, most domestic cleaners skip this step entirely.

Using mechanical dusting machines and compressed air tools, we remove the grit, dust, and allergens that have settled deep into the foundation. It’s this dry particulate matter—like fine sandpaper—that does the most damage to a rug over time. One client was stunned to see how much soil we removed from a rug that “didn’t even look that dirty.”

Step 3: Full Immersion Wash (Or Gentle Hand Cleaning)

Next, we choose a cleaning method based on what we learned during inspection. For strong, stable rugs, we use a full immersion wash—submerging the rug in softened cold water and using specialist woolsafe® shampoo to gently but effectively clean the fibres.

Delicate or antique rugs may be cleaned by hand on a raised wash table, with special brushes and gentle flowing water.

We never use hot water. We never use harsh chemicals. And we never rush.

Step 4: Rinse and Centrifuge Spin

Once the wash is complete, we rinse the rug thoroughly using clean, cold water until every trace of detergent and emulsified soil has been flushed out. Then we place the rug in a high-speed centrifuge machine—the kind used in the most advanced rug plants in the world.

Spinning the rug removes 90–95% of the moisture and dramatically speeds up drying. This is essential for preventing shrinkage, dye migration, or mildew.

Step 5: Controlled Drying and Grooming

Clean rugs are hung in our temperature- and humidity-controlled drying room, which circulates warm, dry air and removes moisture from the environment. This prevents the problems that can occur when rugs are left to dry too slowly—especially in London’s damp winters.

Once dry, the rug is groomed and inspected again. Pile direction is restored, fringes are aligned, and the colours have often returned to their full vibrancy.

The Result: A Rug That Looks (and Feels) Right

Clients often tell us they didn’t realise how dull or heavy their rug felt until they saw it cleaned. We’ve had rugs returned to us for their third or fourth professional wash, and they still come back brighter, softer, and cleaner than most people expect is possible.

One client in Notting Hill decided to hang her newly cleaned Isfahan rug on the wall—it looked too beautiful to tread on. Another, in Hampstead, told us she couldn’t believe the difference in how her silk Kashan felt underfoot. You can read countless rug cleaning reviews from our London clients on our google business page.

For us, that’s what rug cleaning should be. Not just surface-level tidy, but deep-down clean and safe.

Why It Matters for London Homes

In a city like London, where air quality varies, pets live indoors, and central heating dries the air, rugs pick up more than just dirt. They absorb pollutants, allergens, oils, and moisture. And yet, many people wait years before having them cleaned.

But a well-cleaned rug lasts longer, smells better, and supports the health of your home.

You invested in a handmade rug. We believe it’s worth the care.