Persian and Oriental rugs differ significantly from standard carpets. Each piece varies in fibre, weave, dye composition, and age, meaning a single cleaning method cannot be applied universally.

Working with a specialist ensures that each rug is treated according to its specific requirements. This reduces risk and ensures a safe, controlled cleaning process suited to delicate and high-value textiles.

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.

At The Persian Rug Cleaning Company, we follow museum-grade techniques trusted by collectors and galleries. Each rug is assessed individually, then cleaned by hand or carefully with specialist machinery.

1. Dusting & Beating – Deep dust removal using traditional beating techniques and modern vibration systems. This clears sand and grit, some invisible to the eye, but highly damaging to fibres.

2. Gentle Hand-Washing – Using soft water and pH-balanced shampoos tailored to wool and silk. Never with general carpet cleaning machines or harsh chemicals.

3. Soft Water Rinse – Ensuring colours remain vibrant and no residue is left behind.

4. Controlled Drying – Rugs are fast-dried in a climate-controlled room. This prevents shrinkage, colour run and warping.

5. Final Grooming & Inspection – Pile is brushed, fringes aligned, and sheen restored. Each rug is inspected to ensure it returns in immaculate condition.

Odours can develop in rugs over time due to moisture, environmental factors, trapped contaminants or pet accidents. These smells are often not removed through surface cleaning alone.

Professional cleaning helps eliminate odour sources by thoroughly washing and rinsing the rug.

So you now know how to vacuum a Persian Rug, But even if you vacuum regularly, rugs still need deep cleaning to remove the grit and oils that embed over time. We recommend professional cleaning every 1–2 years for rugs in use, or more frequently if you have pets, heavy traffic, or accidental spills.

Vacuuming is maintenance. Deep cleaning is preservation.

What We Do Differently

At The Persian Rug Cleaning Company, we begin every cleaning with the most thorough dusting and dry soil removal process in the UK. We use specialist machines that vibrate the rug from the back and loosen years of grit—something vacuuming alone can’t achieve.

So if you’re wondering whether you’re looking after your rug properly, this is a great place to start.

Let in light. Vacuum regularly. Avoid placing rugs under heavy furniture. If you’re storing a rug, have it washed and protected with a moth treatment, then wrap it in Tyvek® or kraft paper—never plastic.

For added peace of mind, our specialist moth treatment makes your rug taste undesirable to moths without affecting its feel or look. It’s our way of stopping an infestation before it ever starts.

Pets (Especially Dogs)

Pet hair, oil, and accidents can seep deep into the rug fibres. Urine, in particular, can destabilise dyes and cause permanent damage if left untreated. If your pet has had an accident, don’t wait—have the rug cleaned and treated immediately.

Allergy Sufferers

Rugs act like a sponge for dust, pollen, and allergens. If you or someone in your home has sensitivities, professional rug cleaning every year will help manage indoor air quality and reduce symptoms.

Valuable or Antique Rugs

These should be cleaned more frequently—not less. Dirt is abrasive. Even if the rug isn’t in a high-traffic area, trapped grit can shorten its life. Annual cleaning helps preserve its structure, colour, and value.

One of the biggest myths we try to dispel is that stain protection makes a rug bulletproof. It doesn’t. A treated rug can still stain. If you leave that wine spill to dry overnight, no protector in the world will save you.

What protection does is give you time to act. Instead of a spill sinking straight into the fibres, it beads on the surface. That might buy you five minutes—or fifteen. It depends on the rug, the liquid, the temperature, the room.

But five minutes might be all you need to save your rug.

If you spot an accident in progress—or just after—here’s what to do:

1. Act fast. The sooner you respond, the less damage the urine can do.

2. Blot, don’t rub. Use dry paper towels or a clean, absorbent cloth to blot up as much as possible. Don’t scrub—it drives urine deeper.

3. Dilute carefully. If no dye has transferred to your towel, you can lightly dab the area with a damp cloth to dilute any remaining residue. Avoid soaking the rug.

4. Check for dye transfer. If you see colour on your towel, stop immediately. You’re at risk of dye bleed, and it’s time to call in professionals.

Never use off-the-shelf carpet sprays or “pet enzyme cleaners” unless you’re certain they’re wool-safe and pH neutral. Many aren’t.