How was your rug made?
At Green Carpet’s Cleaning, we clean virtually each and every variety of rug there is. On the other hand, we do not clean each one of them in the same manner or with the same products. Because of this, when you contact us for an estimate on the cost of cleaning your rug, one of the first questions that we ask is whether or not your rug was crafted by hand or by machine. Not sure? Here are some tips:
Take a look at the other side of the rug.
Machine-made. On many carpets that are created with machines, the top pattern of the rug may be seen on the back of the rug, but it typically appears fuzzy and uninteresting. Scratching the back of the rug reveals the foundation of the rug, which is typically a fabric mesh. This foundation gives the back of the rug a rough texture that produces a scraping sound. The vast majority of rugs that are created using machines are often colorfast and can readily endure a thorough washing. The exception to this rule is tufted carpets, which will be discussed further down in this section. Rugs made of materials other than wool, such as olefin, polyester, or nylon, almost never exhibit color-run when they are washed. It is quite unlikely for color transfer to occur in machine-made carpets that have a wool pile, but the possibility does exist.
Handmade. Handmade carpets typically have patterns that are visible even on the back of the rug. It is possible to differentiate and count each knot that is tied individually. The majority are able to tolerate being washed and utterly submerged. However, some of them are produced using colors that are prone to bleed if they come into contact with water. The knowledgeable staff at American Rug Laundry is able to identify handmade rugs of the varieties that are prone to bleeding since they have extensive experience doing so. Before subjecting the entire rug to dampness, we first test the dyes in an inconspicuous spot to determine whether or not they can withstand the conditions. In order to properly clean delicate rugs that also contain dyes that are prone to run, a solution of white vinegar is used rather than water. Alternatively, we will pre-treat the rugs in order to set the dyes so that they do not run during the washing process. This method is referred to as our Special Wash, and it enables us to clean the rug in a comprehensive manner.
A Case in Point: Needlepoint Rugs A rug is said to be of the “Tufted” variety if it has either a fabric border or a fabric backing that has been affixed with glue. A device is utilized in the production process, during which tufts of yarn are hooked into a fabric mesh. The back of the mesh is then covered in latex glue so that the fibers stay where they are supposed to be. The glue layer is then covered with fabric in order to hide it. The aging of the carpets causes the latex to begin to degrade naturally, which might result in the rugs becoming brittle or buckled. This process can be sped up by the introduction of water, therefore unless the rug is really dirty, we normally advise just surface washing for tufted rugs. Surface washing involves only partially submerging the rug in water.
Take a look at the edge.
You aren’t sure whether your rug was manufactured by hand or by machine, are you? Investigate the fringes, in the event that your rug contains them. The fringes that are found on handmade rugs are in fact the ends of the warp lines onto which the knots that make the pile are tied. Because of this, the fringes are an essential component of the foundation of the rug. After the rug has been machine-woven, the ends of the rug are given fringe by sewing fringe onto the ends of the rug. Sewn-on fringes have the propensity to detach themselves from the body of the rug over time, and they frequently grow loose or even fall off entirely.
Do you require further assistance in selecting your rugs? Call Green Carpet’s Cleaning at the number provided. They also offer Same Day Carpet Cleaning Vallejo service .
