An Oriental rug is more than a decoration; it’s a piece of woven art, often a family heirloom, and a significant investment in your Bartlett, IL home. But the biggest threat to your rug’s life isn’t a wine spill or foot traffic. It’s an untrained, non-specialist carpet cleaner. Using high-heat steam or harsh chemicals on delicate wool and silk fibers can cause catastrophic, irreversible damage, from dye migration to fiber degradation.
At Hayward Rug Cleaners, we are not carpet cleaners who “also do rugs.” We are a third-generation, family-owned business founded in 1920, and fine rug care is our craft. We understand the delicate structure and chemistry of these textiles. For specialized Oriental rug cleaning in Bartlett that protects and preserves your investment, you must choose a craftsman, not a franchise. To speak with our rug care specialists, please call our workshop at 847-741-2315.
A Legacy of Craft: The Hayward Rug Cleaners Difference
Since 1920, our family’s company has been the trusted name for discerning homeowners. This longevity is built on a deep, hands-on understanding of fine textiles. Unlike on-site cleaners, we provide a meticulous, in-plant service in our dedicated rug cleaning facility. This controlled environment is the only way to safely and thoroughly clean a fine Oriental or Persian rug.
Our reputation is our most important asset, and we’ve earned it by treating every rug with the respect it deserves. We invite you to read our many five-star reviews from clients who trust us with their most valuable heirlooms. When you call us, you are entrusting your rug to IICRC-certified master technicians who see this as a craft, not just a job.
Why In-Home “Steam Cleaning” is Disastrous for Fine Rugs
Allowing a company to clean your Oriental rug on your floor is a gamble. The equipment and chemicals used for wall-to-wall synthetic carpet are toxic to natural fibers and dyes. This high-heat, high-pressure, and high-alkaline method creates several severe risks:
- Dye Migration (Color Bleed): The complex, acidic dyes in wool rugs are sensitive. Hot, high-pressure steam and improper detergents can destabilize these dyes, causing them to run and bleed. This can turn your intricate pattern into a muddled, “tie-dyed” mess that cannot be reversed.
- Fiber Abrasion and Fuzzing: Aggressive rotary brushes, designed to scrub nylon, will literally abrade the delicate wool or silk fibers, causing permanent “fuzzing” and weakening the pile.
- Sticky Detergent Residue: A steam wand is incapable of fully flushing and rinsing the dense pile of a fine rug. It inevitably leaves behind a sticky soap residue that acts as a magnet for new dirt, causing the rug to get dirtier, faster.
- Foundation Rot and Mildew: The rug’s cotton foundation gets soaked and trapped against your hardwood or subfloor, unable to dry. This creates a perfect breeding ground for mildew, bacteria, and dry rot, which can destroy the rug’s structural integrity from the inside out.
Our Meticulous In-Plant Oriental Rug Cleaning Process
To safely and effectively restore your rug, we bring it to our custom-equipped rug workshop. Only here can we perform our multi-step, full-immersion “spa” wash—a process that combines century-old techniques with modern technology.
- Expert Inspection & Check-In: Upon arrival, your rug is inspected by a specialist. We document its fiber type (wool, silk, etc.), construction, dye stability, and any pre-existing conditions like pet stains or fringe damage.
- Dry Particulate Soil Removal: Before water is ever introduced, we remove pounds of dry, abrasive soil trapped deep in the rug’s foundation. We use specialized harmonic dusting equipment that gently vibrates the back of the rug, safely shaking loose grit and sand that a vacuum can never reach.
- Full Immersion “Spa” Wash: Your rug is submerged in a cool, soft-water bath with pH-neutral, wool-safe shampoos. This gentle, zero-friction process emulates a traditional river wash. It allows us to safely flush all contaminants, pet urine salts, and allergens from the entire fiber, from tip to foundation.
- Fresh-Water Rinse & Centrifuge Dry: The rug is thoroughly rinsed with clear, flowing water to remove 100% of the soils and cleaning agents. It is then placed in a high-speed centrifuge that safely spins out 95% of the water in minutes. This is a critical step to prevent dye migration and ensure a rapid, safe dry.
- Controlled Atmosphere Drying: The rug is hung in our climate-controlled drying tower, where managed temperature, humidity, and airflow ensure a fast, even, and thorough dry with zero risk of shrinking or mildew.
- Final Grooming & Detail: Once dry, we groom the pile to set its natural direction, gently detangle and detail the fringes, and perform a final inspection. We only wrap the rug for delivery when it meets our family’s exacting standards.
Protect your investment. Don’t risk your heirloom with an on-site carpet cleaner. Call 847-741-2315 to schedule a pickup for your Oriental rug cleaning in Bartlett, IL.
Bartlett’s Trusted Partner for All Fine Surfaces
Our expertise isn’t limited to rugs. Our meticulous, preservation-focused mindset is what makes us Bartlett’s choice for all fine surfaces. Our clients trust us as their single, expert partner to maintain their entire home, from our restorative wood floor cleaning service to our deep-extraction wall-to-wall carpet cleaning. We understand how to care for your home’s most valuable finishes.
Are you ready to restore your rug’s beauty and health safely? Contact Hayward Rug Cleaners today to arrange for a professional consultation and rug pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fine Rug Care
My pet had an accident on my rug. Is it ruined?
No, not if it’s handled by a professional. This is a primary reason for our full immersion bath. Pet urine salts are crystalline and cannot be “steam cleaned” away; that only spreads the contamination. Our submersion process fully dissolves and flushes these urine salts from the rug’s foundation, neutralizing the odor at its source and removing the stain, rather than just masking it.
How often should I have my rugs professionally cleaned?
For rugs in higher-traffic areas like living rooms or hallways, we recommend a professional in-plant cleaning every 2-3 years. For rugs in lighter-use areas like bedrooms or a formal dining room, every 4-5 years is usually sufficient to remove embedded soils and preserve the life of the fibers.
Do you also clean silk or antique rugs?
Yes, absolutely. Our process is ideal for delicate fibers. We are highly trained in identifying and testing all fibers and dyes. We customize our cleaning solutions and use a zero-friction submersion method that is perfectly safe for delicate silk rugs, antique textiles, and tapestries. We treat every piece with the specific, gentle care it requires.
How do I vacuum my rug without damaging it?
This is a critical piece of home maintenance. Never use a vacuum’s beater bar or rotating brush on an Oriental rug. This will grab and tear the delicate pile fibers and destroy the fringes. You should use a suction-only attachment or, if your vacuum has an adjustable head, raise it to the highest setting. For more expert tips, authoritative guides like this one from the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art are a great resource.
