Pikesville Area Rug Care and Cleaning
the Universal Carpet Cleaning^® Way^®

   The terms "carpet" and "rug" are frequently erroneously used interchangeably. The term "rug" generally means a textile floor covering that is not fastened down and that does not extend over the entire floor. "Carpet" usually refers to a floor covering that is installed and fastened down from wall to wall.

   The demand for cleaning area rugs and oriental rugs, either on location or in-plant, is growing rapidly. The last two years have shown an increase in the use of area rugs, not only in homes but in offices as well. Large expensive oriental rugs are often found on wall-to-wall carpet in homes and executive suites. Hard surfaced floors nearly always are covered with expensive area rugs. With the rapid growth of wood floors, area rugs are increasingly popular.

   Area rugs can be cleaned on location or in the plant. Plant cleaning has some advantages, especially if a rug is problematic and may require additional treatment after drying.  

   The 12' x 18' rug pictured to the left is more than 100 years old and has a declared value of $65,000.00. It was shipped  from Denver for delivery to the exclusive Propylaeum Club in downtown Indianapolis.

   Rug plant has ten steel reinforced poles, twenty feet in length. They are equipped with stainless steel pins to prevent slippage of heavy rugs. The entire operation, which includes an electric winch system, takes up only 600 sq. ft. of floor space including the storage racks for finished rugs.

   Strictly speaking, the term “Oriental rug” refers to a hand knotted or hand-woven rug made in one of the traditional weaving areas of the Middle or Far East. Oriental rug quality is judged by the type of knot used, pile depth, number of knots per square inch, yarn fineness, color richness, fastness of the dye, and subtleness of the pattern. Oriental design rugs are machine-made reproductions of hand-knotted Orientals and are often incorrectly called Oriental rugs. Most “Orientals” brought  for cleaning are, in fact, Oriental design rugs, not true Oriental rugs.
    The most common fibers used in weaving Oriental rugs are wool, cotton, silk and rayon. Sometimes, camel hair, goat hair and horse hair are used.

   Braided rugs are constructed of wool fabric, heavy wool rug yarn, or other materials, including olefin. Individual lengths of braid or a continuous braid may be stitched or laced together into the desired shape. All braids have a core, which is an inner material that gives the braid shape and consistency. During cleaning, this core, if made of paper or dyed waste material, can easily bleed to the surface! Paper, foam, textile byproduct, or waste materials are often used for the core of low quality rugs.

   True Sisal is a natural fiber derived from the agave sisalana cactus plant. Sisal grows in semi-arid regions in Brazil and Mexico. Sisal is not the same fiber as coir or jute. Sisal is stronger and more durable than other natural fibers and is, therefore, preferred for Sisal Rugs.
   Other natural fibers used in making "Sisal" rugs are coir (coconut fibers), jute, hemp, seagrass from China, and mountain grass from China.
   Sisal rugs are for indoor use only and are often found in enclosed and screened-in porches. They should never be exposed to rainfall or allow to become water saturated.
   It is important during cleaning to control the amount of moisture. It is NOT recommended that Sisal be cleaned with a wet cleaning method. If the Sisal rug is severely soiled, try cleaning with Natural Fiber Cleaner.
   When actually installed as a wall-to-wall carpet, Sisal when cleaned may shrink away from the wall creating a serious problem requiring reinstallation.