Turkish Rug Cleaning

Turkish rugs are hand-knotted and the more knots that they have, the higher value they carry. This is out of respect for the time it takes to craft these floor coverings with each individual knot painstakingly completed by the hand of a master weaver. Knots are also connected to patterns on Turkish rugs. Floral patterns are more complex and require a greater number of knots to execute than a geometric design.

When Turkish rugs become clogged with dust, their pattern can become less defined impacting their striking appearance. Vacuum cleaning often only removes the top layers of accumulated dirt and a deep clean is necessary to reach all the way to the backing of the rug.

However, dust doesn’t just spoil the look of a rug, but can cause damage when it’s allowed to build up. As layer upon layer of dust accumulates it becomes compacted around the roots of rug fibres. While dust particles are minute, if you saw them under a microscope, you would see their edges are sharp. As rugs are stepped on, this unwanted matter cuts into the rug’s yarns, shredding them. Over time, rugs will start to look patchy and bald.

Many Turkish rugs, including Kilims are made with natural dyes. While these dyes provide Turkish rugs with a beautiful colour palette, if incorrect cleaning techniques are used the dye can migrate during care. Expert cleaners understand this and before any cleaning occurs, they can carry out a professional dye test. If colour bleed is likely, they apply a dye fixative before cleaning to stop any dye movement.

Turkish rugs also use natural materials in their weave which also need careful attention. In ancient times, Turkish rugs were used as floor coverings for daily use in the tents of tribesmen. As a result, hardy materials were chosen for their construction that offered both comfort and warmth, like wool and cotton. Fine quality rugs also featured strong silk.

Wool fibres possess tiny pockets which make them exceptionally susceptible to accumulating dust which is difficult to remove. Wool is also absorbent and can retain unwanted smells, including dampness from exposure to excessive moisture. As a result, in-depth cleaning is necessary and professional cleaners have the equipment necessary. Mini-harmonic vibrations are used to remove all dry matter and then built-for-purpose rug soaking troughs and washing pools allow rugs to be full submerged and thoroughly cleaned using mild detergents. Dehumidifying rooms and centrifuges also ensure rugs are properly dried. Silk elements of rugs also need special care. Hand-grooming can ensure that silk keeps its lustre ensuring Turkish rugs retain their fine qualities.

Turkish rugs represent a substantial investment for their owners. At our specially designed studio, we only use proven equipment, products and processes to clean the rugs in our care and have experience of cleaning Turkish rugs with a value of up to £10,000.