Oriental Carpet and Antique Rug Cleaning Services in NYC
Does Your Oriental Rug Need Cleaning, Restoration, Repair Or Maintenance?
Antique and Vintage rugs are rare, beautiful collectors items. Therefore, these rugs should be cherished and maintained with care to ensure their longevity, beauty and value. Whether it is a runner rug, room size rug, Moroccan, tribal, or Persian, your antique rug deserves to be cleaned, washed and pampered.
Rug Cleaning FAQ’s
Q. How Much Does Will It Cost To Clean My Rugs?
A. At Nazmiyal, we charge a base cost of $4 per square foot to clean rugs. Please note that we charge a minimum of $125 per rug for cleaning. Also, since we do not currently offer pick up or delivery services, you would need to arrange to have the rugs you want cleaned both dropped off and then picked up.
Q. How long does it take to get my rug cleaned?
A. The time frame for cleaning your rug depends on what needs to be done. Generally, if no additional services are needed, then you should assume around 2 to 3 weeks.
Q. How do I know when it is time to clean my rug?
A. Your rug should be cleaned every three to five years depending on how much foot traffic it receives.
Q. How do I get the rugs to Nazmiyal Antique Rugs in NYC for cleaning?
A. We don’t have a our own rug pickup and delivery service but we are happy to put you in touch with a local delivery service who, for a fee, will pick up the rug and deliver to us and vice versa. Contact our rug expert, Alen, who will be able to advise you on how to properly roll up and package your rug to ensure its safety.
Q. What if My Rug Has Stains?
A. Stains are probably the most obvious sign that a rug should be cleaned. Aside from gently blotting spills, leave stain-removal work to the rug cleaning pros. Stains tend to set in and get worked into the fibers as they dry or are rubbed. It’s also important to note that bugs, moths and rot are more likely to affect dirty rugs, including those in storage.
Q. What is The Carpet “Touch Test”?
A. The touch test is a simple and effective way to gauge the level of soiling. Simply rub the pile with an open hand going with the direction of the grain. If your hand feels dirty or excessively sticky, the rug probably needs to be cleaned.
Q. Why Should I Be Checking the Rug’s Pile and Foundation?
A. A visual examination of the pile and under-structure reveals deposits of dirt that are abrading the rug’s foundation. Gently spread the pile apart to look for dirt at the base of the knots (and along the warp and weft). Because typical cleaning methods cannot remove these deeply embedded particles, harmonic vibration equipment is the safest and most effective tool for cleaning antique rugs and protecting their value.
Q. How do rugs get cleaned? What goes in to cleaning process of a rug?
A. Factors that affect how your rug will be cleaned include size, geographic origin, construction techniques, fiber content, age and dyes. In most cases, antique rugs will be physically dusted to remove abrasive grit and debris trapped deep in the carpet pile. Then aqueous cleansing agents are applied to remove soil attached to the natural fibers that dulls the color and luminous sheen. Our antique rug cleaning experts are trained to clean using the most appropriate methods. If necessary, oxygen-based treatments can be employed to remove oxidation that causes yellowing in white and ivory rugs.
When necessary, we stabilize weak areas and employ protective cloths to minimize wear and unnecessary friction. Our rug cleaning experts are attentive to the special needs of every unique carpet.
After cleaning antique Oriental rugs and removing the cleansing agents and excess water, rugs are placed in a climate-controlled drying room. There, air warm, dry air circulates to ensure that even the thickest pile carpets dry quickly and thoroughly.
More About Our Cleaning Antique Oriental Rugs
An essential part of preserving the value, beauty and integrity of your antique rugs and vintage rugs is having your rugs cleaned by professionals. At Nazmiyal, our antique rug experts and professional carpet cleaners have been washing, cleaning, repairing and restoring antique rugs for more than 30 years.
To us, cleaning old rugs goes beyond removing the surface dirt. It’s also an important part of maintaining the natural fibers and carpet structure.
Periodically, cleaning rugs is an essential part of maintaining and keeping up valuable investment pieces, cherished collectibles and one-of-a-kind antique rugs. A professional cleaning is recommended for most rugs and carpets every four to five years.
Oriental Rug Cleaners and Professional carpet Cleaning In NYC
In addition to our antique rug cleaning service, we also clean semi-antique and vintage rug from China, Persia, Turkey, and the Caucuses.
We perform wet and dry carpet cleaning procedures that are compatible with silk rugs, wool carpets, and the most delicate hand-woven textiles. For the past three decades, our antique oriental rug cleaning team in NY has reinvigorated valuable textiles and carpets made with sensitive colors and delicate natural fibers.
Our rug cleaning services are done in a specially designed workshop and restoration studio that can accommodate the smallest decorative rugs and largest room-sized carpets. We provide every customer with the highest level of service from the initial pick up through final delivery.
Our knowledgeable conservators and rug cleaning experts carefully examine each carpet to determine the best process and foresee issues with color bleeding, delicate fiber and structural weak points. Before cleaning antique Oriental rugs, the age, size, condition, materials, construction techniques and level of soiling are carefully considered.
Oriental Rug Cleaning NY
A Guide To Rug Care
Owning an antique rug, especially a fine antique one, is not just a pleasure, but a responsibility. Owners of antique carpets and Persian rugs should actually think of themselves as “the current owner”, one in a series that spans from the distant past and well into the future. Antique rug care and maintenance is perhaps the most important and simplest aspect of owning a rug.
Maintaining an antique rug is vital to protecting the condition and as a result – the value. The basics of rug maintenance are also covered in our Articles About Antique Rug Services
Upkeep of Rugs – How To Maintain Rugs
Rugs are mainly susceptible to the following:
- Wear – due to foot traffic and/or rough vacuuming
- Damage – due to moths and other insects
- Stains – from food or beverages
- Burns – from smoking or fireplaces
- Damage – water leaks from plumbing/potted plants
Why carpet damages, if left unattended, become a major problem:
You must be vigilant of a carpet if it begins to unravel or wears down to foundation. If damage is left unattended, the carpet will continue to deteriorate further. As time goes on, worn out areas will become actual holes or tears. Unraveling, which generally occurs at the ends of the rug, will continue to “eat” away at the rug and as time goes by, the loss will become more and more significant.
Any such losses to the fabric – holes and torn/unraveled edges or ends – must be repaired as soon as possible to prevent them from getting larger and then requiring more extensive and expensive repair.
One of the factors for establishing the value of a rug is the condition. As the condition deteriorates, as there are more areas of restoration, the value will inevitably diminish.
Water damage and flower pots:
If you have a leaky flower pot sitting on top of a rug, the water will seep into the rug and over time, the damp/moist area will develop dry rot. Once the foundation of the rug has dry rot, there is no way of fixing it – that area would need to be completely removed and subsequently rewoven and the foundation recreated. This type of damage is easily avoidable and the restoration can be quite expensive, which may affect the future resale value of the rug.
Damages due to leaks can affect the entire rug. If a rug sits in water for a long period of time, the colors will begin to run/bleed. The rug may also start developing dry rot throughout. Please note, the rug does not need to be fully submerged in water for this to happen.
Since the wool will absorb the water, once it is wet, it will need to be opened and dried fully. Long term damages can only be assessed once the rug has been fully dried out.
How to minimize the risks of damages to your rug:
- Watch-out for wool eating moths – If you see a moth flying around then there is a good chance that your rug is already infested and you should consider seeking professional help. Check both the top pile and the underside of your rug periodically. Look for evidence of moths, especially the white silky cobwebs of the larvae. Some residences tend to have moths. If you fall into this category use moth spray periodically, even on the reverse side of rugs in active use.
- Storing your rugs – If you store rugs folded or rolled, use moth balls or cedar shavings and check the rugs every month or two. Make sure to have the carpet fully wrapped in (and sealed) so that water and humidity will not enter. We also suggest not having the rug sitting directly on the floor of your storage facility. If a leak does occur, it might be days before you find out and you surely would not want your rug “sitting” in water for the entire time.
- Burns – Make sure that you have something placed under a candle or incense. This way the hot wax and ash wont fall directly onto the carpet’s surface.
- Flower Pots – Make sure you have something under the flower pot where the water can pool, but not overflow onto the rug. As long as the area where the flower pot is located remains dry, you should not have any issues.
If you have a good carpet, then regular stains from food and beverages will most likely not cause long term damage. Therefore you should feel free to use and enjoy the piece and not worry if your guests spill.
Mitigating any potential damage from foot traffic: Even the finest rug will wear down if subjected to repeated foot traffic – that is a fact. That said, if you follow these simple steps, you can protect and increase the longevity of your rugs:
- Rotate the rug – It is important to rotate the rug every two years. This should be done so that the foot traffic is spread evenly over the entire surface of the rug.
- Vacuum your carpet – Frequent vacuuming is essential to remove dust and grit, which will wear the pile down under foot traffic. That said, it is important to note that vacuums with long and harsh bristles may damage the rug. So it important to use a vacuum that has a suction only or that has very soft and short bristles.
Keep the colors in your rug from fading:
Contrary to popular opinion, vegetable dyes may fade substantially when exposed to UV light. The synthetic dyes will fade extensively and this will happen far quicker than with the vegetable dyed rugs. Prolonged, intense sunlight is not good for textiles of any type. Intense and direct light might also dry and oxidize the wool by weakening the fibers. This is true of vintage rugs and antique rugs.
That said, by following these simple steps, you can easily keep the colors in your rug looking great:
- Shade the rug – If you have rugs in a very sunny room, it is advisable to use shading (especially during the sunnier hours of the day). You do not need to block the light, but reduce it somewhat.
- UV films and filters – Applying UV Filters to your windows is strongly advised. While you will not see a physical difference, the filters are quite effective. They are quick, easy, and inexpensive to implement so it is highly recommended to have them installed.
Things you should avoid doing to ensure your rug will have a long and happy life:
- Do not store rugs in a closet or attic without checking every month or so for moths and humidity.
- Do not store rugs in a basement, the damp environment could lead to irreparable dry rot (due to humidity always being present in such places).
- Do not leave a rug that is damp or wet directly on the floor surface. Moisture that cannot escape or dissipate from under the rug and may also cause dry rot – make sure to prop a damp rug up, letting the air circulate.
- Do not use vacuum cleaners with harsh bristle roller bars, unless the roller feature can be turned off. Roller or beater bars can cause the ends and sides of the rug to fray, leading to extensive loss. The long bristles may also damage the pile of the rug itself.
- Do not attempt to treat stains with chemical cleaners. These may make things worse and prevent a professional cleaner from removing the stain later on.