Rug Cleaning in Litchfield County 

We are the only rug care facility located in Litchfield County to provide all wash and restoration services – from a full-immersion wet wash to delicate hand washing of your precious fabrics. 

1. Pre-Wash Inspection: Each rug is inspected for any pre-existing conditions. Many times soil covers up dye lot variations, fiber staining, prior dye bleeding, worn areas, or white knots that become “uncovered” after the wash. Some of these are weaving characteristics, and others are damage that can possibly be repaired or reversed. If you bring the rug to us personally, then this inspection takes place with you, and we will discuss any areas of concern that you have regarding your rugs and your options.

2. Abrash:Dye lot color variations. All wool has tone changes that range from off-white to yellow to gray. When this wool is dyed a particular color, this results in a variety of shading. When one “batch” of red wool is used up in the weaving process, and the weaver grabs the next “batch” from slightly different color base wool, this difference is woven into the rug. 

3. White Knots: Most rugs have cotton foundations. Cotton warps run throughout the entire length of a rug, and cotton weft threads run left to right and are the means by which each row of wool knots are packed into straight line. During the weaving and packing process, cotton warps and wefts will break. A broken warp or weft cannot be replaced, so the two broken pieces are tied in a knot and the weaving proceeds.

4. Asymmetry: Handmade textiles are rarely perfectly symmetrical. Slight design shifts in city rugs, and more noticeable design and shape variations in tribal pieces are expected.

5. Dusting": Vacuum the rug slowly, upside-down Once the inspection is complete and the wash proceeds, the first step is dusting. Rugs can hold up to one pound of dirt per square foot before it “looks” dirty.

6. Flooding: Not all rugs need to be dry cleaned The dyes of the rug are tested for colorfastness. If the dyes are not colorfast, then the rug is bathed first in vinegar to set the dyes during the wash process. The rug is then given cold water, mild shampoo bath, using soft brushes for mild agitation. The rug is soaked for a certain length of time, depending on how much surface soil and spotting needs to be gently worked out and rinsed from the rug’s fibers. The rug is thoroughly rinsed with water and then placed through a rubber roller wringer to gently squeeze the water from the rug .

7. Drying: In-home cleaning of rugs All of our rugs are laid out flat to dry. Hanging textiles up when wet can lead to too much strain on the foundation of the rugs. Air movers are used to help facilitate drying, without the use of high heat so there is no worry of shrinkage. Upon a first wash, it is typical for a rug to shrink slightly – just as cotton and wool clothing does in even a cold water hand wash. And as with throwing wool or cotton in a high heat dryer, you know this shrinks natural fibers … this is why all rugs are laid out flat to dry.

8. Fringe Work & Finishing: Fringe tassels are washed an additional time after the bath. The tassels are then dried. The rug is given a final grooming with a horsehair brush and then rolled and ready to go home.