These, in fact, are the prime issues in rug cleaning that most consumers fear when entrusting their rug to a cleaning firm.  All of these potential problems are guaranteed NOT to occur as a result of cleaning with Augusta RugWorks.

There are different procedures appropriate for the myriad of rug constructions.  Each rug is carefully evaluated with a cleaning report work order.  Your rug is then handled by a IICRC Certified Technician, that individual being myself, the owner, Dan Cook.

This problem or condition is mostly found in hand-knotted and tufted rugs.  The condition has several origins, first of which is the actual hand weaving process, generally found in Tribal or Village looms where the weaving procedure is not strictly controlled for standards.  However, it is by many a sought after and prized look, but unfortunately cannot be remedied.

Another irregular shape condition stems from loosely woven rugs that have many years of use and simply relaxed their shape, like we humans.  Here again this is not a condition that can be corrected, or should be.

Lastly, there can be warping and misshape  due to poor handling of rugs from unqualified cleaning, for instance the rug was hung to dry while too wet or over wetting with an unstable dry down environment.  (Augusta RugWorks flat dries your rug on specially designed air tables in a temperature and humidity controlled environment.)  This type of misshape or warping can sometimes be corrected with a procedure known as "blocking the rug"< an adjustable stretcher frame is used while the rug is damp to create tensions on the overall or partial warp-weft weave.  This is done with minut adjustments over a time period with rewetting is necessary.  The procedure is only used when the overall rugs condition and age warrants and success varies depending on how badly the rug was warped to start with, however, generally improvements can be attained with the blocking procedure.

Naturally wool fibers are a "staple" food source for moths.  An infestation can go unnoticed until you discover your rug has many bare areas or small holes.  Remember, it only takes one moth to start the process.

There are moth proofing chemicals or treatments available to protect your wool rugs.  This treatment is done when the rug is being cleaned and can only be administered by a cleaning professional.

Your rug will be inspected for moth damage or ongoing infestation of larvae at the time you have it cleaned and we will advise your accordingly.

If you have a new rug or have acquired a rug used at auction, etc., it would be advisable to have the rug cleaned and moth proofed.  *Most Karastan rugs are moth proofed at manufacture.

It is important to have this rug cleaned and treated for mildew and negative gram microbe spore contamination as a result of the water damage.  However, most color bleeds are a result of over exposure to moisture and the nature of the dyes, i.e. synthetic chrome dyes versus natural vegetation dyes, the latter of which are most problematic for crocking (or bleeding).

Once this has occurred we are left with remedies that usually are hard to control and end up taking all the color out.  However, each circumstance and rug is different and has to be evaluated rather than arbitrarily dismissing hope for a remedy.

Absolutely not!  Area rug construction and dyes are totally different than your wall to wall carpet construction.

Wool rugs will react adversely to steam cleaning.  Temperatures above 160degrees will damage or destroy wool fiber and the weave foundation, warp cords and weft cords, are often dissimilar fibers, i.e. cotton/wool, - wool/jute, - wool/silk, - cotton/jute, etc., thus expansion-contraction rates are different.  If this is not accounted for in the cleaning, then warping or the rug can occur.

Secondly, if your rug is over hardwood flooring, then your in-house cleaned may end up wetting your floors in the process and causing even more damage than you bargained for.  I can enumerate other negative consequences, but I think you get the picture!

Urine contamination, is the most commonly asked question and rug mishap to deal with in the rug cleaning business.  It is a complicated problem with a long answer.

There are two parts to the problem.  First is the odor. Urine has a varied chemistry and simply cleaning alone is not sufficient.  Pre-cleaning with specialized surfactants comes first, flushing as much suspended residues as possible, followed by an enzyme bath for a specific period of time where rug size and density are factored.  This procedure may need to be repeated several times, followed by a conditioned rinse extraction and possible ozone treatment.  Our success with odor elimination is guaranteed!  Pricing is qualified upon inspection based on contamination variables.

The second part of the urine contamination problem is associated staining, you know, that yellow color. The first question I always ask the customer is, "What have you done to try to remove the stain?"  The answer to that question affects my answer regarding success of stain removal and I NEVER guarantee stain removal!  The age of the urine stain is a factor, gender of pet, species of pet, i.e. cat or dog, are also factors.  Remember what I stated in the beginning.  Urine is a complicated chemistry.  Its very PH starts out acidic but then dries and forms an alkaline salt, full of proteins, urea, etc.  Thus, age of stain is relevant in the approach to stain removal.

In a nutshell, I will guarantee odor removal, but cannot guarantee stain removal.

Congratulations on owning a "Turkish" silk rug, generally speaking they are of the highest quality silk.  Yes, we can successfully clean silk rugs without associated problems.

Typically, we dry clean silk rugs, although silk is the strongest natural fiber and will endure professional cleaning procedures.  The #1 issue is maintaining the face pile orientation and hand (texture softness).  Dry cleaning administered properly will return your rug clean and softer than before it was cleaned.

There is no absolute time period, environmental conditions dictate necessary cleaning cycles, i.e. kids, pets and traffic, may require cleaning annually.  However, less activity may dictate a longer cleaning cycle. 

Now after this is understood, you should be aware that any textile or rug is absorbing airborne pollutants and contaminates, similar to a filter.  Oxidation is ongoing and this condition has adverse effects on rug dyes and fibers. So my personal advice would be not to exceed a three year cleaning cycle.