Oriental Rug Cleaning. Buffalo & Rochester, NY
Persian, Turkish, Afghan, Chinese, and antique hand-knotted rugs deserve more than a standard clean. We know the difference — and we treat them accordingly.
Serving Buffalo & Rochester, NY — Free Pick-Up & Delivery across the region.
✦ Request a QuoteWhy Oriental Rugs Need Specialist Care
Oriental rugs — hand-knotted pieces from Persia (Iran), Turkey, Afghanistan, China, India, and other weaving traditions — are among the most complex textile objects in everyday use. Their construction, fiber composition, dye chemistry, and age all create conditions that standard rug cleaning equipment and chemistry cannot safely handle.
The consequences of cleaning an oriental rug incorrectly include dye bleeding, pile distortion, foundation damage, shrinkage, and — in severe cases — irreversible color loss. These aren't theoretical risks. They happen when oriental rugs go through steam cleaning, dry cleaning, or machine processes designed for synthetic wall-to-wall carpet.
We specialize in oriental rugs because they require it. Our process is built around full-immersion hand washing with solutions selected for the fiber type. It's the same approach used by the best rug conservators, and the only method that cleans these pieces safely and thoroughly.
Types of Oriental Rugs We Clean
- Persian (Iranian) rugs — Tabriz, Isfahan, Kashan, Heriz, Qom, and tribal weavings
- Turkish rugs — Oushak, Hereke, kilims, and village pieces
- Afghan & Pakistani rugs — Bokhara, Mahal, Ziegler, and tribal designs
- Chinese & Tibetan rugs — including high-pile Tibetan weavings with wool or silk
- Indian rugs — Agra, Jaipur, Mughal, and contemporary hand-knotted pieces
- Antique oriental rugs — 50+ year old pieces with aged natural dyes requiring the most delicate approach
- Silk & silk-blend oriental rugs — handled under our deep hand washing protocol
Our Approach
Pre-Wash Assessment
Each rug gets a full inspection before we begin. We identify the fiber composition, test dye stability in multiple zones, assess the foundation and pile condition, and note any pre-existing damage. This determines the cleaning solutions and process we use. There is no one-size-fits-all approach here.
Full-Immersion Hand Washing
Oriental rugs are washed by immersion in our 1,200-gallon wash facility, with hand agitation by our technicians. Unlike machine washing, our team controls every aspect of the process — pressure, temperature, chemistry concentration, and rinse thoroughness — adjusting as needed for each individual piece.
Controlled Drying
How a rug dries matters as much as how it's washed. Oriental rugs are dried flat, in a climate-controlled environment, with careful attention to pile direction and fringe alignment. We don't rush this stage. Improper drying causes as many problems as improper washing.
Fringe Care — Included
The fringe on an oriental rug is part of the foundation — not decoration. It's the exposed warp threads that hold the entire structure together. We clean, whiten, and groom fringe as standard on every oriental rug we handle. If fringe is damaged or unravelling, we'll identify this during pre-inspection and discuss repair options separately.
What to Expect on Turnaround
Oriental rugs typically take longer than standard rugs. The careful pre-inspection, extended soak, hand washing, and controlled drying all add time. Most oriental rug cleans are completed within 7–14 days. We'll give you a realistic timeframe when we assess your rug and keep you informed if anything changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about oriental and Persian rug cleaning.
What makes oriental rug cleaning different from regular rug cleaning?
Oriental rugs are hand-knotted with natural fibers and dyes that react differently to cleaning solutions, temperature, and agitation than machine-made rugs. Standard cleaning processes designed for synthetic or machine-made pieces can cause dye bleeding, pile distortion, shrinkage, and foundation damage in oriental rugs. Our process accounts for these differences at every stage — from the pre-wash dye stability testing to the hand agitation and controlled drying.
Is your cleaning process safe for antique oriental rugs?
Yes. Antique rugs — pieces 50 years old or more — are among the rugs we're most experienced with. We assess the fiber condition, dye stability, and foundation integrity before choosing any cleaning approach. For particularly fragile or high-value antiques, we may recommend our Deep Hand Washing service, which provides even more precise control over every aspect of the wash.
Can you safely clean silk oriental rugs?
We can. Silk fibers are protein-based and react poorly to alkaline cleaners and excessive agitation. We use pH-neutral, silk-safe formulations and wash silk rugs entirely by hand under our Deep Hand Washing protocol. This ensures a thorough clean without weakening the fiber or dulling the natural luster that makes silk rugs distinctive.
How do you handle hand-knotted rugs during the wash?
Hand-knotted rugs are washed by full immersion in our 1,200-gallon wash facility with hand agitation by our technicians — not machine agitation. This allows us to control pressure, temperature, chemistry concentration, and rinse thoroughness for each individual piece. The knot structure, pile direction, and foundation type all inform how we handle the rug throughout the process.
How do you prevent dye bleed on oriental rugs?
We test dye stability in multiple zones of the rug before beginning any wash. Many oriental rugs use natural dyes — madder, indigo, walnut — that behave differently from synthetic dyes and can be sensitive to pH changes and temperature. Based on our testing, we choose fiber-appropriate solutions and water temperature that clean effectively while staying within safe parameters for the specific dyes in your rug.