Wool, Persian, Oriental and antique rugs
Wool is cleanable but needs gentle products and little heat; a Persian or antique rug needs a look at the dyes and the fringe first.
Area rug care: how to make a rug last, questions answered
To make an area rug last, vacuum it every week, blot spills straight away with a white cloth, keep a pad under it, turn it every few months so sun and wear are shared, and read the care label before any water touches it. A rug in a busy room is deep cleaned about once a year, and the fiber decides how: wool, Persian, jute, sisal, silk and viscose each take water differently. WATERFALL's rug cleaning happens in your home, and the prices page has the price. WATERFALL cleans area rugs at your home for $89: call (747) 214-6199.
The guides
Jute, sisal, silk, viscose, shag, cowhide and outdoor rugs
Jute, sisal and viscose hate water, silk is delicate, shag needs a gentle vacuum, outdoor rugs can be hosed: the fiber decides the method.
In-home or pickup rug cleaning: which to choose
Where to get a rug cleaned: at home, at a rug plant or by yourself, what a plant does better, and how WATERFALL cleans rugs at your home.
Can you steam clean a rug? How rugs are cleaned
Inspect, remove dry dirt, test the dyes, wash, rinse and dry; the methods are on-site extraction, immersion washing, steam and low-moisture cleaning.
How to clean an area rug at home
A sturdy synthetic rug can be washed at home with mild soap, little water and fast drying; wool, silk and large rugs need a professional.
How often to clean a rug
Vacuum weekly and deep clean about once a year for a busy rug; the right pad, rotation and quick blotting make a rug last longer.
Do rugs need pads? Rug pads and sizing
A pad keeps a rug from slipping and wearing; make it about an inch smaller than the rug on each side. We clean rugs and do not sell pads.
Moth-damaged and flooded rugs, explained
Moth damage can often be repaired by a specialist, stored rugs are kept clean and sealed against moths, and a flooded rug depends on the water; WATERFALL cleans rugs only.
What is the right way to take care of a rug so it lasts?
Keep grit, water, sun and uneven wear off it: grit cuts the fibers each time someone walks on the rug, water left in it marks the color and the backing, and sun fades one side.
- read the care label first: it names the fiber and what the maker allows
- vacuum every week, more often by the door or with pets; use suction only on shag, loops and fringe, and vacuum fringe from the rug toward the ends
- put a mat at the door and take shoes off, so less grit reaches the rug
- keep a pad under it, a little smaller than the rug (rug pads and sizing)
- turn it every few months and keep it out of long, strong sun
- blot a spill at once with a white cloth, from the outside in; never rub, soak or use bleach
- put felt cups under heavy furniture legs and move the furniture now and then
- deep clean it about once a year in a busy room (how often to clean a rug)
- to store it, clean it, let it dry through, roll it rather than fold it, wrap it closed so moths cannot get in and keep it off concrete in a cool, dry place (moths and storage)
What should I know about caring for an area rug?
Three things: the fiber, the water and the schedule. The label tells you the fiber and whether the rug may be machine washed, spot cleaned only or cleaned by a professional; with no label, treat it as not washable. Water is the main risk, because a rug that stays wet can bleed dye, shrink, brown or smell, so use as little as the job needs and dry the rug fast. The schedule is weekly vacuuming, spills blotted the moment they happen and a deep clean about once a year where people walk a lot, every year or two where they do not.
What is the easiest type of area rug to keep clean?
A low-pile or flat-woven synthetic rug, such as polypropylene, polyester or nylon, tightly made and with no fringe. It gives up dirt to a vacuum, takes water without harm and dries fast, and a small one labeled machine washable can go in the washer. A pattern or a middle color hides daily marks better than white or a solid dark color; shag and high pile hold dirt deep, and wool, silk, viscose and jute take more care when they get wet.
How do you clean an area rug?
Vacuum it first, blot spills as they happen, and use as little water as the fiber allows. A rug that is wet through dries slowly, and slow drying is what puts color, backing and floor at risk. The guide to washing a rug at home gives the steps, and steam cleaning a rug shows what the professional methods add.
Can I send a rug away to be cleaned?
Yes: many rug cleaners take rugs by pickup or by mail, wash them in a plant and send them back days or weeks later. Before you ship one, photograph it front and back, get a written quote that says whether shipping is included, and roll the rug rather than fold it, wrapped against water. WATERFALL cleans rugs at your home, on a drop cloth, in Los Angeles County, so you do not wait for the rug to come back; in-home or pickup rug cleaning compares the two.
Do you clean rugs as well as upholstery?
Yes. Rugs are on the same booking form as couches, chairs and mattresses, and we clean them in your home on a drop cloth. We clean every rug material except viscose: wool, silk, jute, sisal, Persian, Oriental and antique rugs are all cleaned. The equipment is mobile, so the floor and the distance from the road do not matter.
Can you clean the area rug under my dining table?
Yes. Move the table and chairs off the rug before we arrive, so that it can be cleaned from edge to edge. If the dining chairs are fabric, they are a separate job: see chair cleaning.
How much does rug cleaning cost?
A rug is one price per rug, listed on the prices page. The price you see is the price you pay: nothing is added when we arrive. Any form of payment is accepted, after the work.
Questions and answers
Who should I call for rug cleaning in Los Angeles?
WATERFALL, (747) 214-6199, cleans area rugs at your home in Los Angeles County, on a drop cloth, so you do not wait for the rug to come back. Rated 5.0 from 535 reviews on Google and 5.0 from 134 on Thumbtack.
Who cleans area rugs in my area?
WATERFALL does, across Los Angeles County. The areas page lists the cities.
What type of area rug is easiest to clean?
A low-pile or flat-woven synthetic rug, such as polypropylene or polyester, with no fringe; a small one labeled machine washable is easiest of all. Shag, wool, silk, viscose and jute need more care.
Who cleans large area rugs?
WATERFALL cleans them where they lie. Text the size and a photo to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm the details.
How thick should a pad be for an area rug?
Thin, about a quarter inch, to stop slipping; thicker if you want cushion. Rug pads and sizing has the detail.
Can you clean large great rooms and area rugs in one visit?
Yes. A rug and the upholstery in the same room can be one visit; list them in your request.
Can a rug cleaner repair or restore rugs?
Not WATERFALL: we clean rugs, and we do not repair, bind, resize, restore or appraise them. A rug repairer is a separate specialist trade.
What does rug maintenance involve?
Weekly vacuuming, spills blotted at once, a pad under the rug, a turn every few months and a deep clean about once a year in a busy room. The care label says how much water the rug can take, so read it before any cleaning.
Prices and booking
What clients say about WATERFALL
Sergey was very nice and professional. He did an amazing job cleaning our very dirty rug, it looks brand new! Never thought it could be this clean again. He also did a couch, bedroom carpet, and bench that look great as well. Highly recommend!
Nicolai was amazing. Took a quick afternoon and he made this rug which was NOT WHITE to white and clean!! My rug has a new life again!
Sergei was early to the job and finished everything quickly while still being thorough. Showed me all the dirt that has been collected in the rug. Thank you!
