Persian and wool rugs in Vancouver: why they need a different clean, and what it costs
Vancouver has a lot of good rugs. Character houses in Kerrisdale, Dunbar and Shaughnessy often have a Persian rug in the living room that has been in the family for decades. Older Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant homes mix vintage runners with newer wool rugs. And in Yaletown, Coal Harbour and the West End, a wool rug is often the only soft thing on a hardwood or concrete floor. These rugs can outlast the house, but they don’t take a carpet clean well. Here’s what makes them different, what a safe clean looks like, and what it costs.
What makes a Persian rug different from carpet
Wall-to-wall carpet is usually synthetic fibre on a synthetic backing, built to take hot water and strong rinses. A traditional Persian rug is the opposite:
- Wool pile, knotted by hand. Each knot is tied onto the foundation, which is why the pattern shows clearly on the back.
- A cotton foundation. The warp and weft threads underneath are often cotton, and the fringe is the ends of the warp. Cotton soaks up water and can turn brown if it stays wet too long.
- Dyes that can move. Older and hand-dyed rugs, especially deep reds and dark blues, can bleed if the solution or the temperature is wrong.
So the same method that rinses a nylon carpet beautifully can shrink, stain or stiffen a Persian rug. The rug needs a different approach, not just more care.
What a safe clean looks like
When we clean a wool or Persian rug in your home, the steps are:
- Read the tag and look at the back to confirm the fibre and how it’s made. Send us photos of both when you book.
- Test a hidden corner for colour bleed before anything touches the field of the rug.
- Pre-treat traffic paths and spots with a wool-safe product.
- Clean with a wool-safe solution at the right pH, keeping the temperature down so the fibres don’t felt or shrink.
- Control the water, so the rug ends up damp rather than soaked and nothing reaches the foundation or the floor underneath.
- Clean the fringe and groom the pile so it dries evenly and lies the right way.
Then we walk through the rug with you before we leave. If anything isn’t right, we fix it, or you get your money back.
What it costs
Rugs are priced by size, plus GST. A Persian rug is the same price as any other wool or synthetic rug:
| Rug | Price (before the promo) |
|---|---|
| About 10×8 or bigger | $90 |
| Smaller than 10×8 | $65 |
The visit minimum is $210, one item on its own is $150, and the seasonal promo comes off jobs above the minimum. Some typical Vancouver bookings:
| Home | What’s cleaned | List price |
|---|---|---|
| West End one-bedroom | One 8×10 wool rug | $150 (one item) |
| Kitsilano apartment | A 9×12 Persian and a 3×10 hall runner | $210 (minimum) |
| Dunbar character house | 9×12 living room rug, 8×10 dining rug, two runners | $310 |
| Kerrisdale house | Three large rugs, a 3-seat sofa | $540 |
You can add carpeted bedrooms, a sofa or dining chairs to the same visit.
How booking a fine rug works
Because the fibre decides the method, rugs are a photo job. When you book Persian rug cleaning in Vancouver online, you see the estimate as you add each rug, then send photos of the rug, the back and the tag. Rob looks at them himself, confirms the price by email and sets up a time with you. Rugs with no tag or unknown fibre may need a short signed waiver.
When a rug should go to a specialist instead
Some rugs shouldn’t be cleaned on the floor at all, and we’ll say so:
- Silk and viscose rugs, sometimes sold as “art silk” or “bamboo silk”. Viscose can yellow, brown or go harsh when wet.
- Antique rugs with worn foundations, holes or loose fringes.
- Pet urine that has soaked through into the foundation.
- Rugs that have bled before.
These can need full immersion washing or repairs at a rug specialist. If Rob sees a rug like this in your photos, he’ll tell you honestly before anyone books a time.
Keeping a Persian rug clean between visits
- Vacuum without the beater bar, and keep the vacuum off the fringe.
- Use a rug pad. On hardwood and concrete it stops slipping and protects the knots from grit.
- Rotate the rug every six months so sun and foot traffic wear it evenly.
- Blot spills with a white cloth and cool water. Don’t rub, and skip solvents, bleach and ammonia on wool.
- Test any spot product on a hidden corner first. If a stain doesn’t lift with water, leave it for a professional.
Most households clean a fine rug every one to two years, or every year in a busy room or a home with pets.
Common questions
Is a Persian rug more expensive to clean? No. It’s priced by size, like any rug. It just gets a wool-safe method.
Do you take the rug away? No. We clean it in your home. If it needs off-site washing, we’ll say so.
How long does it take to dry? Most rugs dry the same day. Thick wool piles take longest, so keep furniture off until it’s fully dry.
Can you protect a rug afterwards? Yes. Ultra Protection is $30 a rug and helps spills bead up long enough to blot.
Ready to book? See Persian rug cleaning in Vancouver, or call (604) 802-8500.