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A Persian rug is woven to last a century — if it's cleaned the right way
Genuine Persian rugs are hand-knotted from wool and silk and colored with traditional vegetable and early aniline dyes. Those same qualities that make them beautiful also make them sensitive: hot water, alkaline detergents and spinning machines — the standard tools for synthetic carpet — can shrink the foundation, dull the wool and cause dyes to run.
Our approach is built around the rug, not the schedule. Each piece is dusted to remove dry grit from deep in the pile, color-tested, hand-washed with pH-balanced solutions, then dried flat in a controlled room. It's the same specialist process behind our full Oriental & Persian rug cleaning service — this page simply focuses on what Persian rugs specifically need.
Persian Rugs We Clean — and What Each One Needs
From city workshops to tribal looms, every Persian weave behaves differently in the wash. Here's how we treat the ones we see most.
Tabriz
Dense wool, often with silk highlights. We wash gently to protect the fine knotting and keep the silk accents bright.
Kashan
Rich reds and deep blues that demand careful colorfastness testing before any water touches the pile.
Isfahan
Finely knotted, often on a silk foundation. Washed entirely by hand to preserve detail and sheen.
Qom (Silk)
Pure silk and extremely delicate. Low-moisture hand cleaning and flat drying protect the luster.
Nain
Soft ivory tones and wool-and-silk blends that need a mild wash to avoid yellowing the light fields.
Kerman
Pastel palettes prone to fading. We use dye-safe solutions and avoid sun-drying to hold the color.
Heriz
Tough, geometric village rugs. Durable but still hand-washed to clear deeply embedded grit safely.
Sarouk
Plush wool with classic florals. We restore loft after washing so the pile stands full again.
Not sure which type you own? We identify it for free during inspection. We also clean Turkish, Caucasian, Indian and other hand-knotted rugs — see everything we handle across our full range of rug cleaning services.
We inspect for these issues first and repair what cleaning alone can't fix.
Common Persian Rug Problems We Fix
Cleaning is often only half the job. These are the issues we most often find on Persian rugs — and the services that solve them.
Dye Migration & Bleeding
Reds running into ivories from a past spill or bad wash. We stabilize and, where needed, correct it with dye correction.
Pet Stains & Odor
Urine damages dyes and fibers fast. Our pet odor & urine treatment neutralizes it at the source.
Worn Fringe & Edges
Frayed fringe and unraveling sides are common on older Persians. Our rug repair restores them.
Moth Damage
Larvae feed on wool in low-traffic areas. We treat infestations during cleaning and reweave bare spots.
Dry Rot & Water Damage
Trapped moisture weakens the foundation until it cracks. We dry thoroughly and assess the backing for stability.
Sun Fading & Dullness
Years of light flatten the colors. Proper dusting and washing revive depth; dye work can refresh faded zones.
Three ways home cleaning ruins a Persian rug
Most permanent Persian rug damage we see didn't come from age — it came from a rented machine or a bottle of household cleaner.
Steam & hot water
Heat sets stains, shrinks the cotton foundation, and can fuse wool fibers — damage that's irreversible.
Store-bought cleaners
Alkaline and ammonia-based products strip natural lanolin and trigger dye bleeding on untested colors.
Scrubbing the pile
Aggressive brushing breaks knots and creates bald, blurry patches that no later cleaning can undo.
How We Clean a Persian Rug
A simplified look at the careful, by-hand routine. For the complete breakdown, see our 8-step process on the main service page.
Inspect & Dust
We identify the weave, document condition, and remove dry soil that washing alone can't reach.
Test the Dyes
Every color is checked for bleeding so we can pick a safe wash method and water temperature.
Hand-Wash
Gentle, pH-balanced hand cleaning lifts grime from the pile without stressing fibers or dyes.
Flat-Dry & Finish
Controlled flat drying, a final inspection, and grooming so the rug returns soft, even and bright.
What does Persian rug cleaning cost?
Every Persian rug is different, so we don't quote from a fixed price list. After a quick inspection we give you an exact, no-obligation price for your rug — our minimum service charge is $140.
Want a number now? Call us at (847) 847-2004 for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Persian Rug Cleaning — Common Questions
The questions Persian rug owners ask us most