General | Steam Sweepers | Carpet Cleaners | Carpet Cleaning

Area Rugs Have Memories

We received three turn of the century Chinese area rugs today and I have to say, they are magnificent in color, quality and beauty. They just don’t make rugs today that compare. Each rug was from a different customer but one rug deserved a mention here today. A friendly gentleman that must of been in his early seventies brought us a fine wool rug today that he is very attached to, and for good reason, it was his beloved grandmothers favorite rug and held special memories for him. He shared a fun memory of when he would lay across the rug as a child and watch the colors change from light to dark as he wisp ed his hands across the forest green wool pile. I could imagine a child staring and drifting off too a place adults can’t find anymore simply by watching sun light filter through fine wool pile on Gram’s rug.

One thing I really enjoy about my trade are the stories that are packaged with the area rugs we take in to clean and wash. Each week customers bring us treasures, memories and stories that can’t be replaced and I’m honored folks feel comfortable leaving them in our trust and care. If I could refresh one memory by simply washing an area rug, that is reward enough for a long week.

Art Thomas

Owner

Spot Cleaners for Wool Area Rugs

One of the most frequently asked questions is “What should I use to spot clean my wool rug?”. My first response is “Don’t use carpet spotters purchased in your local grocery store”. Carpet spotters are made for synthetic fibers which 99% of all carpeting is manufactured with.

The safest bet is to purchase a product that has been certified safe by a company called Woolsafe. Manufactures pay Woolsafe to undergo tests for spotters and cleaners developed to clean and wash wool products. Once the products have been deemed safe, the wool-safe logo can be attached to the product label.

OK, now that you have purchased a wool-safe product, you need to complete a colorfast check before using the spotter on your rug. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but you still need to test the product on your rug before using it. Many hand knotted area rugs are not colorfast and it would be a very unpleasant surprise for you to see your treasured area rug bleed before your eyes.

Apply the spotter to a clean white cotton cloth in an inconspicuous area of the rug, not necessarily the spot you intend on removing. With some pressure, but no movement, allow the product to make contact for a minute or so. Make sure contact is made to all the colors you will be applying the spotter to. Remember, just because one color is fast does not mean other colors are. If you get any color transfer from the rug to the cotton cloth, STOP and call a certified rug cleaning expert. The following procedures can be followed if your rug is colorfast.

1. Apply your rug spotter to a clean white cotton cloth, not the rug.
2. Blot the spot toward the center of the stain and avoid scrubbing in a circular motion as this could cause permanent texture distortion and fuzzing.

If you’re not successful, call a rug cleaning expert.

Art Thomas
Owner/ Steam Sweepers LLC

Area Rug Cleaning

Wool area rugs can accumulate several pounds of soil and dusty grit which can cause color fade and fiber damage if not removed. At Bellingham’s Only Rug Cleaning Facility, our customers are always shocked when they see the amount of dry soil removed before the washing or cleaning of their rug.

At Steam Sweepers of Bellingham we remove the dust and grit with a mechanical rug beater, and to be assured, its not a vacuum cleaner. This is a vital step in rug cleaning and is missed with on location rug cleaning methods.

Any dust and grit not removed becomes a muddy mess that lodges itself in the the rugs foundation. After the rug has dried the mud-dust will harden and your rug will loose much of its its useful life. Fine rugs last decades when professionally washed

On site rug cleaners do not remove the grit from your rugs foundation and can only do a light surface carpet extraction or dry cleaning methods, neither is accepted in the professional rug cleaning industry.

Tile Cleaning

We are expert tile cleaners.

Tile and Grout Cleaning

Steam Sweepers is a premier tile and grout restoration cleaning company located in Bellingham, serving all of Whatcom County. Our restoration cleaning process has saved many of our customers thousands of dollars in remodeling costs. Call us before you spend thousands replacing dirty and stained tile and grout that can be restored.

Pet Odor Removal

Steam Sweepers understands that our four-legged members of the family are precious, despite the occasional frustrations we have because of accidents and surprises, we love them. When pet stains, pet odor or pet urine leaves our carpet soiled and contaminated Steam Sweepers has the expertise to provide a solution that best fits customer expectations and budget.

Area Rug Cleaning

Steam Sweepers operates Bellingham’s only Fine Rug Cleaning and Washing facility.

Area Rugs Have Memories

Spot Cleaners for Wool Area Rugs

Area Rug Cleaning

Tile Cleaning

Tile and Grout Cleaning

Pet Odor Removal

Area Rug Cleaning

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