FAQs
How Can We Assist?
How often should area rugs be cleaned?
With regular wear, we recommend having your rugs cleaned every 3 to 5 years. If you have entry or kitchen rugs or any rug that sees a lot of potentially dirty traffic, you may want to have those rugs cleaned every year.
Why? When small particles of dirt filter down into the foundation of the rug, it can cut away at the wool fibers which will ultimately cause wear spots on the rug. It is important to remove all dirt from a rug, not just the surface dirt that most rug cleaners pay attention to. We not only vacuum, but we use a rug Badger that beats the dirt out of the rug that is compressed into the foundation.
Do you offer pickup and delivery?
Yes, we can usually schedule a pick up within a couple of days of your call. There is a small fee for this service, based on the distance of the pick-up.
Can you get rid of moths in my rug?
Yes! We can guarantee the removal of moths in your rug. We do this by first freezing your rug for 7 days in a zero degree freezer. This will kill any eggs in the rug before it is washed. We can also treat your rug with moth proofer which helps to prevent moths from returning to the rug if they are still in the house.
Should I use a vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush (beater bar)?
Many experts will recommend not using the rotating brush, and although I would agree that it is obviously gentler on a rug, I must confess that I have always used the vacuum on its regular setting with the beater bar and I have never had a problem. In fact, if the rug is hand-knotted and made with a high quality wool, the rotating brush (beater bar) can actually help give the rug a silky patina over time.
What about pet urine?
This is one of the most common problems in the rug cleaning business. Pet urine can stain a rug, it can unsettle the dyes and cause dye run when you wash the rug and of course, it can leave a nasty odor. There are many methods to try removing pet stains and odor. We use enzymes, vinegar, baking soda and obviously a great deal of water to flush out the urine. Whether or not we are successful depends a lot on the quality of the wool and the dyes used to make the rug. If the wool is rich in lanolin, we are much more likely to remove all traces of the urine. If the dyes are not colorfast, it makes it very difficult to remove the urine without damaging the rug.
Should rugs be rotated?
It is always a good idea to rotate your rug every 1 to 2 years. This helps to balance out fading and wear.
Where should I have my fine area rugs cleaned?
Have your rug cleaned by an expert who is willing to explain the process and show you the cleaning facility. Make sure they don’t use rotating machines that will unwind the yarn and distort the overall appearance of your rug. Avoid machines that can damage your rug. Make sure they are insured and bonded. In short, you can trust Pittsburgh Rug Cleaning. We are licensed and insured and we clean every rug by hand at our facility.
Where should I buy a rug?
Like anything else, you should buy from a trusted professional who stands behind their product and has been in the industry for a reasonable amount of time. Your rug store should be willing to put in writing exactly what the rug is: country of origin, knot count, wool quality, type of dyes, age, etc. Many rug dealers exaggerate the quality and mislead the customer. There should be a penalty for this. At Pittsburgh Rug Company, we are willing to put in writing all of the information on any rug we sell and if any of the information is untrue, we will buy it back for double.