Professional Rug Cleaning in London: Persian, Oriental, Wool and Silk Rug Specialists
James Barclay are professional rug cleaners based in London, caring for fine handmade rugs for over one hundred years and three generations. Our professional rug cleaning service covers Persian rug cleaning, oriental rug cleaning, wool, silk and contemporary pieces, every one of them cleaned by hand
at our own workshop rather than sent elsewhere. As members of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, we assess each rug individually before any water touches it, and your rug is insured from the moment we collect it until it is back in your home.
Specialist Rug Cleaning by Hand
We are specialists rather than a general cleaning company. Specialist rug cleaning means every piece is identified, tested for colour fastness, and given a method chosen for its fibre, its age and how it was made. A handmade Persian rug is never treated the same way as a modern machine woven one.
Our Rug Washing Process
Traditional rug washing is what separates a specialist from a general cleaner. Every rug wash begins with a gentle beating process that draws out the dirt and dust held deep in the foundation of the piece. Then comes the hand wash itself, using water, brushes and shampoo to clean the wool or silk, brighten the colours and reset the pile. Hand washing cleans deep into the pile without stressing the foundation threads. Finally the rug is dried using our own techniques for extracting excess moisture, because a rug left damp is at real risk of mould and shrinkage.
The Rugs We Clean
Our workshop cleans every kind of handmade and fine rug, including Persian rugs, oriental rugs, wool rugs, silk rugs, antique rugs, Turkish rugs, Afghan rugs, Indian rugs, Chinese rugs, Moroccan rugs, handmade rugs and contemporary designer pieces. If you are unsure what you own, send us a photograph and we will tell you.
At James Barclay, we are passionate about rug cleaning and treat every Oriental carpet and rug individually and will pick a hand cleaning technique that is both thorough and sensitive to the precise needs of your rug. We take pride in our ability to eliminate stains and inconsistencies and to restore the glorious hues and tints that make each and every rug unique.
At its simplest, rug cleaning is about extending the life of the rug. Dirt particles and other impurities don’t merely sit on the surface, but are embedded within, cutting and damaging the fibres themselves. As a result, over time the condition of the rug will deteriorate. A basic clean may remove some of the surface dirt, but unless you’re getting deep into the roots of the fibres, you’re doing little more than blowing away the cobwebs. We use special brushes to dislodge as many of the dirt particles as possible, before choosing a sensitive but deep-penetrating cleaning method that washes every fibre.
We recommend handmade Persian, Oriental and decorative rugs and carpets undertake professional rug cleaning every 5-7 years. This is a balanced timeframe that avoids dirt and dust to build up in the pile of a rug which can cause abrasions and holes. Our advice is to adhere to this timeframe as cleaning a rug too often can affect the lustre in the natural dyes and fibres of a rug.
The drying process is just as important as the washing stage. A rug that doesn’t dry properly is at severe risk of contracting mould or mildew. These rugs can also suffer from browning, where the water rises to the tips of the fibres before evaporating, leaving behind a dark and unsightly residue made up of lignin and other materials that have dissolved in the water. Dye bleeding is another side-effect of an inadequate drying process. We’ll ensure that your rug dries out gently but properly, allowing you to enjoy it fully at its freshest.
Our rug cleaning service is about far more than treating your rug to the deepest most-nourishing clean that we can deliver:
Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of our job is seeing once-opulent rugs being restored to their former magnificence, unlocking the glorious hues and tints of every fibre, and allowing the rich tapestry to shine out as it hasn’t done for years, decades or even centuries.
We can nurse almost any Oriental or Persian carpet back to full health, even when floor coverings have suffered from many years of severe neglect, or have been the victim of smoke, fire, or floods.
Rug Cleaning in London
Our workshop is in central London at 14 Oliver Business Park, W1G 9XA, and we collect across the capital every single day. Choosing a London workshop rather than a general cleaning company means your rug is cleaned on our own premises by our own team, never subcontracted and never put through a machine. You are welcome to visit the workshop and see the process for yourself, and if you prefer we will collect from your home or office at a time that suits you.
SOME OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE WILL REVIVE & REINVIGORATE EVEN THE MOST TARNISHED OF YARNS
WHITE KNOT REMOVAL
Typically, white cotton also makes up much of a rug’s foundation. The warps and wefts that form this base will sometimes break during manufacturing, and the ends will have to be knotted. The knots are then cut down so that they’re hidden from view. Unfortunately, as the rug fibres wear away, these white knots start to reappear.
On a grimy rug, the knots may be given extra camouflage by the dust and dirt. But as the rug’s ravishing colours are brought out, the white knots may become all too apparent, detracting from the brilliance of these beautiful pieces. We can use special dyes to hide and touch up such problem areas, ensuring that an annoying defect of the manufacturing process doesn’t come back to spoil the entire effect.
RUG CLEANING ERADICATES STAINS AND UNWANTED ODOURS
Far too many rug surrender their magic too soon, thanks to the motley crew of stains and blemishes that potentially emanate from every coffee cup, wine glass, or house-pet.
The majority of rug cleaning are powerless to arrest the onset of such besmirching. However, our highly-experienced cleaners have come across almost every type of stain known, and will tackle each mark and defect individually, picking out exactly the right solution needed to neutralise and remove the source.
We can even deodorise the rug, injecting all the freshness of the outdoors directly into your indoors.
RUG FRINGE CLEANING SPECIALISTS
Fringes tend to be crafted using white cotton.
As such, they’re particularly prone to discolouration, marks, and stains. Being situated at the edges, fringes can also take rather more punishment than other areas of the rug.
If fringes are permanently stained or damaged, we offer a fringe replacement service for all types of rug fringes.
SILK RUG CLEANING SPECIALISTS
Silk rugs have become something of a specialist area for us. This most delicate of materials needs the utmost care and tenderness if the rug is to retain its lustre and sheen.
The rug cleaning process is longer and more involved, but we have the patience and 70 years of a love of silk that has allowed us to achieve wonderful results time and time again.
For over 100 years, our firm has been cleaning all types of Oriental and Persian silk rugs and carpets which is why we are your first choice for rug cleaning specialists.
Wool Rug Cleaning
Wool rug cleaning calls for a different approach to synthetic fibres. Wool holds dirt deep in the pile, which is why a wool rug can lose its colour and its softness after a general clean. We clean every wool piece by hand, using shampoos chosen for the fibre and a gentle wash that protects the dyes and resets the pile.
Antique Rug Cleaning
Antique rug cleaning is careful, unhurried work. Older pieces often carry vegetable dyes that can run, weakened foundations, and earlier repairs that need protecting. Every antique rug is assessed by hand before cleaning begins, and where a piece also needs structural work our restoration team takes over.
Where We Collect From
We collect across London every day, and serve clients throughout Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, with weekly collections across the rest of England and Wales. Wherever you are, the workshop comes to you.
How Much Does Rug Cleaning Cost?
The rug cleaning cost depends on three things: the size of the rug, the fibre it is made from, and its condition when it reaches us. Rather than quote a figure that might mislead, we assess each piece and confirm a fixed price before any work begins, with no obligation to go ahead. Send us a photograph or arrange a collection and we will come back to you promptly with a fixed price.
FAQs
How much does rug cleaning cost?
The rug cleaning cost depends on the size, the fibre and the condition of the rug. We confirm a fixed price after assessing it, with no obligation. Collection across London is included.
How do you clean a wool rug without damaging it?
Wool rug cleaning uses a gentle hand wash with shampoos chosen for the fibre, followed by careful drying. We never machine scrub a wool rug, because that flattens the pile and can damage the fibre.
What is the difference between rug washing and general cleaning?
General cleaning treats the surface. Rug washing takes the piece back to the workshop, where the dirt is beaten out of the foundation before a full hand wash and careful drying, which is the only safe method for handmade and antique rugs.
Which areas do you collect from?
We collect daily across London and weekly across Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the rest of England and Wales.
Every rug and oriental carpet is treated with the utmost care.
Every cleaning, repairing and drying process will be performed on our premises and by our trained and skilled team of specialists.
Free collection and delivery is included with every clean. Our staff collect from and deliver to your home or place of work seven days a week. We minimise inconvenience by handling uplift and transport. We can usually offer you a specific one hour window on the day of your choice.
James Barclay works on handmade rugs and oriental carpets, including Persian, oriental, antique, wool and silk pieces. We are a specialist rug workshop rather than a general carpet cleaning service.
For customers in the Chilterns, Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas, our specialist team at RL Rose provides dedicated
local rug cleaning and restoration services.
All rugs are insured from the second that they’re picked up from you, to the moment that they’re returned.