Rug Cleaning for Insurance Companies and Corporate clients

Quick call out service
Highly trained and skilled network of rug cleaners
Write off fewer rugs and upholstery
Fewer full pay outs
Full restoration service

Rug cleaners for insurance companies, loss adjustors and home owners

We offer a nation-wide service comprising of a network of highly trained and skilled rug cleaning technicians.

Your clients can have the benefits from getting preferential treatment from some of the most respected rug cleaners in the industry and you can have happier clients.

Each incident / claim will be allocated by our insurance claims rug team to the nearest regional rug cleaning plant to your clients' location. We know corporate clients such as offices and retailers need extra quick resolutions and we offer a same day call out for all these customers.

Weather a radiator has leaked onto the living room area rug or a large stately home has had a major flood or fire we are able to offer a full restoration service that can save you money compared to throwing away the rugs and buying replacements. Many carpet cleaners don't realise that flooded or contaminated rugs can be safely cleaned and restored, after all they are carpet cleaners not rug cleaners. We can even remove red dye run from Persian rugs.

As part of The Big Clean Ltd group we can source the most advanced and efficient rug cleaning plant equipment and chemicals at a highly reduced rate, this means we can use equipment that other cleaners don't have affordable access to.

If you have been throwing rugs aay and writing them of then why not try our services? Our rug cleaning company is ready to help with your enquiries and can be reached on 0208 393 4778

Here is a detailed outline of our cleaning processes and some of the reasoning behind the varied methods

Dry particle soil removal

One of the most important and yet overlooked steps in cleaning any rug. Around 80% of the dirt in any rug is dry particulate matter most of which is silicates commonly known as sand, this sandy material accumulates at the bottom of the pile and builds up.

When examined under a microscope this dry particulate matter is in fact very jagged and sharp so when it builds up to a sufficient level it cuts and shears the actual pile of the rug. The particulate matter also builds up in the base of the pile and forms a hard crust of material that is not easily removed by low or medium moisture cleaning systems. This crust must be broken up and removed by physical agitation before the wet cleaning process begins.

The traditional method for removing this dry particulate matter is to hang the rug and beat it with a hand held rug beater. Some rug cleaners use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar or a pile lifter. However one of the quickest methods is to use a device called a Rug Badger which beats the back of the rug extremely quickly using a large number of flexible soft paddles. This process passes 40,000 harmonic vibrations through the rug per minute which breaks up the particulate matter not just in the spot where the badger is located but throughout the rug. The amount of dirt that comes out of the rug using this method can be truly breath-taking.

If the dry particulate matter is not properly removed then the moisture used during the wet cleaning process will have a very difficult time in suspending all the dirt. When this happens all that will happen is that the particulate matter turns to mud and then wicks to the top of the rug as it dries meaning that the rug requires a second wash.

Soil suspension

There are four key principles to soil suspension when cleaning any textile; chemical, heat, agitation and time. When cleaning a rug in a rug plant you can maximise these factors as you have the rug in a static environment where each of the key principles can be intricately controlled. It is vital to understand how each of these key principles both affect the rug but also interact with one another in order to get the best possible clean without any negative effects on the rug.

In many instances it is not appropriate to use equal proportions of these four elements, for instance using very hot water or high PH chemicals on wool rugs can cause dye bleed. Therefore, you have to compensate for the more gentle chemicals and lower heat by increasing the agitation and time spent cleaning the rug.

Temperature: Generally speaking heat is a cleaning ally. Hot water penetrates better, carries more and dries faster. Heat also increases the rate at which chemistry works as well. However, sometimes too much heat can damage certain fibres, weaken dyes, or cost too much to produce. Therefore in a plant environment where a plant environment where agitation can be maximised, drying can be controlled and the amount of water can be greatly increased through the use of wringers for removal many have chosen to reduce the temperature and make up for it by increasing the other fundamentals of soil suspension. We don't use hot water in our cleaning process as that would not be safe for rugs

Agitation: Agitation is an essential part of a thorough rug cleaning process and can be achieved through a variety of methods such as rotary scrubbers, cylindrical brushes, rug washer brushes, rollers or high pressure water. Excessive agitation can damage rugs however so it is best to use caution to avoid damaging the face yarns. Some of the issues that can be caused by excessive agitation include pile distortion, felting and matting.

Chemical Action: It is vital that cleaning technicians understand the part that chemicals play in the cleaning process and in the suspension of particulate matter. Water is the primary chemical used in rug cleaning and operates as both a solvent, for water soluble soils, and as a carrier. On its own water is not a very good carrier and needs help from other chemicals.

Time: This is the element that most rug cleaners will want to minimize as time is money and the quicker you can clean a rug the more rugs you can do. However when you come across particularly stubborn stains or soils time can be your friend. Many rug plants will soak rugs with stubborn stains for several hours in order to loosen or break up stubborn soils or stains.

Soil Removal

There are a variety of different techniques for soil removal and they can be classified by the amount of water they use to remove and suspend the soil.

High moisture or wet systems

Perhaps the most common system found in rug cleaning plants is the high moisture clean. Hundreds of gallons of water are used to fully immerse and soak the rug. After the dry particulates have been removed the rug is generally pre sprayed, detergents are then applied and agitated and the rug is then submersed to place the soils into suspension. The rug is then thoroughly rinsed using a lot of water to wash the soils and rinsing agents out of and away from the rug. The rug is then wrung out either using a roller machine that squeezes the water out of the rug or a hand held roller to push the water out. Finally the rug is groomed before being hung up to dry. Some rugs will not be suitable to be cleaned by this method due to how they were constructed, the type of fibres used or the instability of their dyes.

Medium or moderate moisture systems

When it is advisable to use less water or when less water is required many cleaners will use on location wet cleaning techniques such as hot water extraction machines. The rug will be cleaned face up in exactly the same manner a carpet might be cleaned. After cleaning the rug can be hung or left to dry in place with a fan moving air over it. This system is usually used when there are concerns over the strength, fibres or dyes in a rug as it is less abrasive and lower moisture. Superficially the results from a moderate moisture clean may be very good. However a lot of the soils deep down in the pile will remain and may eventually damage the fibres of the rug due to the grinding action discussed earlier. On low density and tufted goods this system is able to reach the base of the pile and will give a thorough clean with little danger of damage or delamination.

Low moisture systems

Low moisture systems are often referred to as dry cleaning however in reality there is always some water or moisture involved in one way or another.

Bonnet cleaning also known as absorbent pad or spin pad involves the use of a 180rpm rotary machine to buff the face of the pile with a cotton pad known as a bonnet. Either a water-detergent-solvent mixture is sprayed on the rug or the bonnet itself is dipped in a cleaning solution. The aesthetic result is excellent with this system and drying time is very fast, only about half an hour.

Dry foam cleaning is a low moisture system that uses high sudsing shampoo whipped into a thick foamy layer. The foam is spread across the carpet and agitated to suspend the soils then vacuumed up out of the pile into a recovery tank. Drying time is usually about 1 hour and the results are generally good. Soil removal is improved over bonnet cleaning however drying time is also increased as is the amount of residue left behind.

Powder cleaning or absorbent compound cleaning is the lowest moisture cleaning system of all. Powder cleaning is often used where the soiling conditions dictate the need for moisture but the rug type mandates avoiding moisture. Examples would include very sensitive dyes, Sisal and other raw cellulosic fibres or a need to return the rug to service right away. In this system an absorbent compound is saturated with a water-detergent-solvent agent is introduced into the pile of the rug and agitated in. The soil is separated from the fibre by the chemical and mechanical action and absorbed into the compound. The dirty compound is then extracted out of the rug and the rug can be used immediately as there is no drying time needed.

Dry cleaning

Sometimes it is not appropriate to use any moisture at all when cleaning a rug such as when cleaning a silk art rug or an ancient tapestry. When this is the case the carrier must be a solvent, if the rug is small enough it can be put into the wheel of a dry cleaning machine such as those used to clean draperies or clothing. The solvent is usually perchlorethylene, the rug must be aired properly after this type of cleaning to get rid of any fumes. This is not recommended for most rugs

Finishing

Traditionally known as setting the nap, grooming should be completed soon as the soil removal process has finished while the rug is still damp. This process will remove all of the tool or rotary machine marks and the nap is stood upright to aid and expedite the drying process. The type of nap will dictate the tool that will be used to set the nap. Plush rugs are groomed with a dense nap brush or horse hair brush, twisted yarns require a nylon bristled groomer and shag rugs are best groomed with a shag or spider rake.

Fringe cleaning

A large proportion of rugs have fringed ends and most of these fringes are made of cotton which browns easily as it is a cellulosic fibre. The team at We clean Any rug will use the correct gentlest method available to clean and restore your fringes to their original colour

Storage and transportation

When storing rugs there are a few important considerations to remember firstly rugs should not be bent when stored as this will distort the pile damage the weft and warp and possibly leave permanent marks. Secondly rugs need to be able to breathe otherwise condensation will cause them to go mouldy and possibly to rot. Therefore the best way to store them is either using the traditional method of storing them in open ended cardboard containers or, as many plants do today, rolled up wrapped in paper.

Rug Drying

We utilise the latest drying equipment such as centrifuges and industrial dehumidifier's to create an effective drying room. This is important because it is when the cleaning process is finished that the most common problems arise. The fringes can turn brown if left wet for too long and colours can bleed or run on some rugs. A quick and safe drying process is an essential part of operating a rug cleaning studio.

Even fully flooded rugs can be saved if cleaned and dried within a reasonable amount of time. We can fully restore flooded and damaged rugs back to the condition that they were in before the incident. Red dye run can be corrected and fringes can be restored. Chewed corners are another common problem we see and we can arrange for the repairs of damaged rugs at our main regional rug cleaning studios where we have the expertise and equipment to handle such requests. Click here for detailed information on our rug cleaning process

Repair services

Edge wrapping, overcasting, reweaving, shearing, fringing, serging, colour repair, and custom designs are all examples of specialised repair or custom services that are offered by our Central rug cleaning facility. The technical, equipment requirements vary depending upon how many of these services are offered and for what type of rugs. Please contact us on 0208 3934778 for detailed advice.

We are more than capable of handling large amounts of flooded rugs. Our team is standing by ready to help you or your insurance client on 0208 3934778.

Other Services

ATP Testing
Rug and fringe repairs and re-weaving services
Rug pad supplier
Moth Deterrent Services
Fabric Protection
Silk Rug Cleaning
Wool rug cleaning
Hand cleaning of tapestries
Collection and delivery
White Glove Service
Evaluation services