Silk rug cleaning in Toronto
Fine fibres, a natural sheen and delicate dyes. Silk rug cleaning in Toronto gets our gentlest handling, from first look to last.
About silk rugs
The shine of a silk rug
A luxury fibre with a sheen all its own.
Silk is a natural fibre that can come from three main sources, and it gives a rug an uncommon lustre that no other fibre quite matches. The same fineness makes silk rugs delicate, so silk rug cleaning calls for special care and handling every time.
A silk rug can’t go just anywhere in the house. The fibre is fine and doesn’t take kindly to heavy foot traffic or furniture standing on it, which is why silk rugs so often end up in quieter rooms, or hung on the wall as a tapestry.
Where silk rugs go
In the home
Sitting rooms, studies, offices and bedrooms.
In business
Reception rooms, business fronts, showrooms.
Silk or viscose?
Is your rug real silk?
Not every shiny rug is silk.
Silk rugs need special treatment in both the washing and the drying. The material sold as silk can come from bamboo, banana trees or insects, and real silk pile has a transparency that gives it that unique lustre.
Of the three, only the insect kind is real silk, spun by silkworms for their cocoons. Many rugs sold as “silk”, “art silk” or “bamboo silk” are made of viscose, also called rayon, which is spun from plant fibres.
If your rug is viscose, we explain what to expect, and you decide. More about viscose rug cleaning.
Why it matters
A spill on silk or viscose? Please don’t try to clean it yourself, because water and rubbing can harm these fibres for good. Blot once with a dry white cloth and call us first: (416) 939-7571.
How we clean it
Our gentlest wash
Slow, careful and suited to the fibre.
Silk doesn’t like rough handling, strong products or heat, so everything about the way we clean it at our facility is gentle.
- Check We check the fibre, look at the dyes and the fringe, and note any spills or worn spots.
- Wash A gentle wash chosen for silk, with no hard scrubbing of the pile.
- Dry Dried indoors with care, without high heat, evenly and all the way through, to protect the sheen.
- Fringe Washed with the rug, so it doesn’t look grey beside the clean pile. It also gets extra treatment after drying.
Common problems
When a silk rug needs help
Spills, dull patches and flattened pile.
Silk shows wear sooner than wool. A spill can leave a mark quickly, and dust and footsteps dull the shine. Keep silk out of strong sunlight, which fades it over time.
- Spills and water marks
- Dull, tired sheen
- Flattened pile
- Dust deep in the pile
If you spill something, blot it gently with a clean white cloth, don’t rub, and phone us at (416) 939-7571.
Extra care
Stains, odours and repairs
Some rugs need more than a wash. Here is the extra care we can give yours.
Rug types
Other rugs we clean
No two rugs are made alike, so we check each one before we wash it.
Persian
Deep reds and blues, fine knots. A gentle wash, fringe included.
Oriental
Hand-made rugs from Turkey to China, kilims included.
Wool
Warm and hard-wearing, but it holds grit deep down and needs a thorough wash.
Synthetic & outdoor
Nylon, polyester and patio rugs, washed clean of everyday grime.
Not sure what your rug is? Most people aren’t. We check each rug before washing.
Questions
Silk rug questions
The questions we’re asked most often, answered the way we would on the phone.
How do I know if my rug is real silk?
It’s hard to tell by eye, even for an experienced silk rug cleaner. Many rugs sold as silk, art silk or bamboo silk are viscose. We check the fibre first and let you know what we find.
How much does silk rug cleaning cost?
It depends on the size of your rug. No hidden fees: everything is agreed with you up front, and nothing extra is done without your OK. Silk stains usually need stain treatment, so if yours has one, we tell you and ask first. And if we find something else at our facility, we call you first. Pickup and delivery are free. Send us the rug’s dimensions for a free estimate. A photo helps, but it isn’t needed.
Can a silk rug be washed?
Yes, with care. We inspect it first, and if we think the colours might run, we tell you before we go ahead. We use a gentle wash suited to silk and dry it evenly. Please don’t try to wash a silk rug at home, as water and rubbing can leave marks that are hard to undo.
Do you clean viscose rugs?
Yes, but viscose (also called rayon or art silk) is one of the hardest fibres to clean. It can change texture or lose its sheen, so we explain what to expect first. A stain on viscose almost always needs stain treatment, and our stain promise* covers it if nobody has tried to clean it first.
What should I do if I spill something on it?
Blot it gently with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Don’t rub or scrub, and don’t use a store-bought spot cleaner. Then phone us at (416) 939-7571.
Ready for a cleaner rug?
Book a free pickup online or give us a call, and leave the carrying to us.