Know the rug before you clean it
The fibre, the dye and the backing decide how a rug can be washed, how wet it can get and how long it takes to dry. Get that wrong and it can shrink, bleed colour or take on a musty smell.
Wool rugs
Wool holds a lot of soil before it looks dirty, so a wool rug often comes back from a clean a shade lighter than its owner remembers. It takes a low-moisture method and a neutral solution. Harsh alkaline products strip the natural oils and leave the pile dull.
Oriental and hand-knotted rugs
These are usually wool or silk on a cotton foundation, with dyes that can run. The first step is a dye test in a hidden corner. If the colours are stable the rug can be washed through; if not, it is cleaned on the surface with as little water as the fibre allows.
Synthetic rugs
Polypropylene, polyester and nylon rugs are the easiest to clean. They take hot water extraction and most spotting agents, and they dry fast. The catch is a latex or jute backing that holds water, so even a cheap rug needs drying flat and fully.
How a professional rug clean works
- Inspection: fibre, backing, construction, existing damage and a dye test.
- Dry soil removal on both sides, where most of the grit sits.
- Pre-treatment of stains and traffic lanes with a product chosen for the fibre.
- Cleaning by the method the rug can take: hot water extraction on a synthetic, a low-moisture clean on wool or silk.
- A rinse to leave no residue, then grooming so the pile dries in one direction.
- Drying flat, with airflow, before the rug goes back on the floor.
Our technicians work to IICRC S100, the carpet cleaning standard, and Elite is an IICRC Certified Firm, certificate number 70100265.
Rugs and pets
Hair comes out with a stiff brush and a vacuum of both sides before any wet cleaning, or it mats into the pile. Mud is easier dry: let it set, break it up, then vacuum.
An accident is a different problem. Urine soaks through the pile into the backing and keeps smelling long after the surface looks clean. Blot straight away, don’t scrub, and avoid heat, which sets the stain and the odour. A proper clean has to reach the backing and may need an enzyme treatment on top of the wash.
What rug cleaning costs
Small rugs are cleaned from $44 each as an add-on to a carpet clean. Special stain removal is $45 per 15 minutes, and Elite carpet protection, which can be applied to a rug, is $6 per square metre. Minimum job totals may apply, and a large or delicate rug is quoted on inspection.
Caring for a rug between cleans
- Vacuum both sides, and vacuum often, so grit doesn’t cut the fibres.
- Rotate the rug every few months so wear and sun fade are even.
- Use a rug pad to stop creep and let air reach the underside.
- Blot spills at once with a clean, dry cloth, working from the edge in.
Elite technicians are police-checked and fully insured, every job carries a satisfaction guarantee, and the Elite brand has been operating since 1984.
Rug cleaning questions
Can a wool rug be steam cleaned?
Not with high heat and heavy water. Wool takes a low-moisture clean and a neutral solution, then drying flat. Hot water extraction suits synthetic rugs.
How long does a rug take to dry?
A synthetic rug can be dry in a few hours. A thick wool or hand-knotted rug can take a day or more, laid flat with airflow.
Will cleaning remove the pet smell?
Only if the clean reaches the backing where the urine sits. A surface clean brightens the pile but the smell returns, which is why an accident needs a deeper treatment.
Carpet cleaning from-prices — minimum job totals may apply| Service | From price |
|---|
| Residential carpet cleaning |
|---|
| Bedroom | $88 per room |
| Hall (small, up to 3 m) | $44 each |
| Staircase landing | $12 each |
| Stairs | $6 per stair |
| Walk-in robe (small) | $22 each |
| Additional services |
|---|
| Rugs (small) | $44 each |
| Special stain removal | $45 per 15 minutes |
| Elite carpet protection | $6 per sqm |
| Lounge suite cleaning (fabric) | $88 per seat |
| Drapes (half length) | $30 per metre |
| Single mattress (top + sides) | $90 |
| High pressure cleaning | $2.50 per sqm |
| Pest control (cockroach, silverfish, spiders) | $77 per room |
| Commercial |
|---|
| Carpet cleaning (up to 16 sqm) | $88 per room |
| Carpet cleaning, larger areas | $5 per sqm |
Carpet Cleaning
Couch & Upholstery Cleaning
Mattress Cleaning
Tile & Grout Cleaning
Commercial Cleaning
Water Damage Restoration
Fire and Smoke Restoration
Mould Removal
Mould Testing
Laser Cleaning
Pest Control
Asbestos Removal
Asbestos Testing
Office Cleaning
Graffiti Removal
Dry Ice Blasting
Pressure Washing
Solar Panel Cleaning
Structural Drying
Dehumidifier Hire
Air Quality Testing
Floor Sanding
Lead Paint Removal
Roof Cleaning
Gutter Cleaning
Trauma & Crime Scene Cleaning
Deceased Estate Clearing
Hoarding & Squalor Cleaning
Meth Testing & Decontamination
