Rug Cleaning Studio

Surface Clean or Submerge Clean… How Would You Clean Your Rugs?

If I were you, I’d always choose the ‘Submerge Clean’ method to clean rugs!

Here lies the problem! Not all rugs can be ‘submerge cleaned’. Knowing which rugs can be ‘submerge cleaned’ and which ones have to be ‘surface cleaned’, should be left to the experts. Getting it wrong ruins your rug forever!

What is the difference between ‘Surface Cleaning’ and ’Submerge Cleaning’?

Surface Clean
This method is adopted by most carpet cleaners who really don’t know how to thoroughly clean rugs! It is the same method used for cleaning fitted carpets, commonly known as ‘Hot Water Extraction’. The method involves applying a cleaning solution to the surface of the rug, which then breaks down the dirt and grease. A powerful vacuum is then used to extract the ‘slurry’ from the carpet.

Submerge Clean
This method should only be attempted by qualified technicians who know what they are doing! Step one is to remove any ‘dry soil’ not only from the surface, but also from the bottom of the pile where normal vacuuming cannot reach. After dry soil removal, the rug is then submerged in a specially designed flat bath containing the appropriate cleaning solution to solve the cleaning problem (urine contamination, general dirt, grease, food, drink etc). Knowing which solution to place the rug in is only a small problem compared to knowing which rugs can be submerge cleaned. The rug is submerged for up to 3 days (depending on the problem). The rug must then be thoroughly rinsed to remove all traces of cleaning solutions. The next problem is drying the soaking rug as quickly as possible, using specially designed drying environments. Again, only true rug cleaning masters know how to do this.

Why would you choose to ‘surface clean’ a rug when ‘submerge cleaning’ is obviously a more thorough clean?
Surface cleaning is a fantastic way to clean a rug, most dirt, grease etc sit on the surface of rugs and surface cleaning removes this. Because there is more dirt, dust etc sitting at the bottom of the pile, rugs cleaned the surface clean method, need cleaning more often! Leaving small particles at the bottom of the pile causes the pile to wear down more quickly!

Submerge cleaning is the only way to thoroughly clean a rug but …
Only certain rugs can be submerge cleaned (usually, the very highly priced quality rugs), some rug backings are prone to shrinkage, some rugs are bonded and submerge cleaning would destroy the bonding and the rug would fall apart. Knowing which cleaning method to use should be left to experts.

If you have a rug that you want cleaned – thoroughly, and you don’t know if it can be ‘submerge cleaned’?
Then, call me – as a master fabric cleaner, I can guide you to the best method for cleaning.