Cleaning & Repair
Specialised care for pieces worth keeping
Our cleaning process protects natural dyes and organic fabrics while removing the embedded soil that vacuuming cannot reach. We also repair, restore, pad and appraise — and pick-up and delivery are complimentary across Sarasota and Manatee counties, and further out through Venice, Punta Gorda and Tampa Bay.
Every rug is identified and tested before any water touches it, and checked again before it comes back to you. Four and a half decades of doing this is what tells us how a fibre and its dyes will behave.
How it works
Four steps, one written quote
We pick it up
Complimentary collection from your home, or drop the rug off at the gallery on Tamiami Trail.
Inspection & written quote
We identify the fibre, test the dyes for bleeding, and check whether the rug is safe to wash before any work begins.
Hand wash & repair
Dusted front and back to shake out dry soil, hand washed with environmentally safe soaps, rinsed until the water runs clear, then fan-dried flat.
Delivered and laid
Back on your floor, laid straight and squared, at no extra charge. New padding fitted as well if you need it.
What we clean
If it is a rug, we have probably washed one
Four decades in one shop means very little arrives that we have not seen before. Fibre and construction decide the method, which is why the first thing we do is work out exactly what a rug is.
If you inherited a rug and have no idea what it is, that is a normal starting point. Bring it in and we will tell you — whether or not you have it cleaned.
Rugs we handle
- Hand-knotted Persian, Oriental, Turkish and Caucasian rugs
- Hand-tufted and machine-made area rugs
- Flatweaves, kilims and dhurries
- Wool, silk, cotton, jute and viscose
- Antique and semi-antique pieces, including inherited rugs of unknown origin
- Runners, scatter rugs and oversized room-size pieces
What we fix
The problems people bring us
Most of what comes through the door falls into one of these. Some are straightforward; a couple depend heavily on how long they have been left.
Pet urine and odour
Not a stain but a chemical problem. Urine moves dyes and, left long enough, attacks the foundation from underneath. We treat it directly rather than masking it, and we will tell you before we start what we expect to achieve.
Traffic lanes and general soil
The dull grey path through the middle of a rug is soil packed at the base of the pile. Dusting and full-immersion washing is the only thing that lifts it.
Moth damage
Moths eat wool where a rug is dark, still and under furniture. Cleaning removes larvae and eggs; anything already eaten needs reweaving, which we also do.
Water and flood damage
Time matters more than anything else here. A rug that stayed wet can develop dry rot in the foundation, so the sooner we see it the better the outcome.
Spills and stains
Blot, never rub, and call before you apply anything. Most household stain products set a stain permanently on natural dyes.
Allergens and dust
Rugs hold what settles out of the air. Households with allergies usually notice the difference within a day of a rug coming back.
Why it works
Why full-immersion hand washing, and not a machine
A hand-knotted rug can hold several pounds of dry soil before it looks dirty. It settles at the base of the pile, and every footstep grinds it against the knots. Surface cleaning lifts what is on top and leaves the rest exactly where it is.
Full immersion flushes it out. We dust mechanically from both sides first, because wet soil turns to mud rather than washing away — and that single step is what separates proper rug washing from carpet cleaning.
It is also why we do not recommend truck-mounted carpet equipment or rental machines on a fine rug. They push moisture into a foundation with no way to dry, and on natural dyes they can cause bleeding that cannot be undone.
Signs a rug is ready
- Colours look flat or greyed compared with the edges under furniture
- Dirt still comes up after vacuuming
- A visible path where people walk
- An odour that returns in humid weather
- Grit you can feel when you press your fingers into the pile
- More than 18 months since the last professional cleaning
Services
What we do
Oriental Rug Cleaning
Hand washing that preserves colour and pattern while thoroughly cleaning every fibre.
Learn more →Rug Repairs
Frayed edges, moth damage and worn areas, repaired to extend a rug's life.
Learn more →Rug Padding & Appraisal
Premium padding and professional appraisals for insurance, estate planning or resale.
Learn more →Repairs
What we find once a rug is clean
Damage hides under soil. Once a rug is washed, frayed ends, worn selvedge and small holes become obvious — so we quote repairs separately rather than folding them into the cleaning price, and you decide what you want done.
A well-made rug is built to be repaired. Fringes can be replaced, edges rebound, holes rewoven with wool matched to the original colour and knot count. Very little is genuinely beyond it, and we will tell you plainly on the rare occasion that a repair costs more than the rug is worth.
Questions
What people ask before they call
How long does rug cleaning take?
Most rugs take several days. Dusting, washing, controlled drying and a final inspection each need their own time, and drying flat cannot be rushed without distorting the rug. We will give you a timeframe when we collect it.
Do you clean rugs in my home?
Only surface cleaning, and we rarely recommend it. A hand-knotted rug holds soil deep in the foundation that no in-home method reaches. Pick-up and delivery are complimentary, so there is little reason not to have it done properly.
Is your process safe for antique rugs and natural dyes?
Yes, and it is the reason we test first. We identify the fibre and test the dyes for bleeding before any water touches the rug, and we use environmentally safe, specially formulated soaps rather than harsh detergents.
Can you get pet odour out completely?
Often, but not always, and it depends on how long it has been there and how much went in. We will look at the rug and tell you honestly what to expect before you commit to anything.
What does it cost?
It is priced by the square foot, but the rate depends on size, fibre, construction and condition — which is why we inspect before quoting. You get the quote in writing before any work begins.
Why choose us
Why choose Shah Abbas Rugs
Locally and family-owned and operated since 1980
Complimentary pick-up and delivery
Decades of experience with fine rugs and delicate fabrics
Specialized care for natural dyes and organic fabrics
Careful attention to preserving your rug's original character
Before you decide
Read up first
We have written the long answers to the questions we get asked most, so you can judge for yourself before picking up the phone.
Not sure it can be saved?
Send us a photo. Most rugs people have written off can be cleaned, rewoven or rebound for a fraction of the cost of replacing them.