A silk rug catches the light in a way wool never will. Walk past it one way and the colours glow; walk back the other way and the same rug looks darker and softer. That sheen is why people fall in love with silk, and it’s also why silk rug cleaning is not something to hand to just anyone. The fibre that makes the rug beautiful is the same fibre that is easiest to damage.
Here in Ottawa we see silk rugs from every kind of home: wedding gifts, pieces brought back from travels, rugs that were a grandmother’s and now belong to the grandchildren. Here’s how we think about cleaning them, and what you can do at home in the meantime.
First question: is it really silk?
Before anything gets wet, we want to know what the rug is actually made of. Many rugs sold as “silk” are made from viscose or rayon, sometimes labelled “art silk” or “bamboo silk”. They look similar when new, but they behave very differently in water. Viscose can lose strength when it’s wet, and it is prone to browning and a matted, crushed look if it’s cleaned the wrong way.
Real silk is stronger, but it has its own weaknesses. Its dyes can be unstable, it doesn’t like harsh or alkaline cleaning products, and heat is not its friend. Plenty of rugs are also a mix, with silk highlights worked into a wool pile. Each of those needs a different plan, so the fibre comes first.
Why silk rugs don’t get cleaned on the floor
For wall-to-wall carpet, cleaning in your home makes sense. For a silk rug it usually doesn’t. A silk rug needs controlled washing, a proper rinse and fast, even drying, and that’s very hard to do on a living room floor. Over-wetting, uneven drying and leftover cleaning product are exactly what cause colour runs, browning and stiff, dull patches.
That’s the reason our rug washing happens at our own facility, where we can control the products, the water and the drying room.
What happens when your silk rug comes to us
Every rug goes through the same stages, but how hard each stage works depends on the rug in front of us. With silk, everything is gentler.
- Inspection. We look the rug over for spots and stains, moth damage, wear, mildew and pet odours, then photograph and measure it. This is also when we decide how it will be washed and give you the cost.
- Dusting. Dry soil is abrasive. Sand and grit buried in the foundation grind at the fibres every time someone walks across the rug, and a vacuum won’t reach most of it. Getting it out dry, before washing, protects the pile.
- Washing. The rug is soaked with products suited to its fibres, then cleaned front and back. Some rugs can take power washing; a silk rug gets gentle hand work instead. It’s rinsed in fresh water baths and spun in our centrifuge so it comes out just damp to the touch.
- Drying. The rug is hung or laid flat in a temperature- and humidity-controlled room with gently circulating air. Fast, even drying matters with silk, because slow drying is where colour problems and browning tend to start.
- Final inspection. Once dry, it’s checked again, dusted, vacuumed and wrapped, ready to go home.
The whole process takes place over two to three days. It isn’t quick, and with silk it shouldn’t be.
Colour runs, stains and the “art” part
Sometimes a silk rug arrives with a problem already set in: dye that has bled into the pale areas, a spot where something bleached the colour out, or a stain someone tried to scrub away. These are the jobs Murray Peacock has spent decades learning. As he puts it, re-dyeing colour loss and bleach stains “takes many years of practice to get it just right,” and stripping migrant dyes takes an understanding of both the fibre and the chemistry being used on it.
We can’t promise every old stain will disappear. What we can do is look at the rug honestly, tell you what we think is possible, and only go ahead with a plan you’re comfortable with.
Caring for a silk rug between cleanings
- Blot spills, don’t rub. Use a clean white cloth and press. Rubbing roughs up silk fibres and can leave a permanent dull patch.
- Skip the home remedies. Household spot removers, vinegar mixes and carpet shampoos can set stains or shift dyes on silk. Call us first if you’re unsure.
- Keep it out of strong sun, or rotate it every so often so it fades evenly.
- Vacuum gently, without a beater bar, and stay off the fringe.
- Put it where it fits. Silk is happiest in a bedroom or a quiet sitting room, not at the back door or under the kitchen table.
If your silk rug is a Persian, our page on Persian rug cleaning in Ottawa covers more of what we do for traditional hand-knotted rugs.
Bring us your silk rug
We work by appointment. Request a quote online, or call our Ottawa location at 613.232.5110 or our Kemptville location at 613.258.5110. Tell us a little about the rug and its story; we’d like to hear it. And as always, if you aren’t happy with our work, we’ll re-clean it for free, and if you still aren’t pleased, you pay nothing.