Rug types
Silk Rug Cleaning in NYC
Silk rugs are among the most beautiful and most delicate rugs we clean. The first question is always whether the fiber is real silk or art silk, because the answer changes everything about how the rug is washed.
Real silk or art silk
Real silk is a protein fiber from the silkworm. It is strong, fine and lustrous, and it is used in the great silk rugs of Hereke in Turkey, Qum and Isfahan in Iran, and Kashmir. Art silk is a name for viscose, rayon or so-called bamboo silk: plant cellulose reworked into a shiny fiber. It looks similar in a showroom but behaves very differently.
Art silk loses much of its strength when wet, yellows and browns easily, and can be permanently damaged by water marks and rubbing. Real silk is more tolerant but still needs gentle handling and cool water.
The fiber test
We test before cleaning. A small fiber sample from a hidden area, usually the fringe or back, is examined and burn-tested: real silk smells like burnt hair and leaves a crushable ash, while viscose burns like paper. We combine this with the look and feel of the pile and the rug's construction.
The risks we manage
Silk dyes are often more prone to bleeding than wool dyes, and silk shows water marks if it dries unevenly. Too much agitation can distort the pile and dull the sheen. Our approach is to control moisture carefully: thorough dry soil removal, a gentle wash with silk-appropriate solutions, cool rinsing and quick, even drying with good air movement.
Art silk rugs are cleaned with a lower-moisture method suited to cellulose fibers, with realistic expectations about what can be improved.
Pile direction and sheen
The sheen of a silk rug depends on the direction of the pile. Viewed from one end it looks bright; from the other, deeper and darker. We groom the pile in its natural direction during drying so the rug returns with an even, consistent luster.
Step by step
Our process
01
Fiber test
We confirm real silk or art silk and test dyes.
02
Dry soil removal
Gentle dusting and vacuuming from the back.
03
Controlled wash
Cool water, silk-safe solutions, careful handling.
04
Even drying
Quick, even drying and grooming with the pile.
Before you book
What to expect and turnaround
We will tell you whether your rug is real silk or art silk and what that means before cleaning.
Existing water marks, pile distortion and browning on art silk may not fully reverse. We are clear about this beforehand.
Silk rugs usually take a little longer than wool, often one to two weeks, confirmed after inspection.
FAQ
Questions we hear often
How can I tell if my rug is real silk?
Real silk feels cool and fine, and the rug is usually very finely knotted. Art silk often feels slippery and the price was likely much lower. A fiber test confirms it.
Can art silk rugs be cleaned?
Yes, with care and a low-moisture method. Art silk is weak when wet, so some issues cannot be fully corrected.
Why does my silk rug look lighter from one side?
That is the pile direction. Silk reflects light differently depending on which way you view it.
Can you remove a water mark from silk?
Sometimes. Results depend on the fiber and how long the mark has been there. We assess it first.
Do you clean silk rugs in the home?
No. Silk needs controlled washing and drying, which we do at the workshop.
Related
Related services
- Persian Rug CleaningTabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Nain, Heriz and tribal Persian rugs.
- Oriental Rug CleaningPersian, Turkish, Caucasian, Afghan, Indian, Chinese and Tibetan rugs.
- Stain RemovalWine, coffee and pet stains lifted without harming dyes.
- Color RestorationFaded or run dyes carefully corrected and balanced.