Rug cleaning and repair questions
Plain answers about washing, repairing and looking after fine rugs, from people who have done it in Singapore since 2005.
Questions about rugs,
answered plainly
These are the questions customers ask us most. For more detail on a particular service, each service page has its own FAQs.
Guides
- Hand-washing, steam cleaning or dry cleaning: which is safe for Persian and silk rugs?
Is steam cleaning safe for a Persian or silk rug? We compare hand-washing, steam cleaning and dry cleaning, and explain which suits your rug.
Common questions
The questions we are asked most often. For more detail on one service, see the questions on that service’s page.
Prices depend on the size of each rug and what it is made of. Use our instant rug cleaning price calculator for a price range in about 2 minutes, or WhatsApp +65 9631 2421 with photos for a quote. Repairs are quoted per rug once we have seen the damage.
Most rugs are washed and back with you in 5 to 7 working days. Drying depends on the weather and how thick the rug is, and we never return a rug until it is dry right through. Repairs take longer: usually 1 to 2 weeks for fringes and small holes, and 3 to 6 weeks for re-weaving (rebuilding a worn area knot by knot). We confirm the timeline before we start.
Yes. We pick up and deliver for free anywhere in Singapore. Once you approve the quote, we agree a time that suits you, roll and label the rug, and bring it back to your door when the work is finished. We can wrap it in breathable material for storage or careful transport if you ask.
By hand, in six steps. First we check the rug and test a small spot to make sure the colours won’t run. Then we vacuum it to lift surface dust and grit. We soak the whole rug and wash it by hand with a gentle, wool-safe shampoo. We flush it and push the dirt out with a traditional metal rake until the water runs clear. We dry it in natural sunlight, or indoors with large air blowers in bad weather, until it is fully dry. Last, we check it again and deliver it. The only machines we use are the vacuum and the blowers. To see how this compares with steam cleaning and dry cleaning, read our guide to hand-washing vs steam cleaning.
No. We specialise in loose rugs, which we collect and wash by hand at our own facility. That includes hotel lobby and suite rugs, and loose rugs in offices and showrooms. See rug care for hotels, offices, designers and property managers.
For a rug in normal home use, every 12 to 18 months. Busy living rooms, homes with pets or young children, and hotel or office rugs do better with a wash every 6 to 12 months. Vacuuming in between (with the rotating brush switched off on fine rugs) stops grit from wearing down the soft surface.
In most cases we can remove most of it. We soak the whole rug and rinse it until the water runs clear, so the urine is washed out of the base threads rather than covered up. Drying in the sun helps with any smell that is left. Old stains that have changed the colour of the wool may fade but not disappear, and we tell you honestly from the photos before you decide.
Yes. Pure silk and art silk are the most delicate rugs we handle. (Art silk, also called viscose or bamboo silk, is a man-made fibre that looks like silk but is weaker when wet.) We test the colours first, use gentle products, wash by hand and dry carefully to protect the shine. Not sure if your rug is real or art silk? A photo of the back and the fringe usually tells us.
All of Singapore: HDB flats, condominiums, landed homes, hotels, offices and showrooms. Pickup and delivery are free wherever you are on the island.
For a price range straight away, use our instant rug cleaning price calculator. It takes about 2 minutes, is free and needs no sign-up. For a firm quote, WhatsApp us on +65 9631 2421 with a photo of the whole rug, a close-up of any stains or damage, and the rough size (length × width). We reply with a clear price and pickup options. There is no fee and no obligation.
Yes. We handle 20 to 30 rugs at a time, collect in batches, send a written report on the condition of each rug, and work to agreed turnaround times. See rug care for hotels, designers and property managers, or email care@thecarpethouse.sg.
Storage
Yes, and it is free. After we wash your rug, we check it for moths, wrap it in breathable material and keep it at our facility. Storage always follows a wash with us, so your rug goes away clean and fully dry. See storage and delivery.
For as long as you need, whether you are moving house, renovating or posted overseas. Just tell us when and where you want it back.
Yes. We deliver on your date to any address in Singapore: your home, a storage unit, a new place or an event venue.
Breathable material. In Singapore’s humidity, plastic traps moisture against the fibres, which can lead to mould and odour.
Only if a job needs a lot of packing. If it does, we always tell you the cost first, before we start.
The Carpet House at a glance
- Who we are
- The Carpet House is a rug washing, repair and restoration specialist in Singapore, established 2005.
- What we clean
- Loose rugs only: Persian, oriental, silk, wool, antique and machine-made rugs. We do not clean wall-to-wall carpet, and we do not clean on site.
- How it works
- We collect your rugs and wash them by hand at our own facility. Pickup and delivery are free anywhere in Singapore.
- Prices
- Prices depend on the size of each rug and what it is made of. Use our instant rug cleaning price calculator for a price range in about 2 minutes (free, no sign-up), or WhatsApp +65 9631 2421 with photos for a quote. Repairs are quoted from photos.
- Turnaround
- Usually 5 to 7 working days for washing. Repairs take 1 to 2 weeks for fringes and small holes, or 3 to 6 weeks for re-weaving (rebuilding a worn area knot by knot).
- Trade clients
- We also work with hotels, offices, interior designers and property managers.
- Hours and booking
- Open every day, including weekends and public holidays. Pickup and delivery times are agreed with you before we confirm, so please check availability with us first. Use our instant rug cleaning price calculator, WhatsApp +65 9631 2421, or email care@thecarpethouse.sg with photos and rough sizes.
Find out what your rug
will cost to wash
A few quick questions, an instant price range and no obligation. If you’re happy with it, lock it in and send us photos for the final price.
Your price range in about 2 minutes. No sign-up needed.