Traditional rug cleaning process with a carpet beater and cleaning powder.

Wool Rug Cleaning in San Diego

Wool rug cleaning is the work our family has done longest, and it rewards a patient hand. Zeytounian Rugs washes wool area and oriental rugs by hand at our Kearny Mesa facility, where the water temperature, the soap, and the drying are all set around the fiber. Three generations of us have cared for San Diego’s rugs since 1956.

Wool is the most resilient pile fiber you can own, but resilience is not immunity. Heat and hard agitation are what turn a wool rug into a matted, shrunken version of itself, and those are exactly the conditions an in-home steam wand creates. A slow full immersion wash does the opposite. It floats the soil out and leaves the pile soft, open, and true to color.

  • Free pickup and delivery across San Diego County
  • Full immersion hand washing, never surface scrubbing
  • Third generation family craftsmen since 1956
  • Free written estimates before any work starts
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Handwoven Persian rug in San Diego showcasing intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

San Diego Wool Rug Cleaning Specialists

Wool grows with a natural coat of lanolin, the same waxy oil that keeps sheep dry in the rain. In a rug, that lanolin makes the fiber springy and gives it a real head start against spills and dry dirt. It is also why wool responds so well to a proper hand wash: the fiber sheds soil readily when it is flushed with water at the right temperature, rather than scrubbed. Handled that way, a tired wool rug comes back bright, without the felting, shrinkage, or crushed pile that improper cleaning leaves behind.

Why Wool Rugs Belong in a Washing Facility

A wool pile can hide a startling amount of dry, gritty soil down near the foundation, well below anything a vacuum reaches. That grit does real harm. Every time the rug is walked on, the particles saw against the fibers and wear them from the inside. Full immersion is the only way to float that soil up and out of a dense wool weave.

Wool is also protein, which means moths and carpet beetles treat it as food. Their larvae feed on the fiber and are drawn to rugs that hold soil, pet residue, and moisture. A thorough facility wash removes that food source along with any eggs already in the pile, and that is one of the quieter reasons regular cleaning lengthens a wool rug’s life. With more than seventy years behind us, we wash at controlled temperatures and pH so rugs come back clean and intact, not shrunk or dulled.

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Rug cleaning technician applying foam to a traditional Persian rug for deep cleaning.
Squeegee pushing foam across a blue rug patterned with fish

Rug Types We Clean in San Diego

Wool turns up in more rugs than any other pile fiber, from village-made tribal pieces to hand-knotted city rugs to machine-woven broadloom. Each construction asks for its own handling, so we match the wash to the material, the dyes, and the way the rug was built.

Alongside wool we regularly clean the full range of area rugs, with a specialty in oriental and handmade pieces: Persian, silk, viscose, Chinese, Kilim, Caucasian, Moroccan, Turkish, Navajo, Indian, Karastan, and machine-made rugs.

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Persian Rugs

Most Persian rugs are hand-knotted in wool, sometimes with silk highlights, and colored with dyes that can bleed when they are treated carelessly. We test every Persian rug for colorfastness, set the water temperature and pH to suit it, and wash gently so the pile, foundation, and colors are protected. These are among the most valuable rugs that pass through our facility, and each one is treated accordingly.

Oriental Rugs

Oriental rugs cover a wide field of handwoven work from Turkish, Chinese, Indian, Afghan, Pakistani, Moroccan, and Caucasian looms, most of it wool, each piece with its own dye chemistry and weave. The group takes in kilims, Navajo weaving, and other flat-weaves and tribal rugs. We identify the origin and construction before any rug touches water and adjust the wash to fit, because a flat-woven Kilim, a Moroccan Beni Ourain, and a densely knotted Afghan each ask for something different.

Wool Rugs

Wool is the fiber this page is built around, and the one we clean most. Its lanolin gives it resilience and a natural resistance to soil, but it felts and shrinks when heat, moisture, and agitation act on it together, and it stays a favorite target for moths. We wash wool in cooler, controlled water with minimal agitation, then dry it fully and evenly so it holds its size and shape. In-home steam cleaning can mat the pile for good, which is why every wool rug wash happens here at the facility.

Silk Rugs

Silk gets the gentlest handling on our wash floor. The fibers are extremely fine, the dyes are often fragile, and heat or harsh chemistry can dull the sheen for good. We hand-wash silk with gentle low-pH solutions and keep it well away from high pressure and heat drying, so the luster, drape, and fine detail come through untouched.

Viscose, Bamboo Silk & Custom Designer Rugs

Viscose and bamboo silk look like the real thing but behave nothing like it, and they rank among the most delicate fibers we handle. Many custom designer rugs are made from them. They drink up water fast and can brown, stiffen, or distort when washed wrong, which is why they need care most carpet cleaners are not set up to give. We control moisture closely, use techniques built for cellulosic fibers, and can often reverse the browning that has already set into one of these rugs.

Synthetic & Machine Made Rugs

Polypropylene, nylon, and polyester take daily wear without complaint, yet deep soil, pet odor, and allergens still pack into the pile where a vacuum cannot follow. Our full immersion process pulls that embedded grime out and revives the pile without harming the backing or construction. A trip through the same immersion bath we use on wool leaves even a budget machine-made rug smelling clean down to the backing.

Watch Our Wash Process

Before & After Rug Cleaning

The Wool Wash in Brief

Every wool rug here moves through the same full nine step immersion wash process we give all washable rugs. For wool, that starts with dusting from the back so the abrasive grit packed deep in the pile shakes loose before any water goes in, continues with a bleed test on every color, and ends with a centrifuge spin that draws up to ninety percent of the moisture out of the foundation before the rug is groomed back the way it was woven.

Authentic handmade rugs with intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

Testimonials from Our Clients

All Testimonials

Excellent
5.0
Greg Goorjian
2 days ago
The family heirloom passed down from my grandfather. Prayer rug size, losing threads, and quite filthy.. After restoration and washing at their own shop. A Full emersion process in their shop. The rug came back with 100% satisfaction. Family owned and operated by Armenians.. They know a thing or two about a thing or two. Highly recommend Zeytounian Rugs!
Photo from customer review
Response from the owner:Greg, thank you. We don't take it lightly when someone hands us a rug that's been in the family that long. Glad we could get your grandfather's back to you the right way. Thanks, Greg. The Zeytounian family
Pam Raney
4 days ago
Great service (even my dogs had fun in the treat and toy-filled office! Will come back for the next clean, for sure!
Response from the owner:Pam, this made our whole day. The treat basket is genuinely one of the best decisions we've made around here, and your two were great company. See you at the next clean, and thanks for the kind words.
Great service! Rug is very clean. The owner is very courteous. Timely service. Low price for the service standard. Recommend without hesitation.
Response from the owner:Dan, thanks for trusting us with your rug and for the great review!
Katy Motiey
6 days ago
This is an exceptional business run by 2 brothers… professional and high quality work. Thank you for taking care of our family Persian carpets!
Response from the owner:katy, thanks for the review and letting us take care of your rugs!
Bj Alfstad
6 days ago
Response from the owner:Thanks for the five stars, Bj. Really appreciate you taking the time.
Liz Sisco
1 week ago
Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair did a fantastic job cleaning 10 of my Persian rugs. Alexander and Anthony are friendly, professional and passionate about caring for rugs. Pick up and delivery was seamless and the rugs came back looking NEW! I highly recommend Zeytounian Rugs for all your rug cleaning and repair needs.
Response from the owner:Thanks so much for the great review Liz! It was a pleasure washing your beautiful persian and oriental rugs!
Susan Penman
2 weeks ago
My pup unfortunately had a vomiting accident on our 6 month old handmade silk Turkish rug and I jumped online and saw the incredible reviews from all of your customers and was so impressed I called immediately screaming HELP! We met the next day and your calmness and confidence gave us exactly what we needed to know that we found the best team to care for our very special piece of art! Thank you all for saving us! I 1000% recommend you trust this family with your heirlooms as well any other rugs you need assistance with, additionally the team recommended we have a sleeve sewn on the back and hang our beautiful piece of art, best decision ever! Feel free to call us at any time for a live reference!
Photo from customer review
Response from the owner:Susan, thank you so much for this amazing review. We're honored you trusted us with such a special handmade silk rug. We know how overwhelming those moments can be, so it means a lot to hear that we were able to give you peace of mind. Seeing your rug restored and now proudly displayed on the wall made the whole experience even more rewarding for us. Thank you again for your trust, your kind words, and your recommendation. It was a pleasure helping you, and we hope you enjoy your beautiful rug for many years to come!
Babra Rosenberg
2 weeks ago
This is the most amazing company. They do a fabulous job. They made my old beat up. Rug. Look like brand new. They are Reasonably priced andso nice to work with. I would definitely recommend them.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Babra! We’re thrilled to hear you’re happy with your rug cleaning and our service. It means a lot to us that you’d recommend Zeytounian Rugs. We look forward to helping you again in the future!
Anna Ancona
2 weeks ago
They were very professional and great at communicating. They cleaned my Moroccan rug in a week. Loved supporting this family owned business!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Anna, for your wonderful review! We're thrilled you loved our service and are grateful for your support of our family-owned business. It was a pleasure caring for your Moroccan rug! – The Zeytounian Rugs Team
River Amin
3 weeks ago
We got our Persian rug professionally cleaned for the first time after nearly 20 years. It moved with us across the country several times and survived our college years and our first child’s baby/toddler years. Zeytounian Rugs did an incredible job! The colors are so bright and the rug is so soft. They hand-repaired the worn edges and the tassels are stark white. I’m truly impressed by the quality of their work. 10/10, would definitely recommend!
Response from the owner:Wow River seriously thank you so much! It’s one of the main reasons we love doing what we do. To bring these family pieces back to life and keep their stories going from generation to generation! Good luck on the new chapter in Chicago and best wishes!
Louis Cappella
3 weeks ago
I highly recommend Zeytounian rugs. They cleaned Afghan and Tibetan (2) rugs that I’d stored for over a year and which hadn’t been cleaned in many years. They found moths and treated them beautifully, restoring their lustre. Friendly, convenient by appointment service at a good price!
Response from the owner:Louis, thanks so much for trusting us with your beautiful handmade rugs and for the great review!
kristine Villa
3 weeks ago
Zeytounian did an amazing job on our area rug. It looked just as it did when we first bought it. Customer service 10 out of 10. I highly recommend them.
Response from the owner:Thanks so much Kristine! Glad we could bring your rug back to its original beauty!
Kelly Greene
3 weeks ago
Great communication and service!
Response from the owner:Kelly, thanks so much for the business and for the 5⭐️!
John Flournoy
3 weeks ago
They gave me a reasonable estimate for a wool rug. It was almost not worth it, seeing as I got it originally off Article, but better to not waste, right? They cleaned it then held it for me for a month while the room it was in was renovated (your mileage may vary). There was a damaged corner (dogs!!) that was too expensive to fully repair so the good fellow there sewed it up to at least protect it from unraveling. All the above and they are SO NICE. Also explained some differences to me between different rug weaves. They are ALL IN on rugs. Amazing stuff.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, John! We really appreciate the kind words and are glad we could help save your rug. Even when a full repair isn’t practical, we always want to help preserve it as best we can. It was great meeting you and talking rugs and thanks again for trusting us with it!
Cheri Attix
4 weeks ago
Response from the owner:Appreciate the rating, Cheri. It was a pleasure working with you.
Nancy Wissing
4 weeks ago
Great response, great customer service and our rug looks like new!
Response from the owner:Nancy, thanks for the review!
Peter Sorvas
1 month ago
Fantastic Job! We have a 8’ diameter circular asian rug that ’s 40 years old. It was dirty and the fringe was torn off from vacuuming. We took it to Zeytourian Rugs for cleaning & restoration. They did a fantastic job bringing the vibrant colors back to life. They replaced the white fringe and the rug looks brand new. Wouldn’t take it anywhere else.
Response from the owner:Hi Peter, thank you for trusting Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair with your 40-year-old circular Chinese rug. Restoring those vibrant colors and performing the professional fringe repair is exactly what we love doing. If you are looking for top-tier rug cleaning in San Diego, we are always here to help. We appreciate you choosing our expert team for your restoration needs!
Lily Robinson
1 month ago
Amazing customer service and absolutely a pleasure to do business with these gentlemen ❤️
Response from the owner:Hi Lily, thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! We truly enjoyed working with you and are thrilled that you had such a positive experience with our team. Providing professional, high-quality rug care is our top priority at Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair, and we just have to say, your puppy looks absolutely adorable on the rug! We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to assisting you again in the future.
Peggy Petersen
1 month ago
The company provided both pick-up and delivery which was a big help to me. The rugs really needed cleaning because it had been some time since they were last cleaned. I was amazed when they brought the living room rug back because it was beautiful. The colors were beautiful. The rug looked brand new so I was absolutely thrilled with the service. They also wrapped the other rug to get it ready for shipment to a different house. I will definitely use this company again whenever I need some of my rugs cleaned.
Response from the owner:Hi Peggy, thank you for the wonderful review! We are so pleased we could assist you with the pick-up and delivery of your rugs, and it was our pleasure to get them looking brand new again. We take great pride in our professional rug cleaning and preparation services here at Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair, especially when it comes to getting rugs ready for shipment. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to helping you with your rug care needs in the future!
Gail Eyler
2 months ago
Super knowledgeable and experts in carpet cleaning. My silk rugs look new! They are a pleasure to do business with- very nice and great communicators. They are very professional, really care and are passionate about what they do.I highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Hi Gail, thank you so much for the kind words! We are thrilled to hear that your silk rugs look brand new and that you enjoyed working with our team. Providing professional, high-quality care is what we are most passionate about at Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to assisting you again!
Grace Kording
2 months ago
Our wool rug was washed to perfection! It was full of dirt and sand when we dropped it off, and is good as new now. Very easy to communicate with the business as well. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Hi Grace, thank you for the wonderful review! We are so glad we could get your wool rug looking brand new again after removing all that dirt and sand. We take pride in our deep-cleaning process here at Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair, and we are happy to hear that our communication made the experience easy for you. We look forward to working with you again!
Alexis Martin
2 months ago
This is, without question, the best service we have ever received from any company. I have trusted this family business with cleaning and repairing my area rugs for over 30 years, dating back to when the father first ran the company. Now that his sons have taken over the business, they have elevated an already outstanding operation to an entirely new level. Not only do they do an exceptional job cleaning, treating, and restoring rugs, but they also take extraordinary care during pickup and delivery. Furniture and décor are carefully moved and replaced, ensuring that everything is protected and returned exactly as it was. Watching these young men grow into kind, professional, and hardworking business owners has been truly special. I remember them as little boys, and now they are proudly carrying on their father’s legacy with integrity, dedication, and remarkable attention to detail. I couldn’t recommend them more highly.
Response from the owner:Hi Alexis, thank you so much for such an incredibly touching review. It has been an absolute honor to serve your family for over 30 years, and we are deeply humbled to hear that you have watched us grow from little boys into the business owners we are today. Carrying on our father’s legacy with integrity and dedication is our greatest pride, and we are so grateful for your long-standing trust and support. Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our story at Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair; we look forward to continuing to provide you with the exceptional service you deserve!
Torch
2 months ago
I had an incredible experience here. Anthony and Alex are so kind and knowledgeable, and were great with answering all my questions. They brought my beloved rug back to life and taught me about how they do the cleaning and repair process. I never thought that some of the stains on my rug would come out but they worked their magic and it is back to its original beauty! This is the only place I will be going for any of my future rug needs. Thanks again!
Response from the owner:Hi Torch, thank you so much for the incredible review! It was truly our pleasure to work with you and help restore your beloved rug. We are so glad you enjoyed learning about our cleaning and repair process—educating our clients is one of the things we love most about what we do here at Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair. We appreciate your kind words about Anthony and Alex and look forward to assisting you again in the future!
Alejandra Tano
2 months ago
They are so knowledgeable and provide excellent service. The first time the brothers came out I had lots of questions about the many rugs I inherited and they were patient and kind when answering them. We trust them completely with our antique handmade rugs, for cleaning and repairs, both of which we have had done on multiple rugs. I'm extremely satisfied with every single service they have provided, and their pricing is very fair. We are repeat customers and will continue to be as long as we have rugs. I'm so thankful we found them!
Response from the owner:Hi Alejandra, thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are honored to have earned your complete trust with your inherited antique handmade rugs. It has been a pleasure answering your questions and assisting you with all your cleaning and repair needs over the years. We truly value our repeat customers and are so glad you found us at Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair—we look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent service!
Bruce Will
2 months ago
I got my rug back today. It looks fantastic! The brothers are very courteous and they made the whole procedure very easy for me.
Response from the owner:Thank you Bruce for the great review! Also thanks for trusting us with your oriental rug.

Wool Rug Cleaning Questions

Wool felts and shrinks when heat, moisture, and agitation act on it at the same time, which is exactly what an in-home steam wand delivers. Our wash avoids all three pressure points. We use cooler, controlled water, minimal agitation, and even drying, so the rug holds its size and shape.

Wool is protein, so moth and carpet beetle larvae treat it as food, and they are drawn to rugs holding soil, pet residue, and moisture. A thorough facility wash removes that food source along with any eggs already in the pile. It is one of the quieter reasons regular cleaning lengthens a wool rug’s life.

A dense wool pile hides gritty soil down near the foundation, well below anything a vacuum reaches. That grit saws against the fibers every time the rug is walked on. Full immersion is the only way to float it up and out of the weave, which is why a washed rug looks brighter than a vacuumed one.

We advise against it. The heat and hard agitation of in-home steam cleaning are what turn a wool rug into a matted, shrunken version of itself, and matted pile can be permanent. A slow immersion wash at the facility floats the soil out and leaves the pile soft and open instead.

Excess water is spun out in a professional centrifuge, which draws up to ninety percent of the moisture from the foundation. The rug then hangs on racks in a monitored room with steady airflow and humidity. Drying evenly from top to bottom is what prevents shrinkage, browning, dye migration, and mildew.

Expert rug cleaning and repair services in San Diego, CA.

Contact Us for Professional Rug Cleaning

★★★★★ 5.0 · 424 Google Reviews

Drop your rug off, or we pick it up free. Our shop is at 7343 Ronson Rd Ste U in Kearny Mesa, open Monday to Friday 9 to 4 and Saturday 9 to 2.

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