★★★★★ 5.0 from 440+ Google reviews · Family-owned San Diego rug cleaning since 1956

A wooden-handled brush spreading white cleaning foam across a red and blue patterned Oriental rug during a hand wash.

Specialty Rug Cleaning in San Diego

Specialty rug cleaning takes a different approach for every fiber, and Zeytounian Rugs has cared for San Diego’s shag, sheepskin, flokati, cowhide, berber, and kilim rugs at one dedicated facility since 1956. Each rug is read for material, dyes, and construction first, so the wash is built around what that specific piece can safely take.

A long shag pile, a natural sheepskin backing, and a flatweave kilim each behave differently in water, so we match the method to the piece. Every washable rug is cleaned by hand with all-natural soaps and no harsh chemicals, while hides get a low-moisture treatment that protects the skin.

✓ 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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No obligation · pickup & delivery countywide

The facts, in brief

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair is a family-owned rug cleaning and repair company founded in 1956.

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair cleans and restores Oriental, Persian, Turkish, wool, and silk rugs in San Diego, California.

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair washes every rug by hand at its Kearny Mesa storefront at 7343 Ronson Road, Suite U.

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair is run by the third generation of the Zeytounian family, brothers Alexander and Anthony.

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair cleans rugs through a nine-step full-immersion wash rather than surface steam cleaning.

San Diego Specialty Rug Cleaning Specialists

Some specialty rugs need patient flushing to clear soil that has packed down at the base of a deep pile. Others cannot be soaked at all, because a leather or skin backing will stiffen and crack once it is saturated. We identify the fiber and construction of every specialty rug that comes in, then decide whether it belongs in a full-immersion wash or a controlled low-moisture clean.

One Facility for Every Kind of Rug

Many carpet cleaners turn shag, sheepskin, and cowhide rugs away, because a machine built for wall-to-wall carpet has no safe setting for loose wool pile or a hair-on hide. We are a dedicated rug facility, run by the third generation of the same family, and set up for natural and synthetic fibers alike.

Whatever the rug is made of, it is handled on its own and cleaned by the method its fiber can take, so it comes back soft and undamaged.

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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

Specialty Rugs We Clean in San Diego

Each specialty rug gets its own wash plan. We read the material, the dyes, and the construction of the piece, then build the cleaning around what that specific rug can safely take.

From synthetic looped berbers to hand-loomed Greek flokati, we clean the full range of specialty rugs, alongside the Persian, oriental, and wool pieces our facility washes every day.

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Eco-Friendly

Shag Rugs

Shag rugs hide their dirt. The pile is long and loose, so grit and pet hair sink to the base where a vacuum cannot reach. Our shag rug cleaning starts with a thorough dusting to shake that buried soil free, followed by a full-immersion wash that flushes both the pile and the foundation. Careful drying and grooming lift the strands back up, so the rug feels plush again instead of matted and flat.

Sheepskin & Hide Rugs

Sheepskin rug cleaning is nothing like washing a knotted wool rug. The wool sits on a natural skin backing that holds its own lanolin, and soaking that skin leaves it stiff and cracked. We clean sheepskin and other single-pelt hides with a gentle low-moisture method that lifts soil and refreshes the wool while keeping the backing soft and pliable. It comes back clean without losing the give that makes a real sheepskin worth owning.

Flokati Rugs

A flokati is a thick, hand-loomed Greek rug woven entirely from long wool, so it behaves like a shag but with far more fiber to manage. Our flokati rug cleaning washes the wool by hand, then fluffs the pile as it dries, which is what gives a genuine flokati its deep, cloud-like loft. Rush the drying and the wool clumps and mats down heavy, which is exactly what a proper facility wash is meant to prevent.

Cowhide Rugs

A cowhide is hair-on leather, not a woven textile, so it never goes into a wash tub. Cowhide rug cleaning is done by hand on the surface, cleaning the hair in the direction it lies and conditioning the leather backing so it stays supple. Over-wetting a cowhide is the quickest way to ruin one, and that is the thing we take care to avoid.

Berber Rugs

Berber rugs are woven in low, tight loops, in wool or in hard-wearing synthetics. Those uncut loops trap fine soil and can snag or pull if a rug is scrubbed too aggressively. Our berber rug cleaning uses controlled moisture and gentle agitation to clear the grit without distorting the loop pile, then dries the rug flat so it holds its shape and its low, even surface.

Kilim Rugs

A kilim has no pile at all. It is a flatweave, usually wool, often carrying bright tribal dyes that can bleed if they are not tested first. Our kilim cleaning always begins with colorfast testing, then a gentle hand wash and a thorough rinse that clears soil from both faces of the weave. Flatweaves dry quickly, and we keep that drying controlled so the colors stay crisp and the weave stays true.

Delicate Fibers With a Page of Their Own

Silk Rugs

Real silk asks for cool water, low-pH soap, and slow drying, and nothing else will do. Our silk rug cleaning page walks through how we protect the sheen and the fine detail.

Wool Rugs

A full immersion wash is what restores wool’s softness and color, and it is the heart of what we do. See the complete wool rug cleaning process.

Viscose & Bamboo Silk Rugs

Viscose browns and stiffens when it is washed carelessly, so moisture stays under tight control. Our viscose rug cleaning method covers art silk and bamboo silk pieces.

Antique Rugs

Old dyes and brittle foundations change the whole wash plan, and repair often runs alongside the bath. Read how antique rug cleaning works at our facility.

Turkish Rugs & Kilims

Anatolian weaving runs from thick Oushak pile to slit-woven kilims, and each is washed its own way. Start with our Turkish rug cleaning page.

Persian & Oriental Rugs

The hand-knotted classics come through our wash floor every week. Visit Persian rug cleaning or oriental rug cleaning for the details.

Watch Our Wash Process

Before & After Rug Cleaning

Matching the Wash to the Construction

Specialty rugs take our full nine step immersion wash process only as far as their construction allows. Deep-pile shag and flokati hide a surprising amount of sand at the base of their long fibers, so the grit is shaken free while the rug is completely dry and the pile is groomed after drying to restore its deep, even loft, while hide and leather-backed pieces skip the soak entirely and are cleaned by a low-moisture method so the backing is never saturated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you clean rugs that San Diego carpet cleaners turn away?

Yes, that is most of what this page covers. Shag, flokati, cowhide, berber, and kilim rugs all need handling that wall-to-wall carpet equipment cannot give them, and our facility washes or surface-cleans each one by the method its construction can take.

How do you decide at your San Diego workshop between the wash tub and low-moisture cleaning?

The construction decides it. Washable fiber rugs go into the full immersion process, while a hair-on hide or any leather-backed piece is cleaned by hand with controlled moisture, because soaking a skin leaves it stiff and cracked. We sort every rug during the inspection.

Will a matted shag or flokati get its loft back?

In almost every case, yes. The wash flushes out the packed soil that weighs the pile down, and we work the fibers as they dry so the strands lift instead of clumping. Grooming at the end restores the deep, even surface.

Do the bright colors on a kilim bleed in the wash?

They can if they are not tested, so kilim cleaning always starts with colorfast testing. Dyes that hold go through the gentle hand wash. A dye that moves changes the plan to a controlled low-moisture clean before any harm is done.

Do you pick up specialty rugs across San Diego County?

Yes. Pickup and delivery are available across San Diego County for every rug type on this page, and each piece is measured and quoted with a free estimate before cleaning starts.

Authentic handmade rugs with intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

Testimonials from Our Clients

All Testimonials

Excellent

5.0

Casandra Anders

17 hours ago

Exceptional service that surpassed my expectations! They did an amazing job on my 35+ year-old area rug. Older stains I thought could never be removed, are gone! My rug looks like new, great experience from start to finish.

Melisa Mitchell

2 days ago

They really know what they are doing. I wouldn’t trust my hand knotted wool rugs to anyone else. They wash them the right way and your rugs are CLEAN!!!

nicole wyne

2 days ago

My rug was pretty gnarly from a bad coffee spill. I guess the rug was also in the show room for some time because it looks even brighter than when I bought it👌🏼 Thanks fellas!

Andy Nickerson

6 days ago

Amazing experience from start to finish. Tight communications & fast service. Great value.

James Endicott

6 days ago

Let me add my recommendation for Zeyrtounian Rug Cleaning to the list of happy customers . Zeyrtounian brothers were recommended by the couple Wiazi who repaired a very old and in poor shape Turkish rug (they did an amazing job) that has been in the family for almost 100 years. Zeyrtounian brothers brought the rug back to life. They gave me a great deal and completed the cleaning in a timely manner. They are both very friendly and want their customers satisfied. Highly recommended. James

Leonardo Perez

1 week ago

They are great to work with, honest and helpfull. I made the right choice specially when they revealed my rug was an authentic persian rug. Thank you for helping me out

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words, Leonardo! It was a pleasure working with you and helping you learn more about your rug. Discovering that you have an authentic Persian rug is always exciting, and we're glad we could share some of our knowledge with you! We take great pride in being honest, transparent, and helpful with every customer. We truly appreciate you choosing our family business and trusting us with your rug. We look forward to helping you again in the future!

Caitlin Kaplan

1 week ago

We had six rugs cleaned (including a large Persian Hamadan) plus new rug pads, with pickup and delivery. We hit some scheduling challenges on our end, and they were so understanding and helpful working around them, and never made us feel like a bother. The rugs came back beautiful. Really glad we went with a family business that clearly takes pride in the work. Highly recommend.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the thoughtful review, Caitlin! It was a pleasure working with you and caring for your beautiful rugs, especially your Persian Hamadan! We're so happy to hear that you're pleased with the cleaning and new rug pads. We understand that schedules can get hectic, and we're always happy to be as accommodating as possible. As a family-owned business, we take great pride in both our craftsmanship and the relationships we build with our customers. Your kind words and recommendation truly mean a lot to us. Thank you again for trusting us with your rugs!

Sharon Wasserman

1 week ago

The brothers are great. Service was very professional and within my budget. Highly recommend them.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words, Sharon! We’re happy to hear you had a great experience with us. We truly appreciate your support and recommendation. It was a pleasure working with you, and we look forward to helping you again in the future!

Sharon Duke

2 weeks ago

Linda Beach

2 weeks ago

I can't enough about the brothers that own this business. Alex and Anthony are 3rd generation rug sellers, cleaners and offer repair services. Their knowledge of the various rugs is extensive. The business itself is a vast improvement over the prior vendor who serviced my rugs. They have a 9-step process for cleaning the rugs and the drying system ensures a good, dry, flat rug, without any evidence of trapped mildew or moisture. I have a lot of pets, my rug came home from the cleaning looking almost new. I've referred friends and neighbors, who want to maintain and preserve their Persian, Turkish, Afghani rugs to Zeytounian. Everything about the business it top of the line.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for this incredible review, Linda! It truly means a lot to both of us that you recognize the care, knowledge, and attention to detail we put into our work. As a third-generation family business, we take great pride in continuing our family's tradition of caring for fine rugs. We're so happy to hear how pleased you are with the results! Your trust in us and your referrals to friends and neighbors mean more than you know. Thank you again for your continued support, and we look forward to caring for your rugs for many years to come!

Leticia Taufahema

3 weeks ago

They did a great job cleaning two of my Karastan rugs, I would highly recommend

Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Leticia! We're happy to hear you’re pleased with how your Karastan rugs turned out! We take great pride in caring for every rug that comes through our shop, and we truly appreciate you trusting us with yours. Thank you for your kind words and recommendation. We look forward to helping you again in the future!

Louise McDevitt

3 weeks ago

Zeytournian has been cleaning our area rugs for the last 30 yrs of pet stains, odors, and spilled drinks Have always been highly satisfied.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Louise! It truly means the world to us that you and your family have trusted ours with your rugs for the past 30 years! As a third-generation family business, we're incredibly grateful for longtime customers like you who have supported us throughout the years. We're so happy to hear that you've consistently been pleased with our work. Thank you again for your loyalty and continued trust in us!

Emily Cheney

3 weeks ago

Adore them. Never going anywhere else to have my rug cleaned

Response from the owner:Thanks Emily you're the BEST!

Jo\ Anne Hacker

3 weeks ago

Wow these guys are truly amazing. So friendly, competent, accommodating. Simply could not ask for more. And…my carpets are soooo clean!

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Jo-Anne! We're thrilled to hear how happy you are with your freshly cleaned rugs! We take great pride in not only delivering exceptional cleaning results but also making the entire experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us, and we're grateful you chose our family business. It was a pleasure working with you, and we look forward to caring for your rugs again in the future!

Shinar Zoldi

4 weeks ago

It was a medium wool area rug that needed cleaning as well as a repair in one of the corners. It’s an old repair that was unraveling and eaten by dry rot. Anthony and his crew were very upfront about what they can and can’t do, but it certainly exceeded my expectations. The rug looks beautiful. Thank you.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Shinar! We're thrilled to hear that both the cleaning and corner repair exceeded your expectations. We always believe in being upfront and honest about what can realistically be accomplished, especially when working with older rugs that have existing damage. It means a lot to us that you trusted us with your rug, and we're so happy to hear how beautiful it turned out. Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to helping you in the future!

Jerry G

1 month ago

Brought in an Egyptian layer weave cotton rug to be treated prior to installation. The facility is run by the Zeytounian brothers, very friendly service and with suggestions for the care of the rug. I also purchased their recommended rug padding. They were helpful in unloading the loading the rug in my RAV4. Strongly recommend, no issues with the rug, it was beautiful. Photo attached. Any marks on the rug are from 3 and 5 year old grandchildren playing on it!!

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Jerry! It was a pleasure meeting you and helping you prepare your beautiful Egyptian cotton rug for your home. We're glad we could offer some helpful care recommendations and get you set up with the proper rug padding to protect it for years to come. We love hearing that your grandchildren are already enjoying it! After all, rugs are meant to be lived on and enjoyed. We truly appreciate your trust in us and your recommendation. Thank you again for supporting our family business!

Stewart Polk

1 month ago

I took our rug to Zeytounuan Rugs for cleaning after watching their short video. The rug is gold and ivory, and one foot on either side of the rug was dark brown from dirt. When I left it with Anthony I was hopeful that I may see some color where the walking paths were. Eight days after leaving the rug Anthony called to say the rug was ready for collection. I took it home and opened what looked like a new rug! The colors were bright and it is so, so very clean. You could never tell the rug is 20 years old. So happy!

Response from the owner:Thank you, Stewart. Twenty years of foot traffic on gold and ivory is about the hardest thing anyone hands us, so getting the colour back out of it was satisfying on our end too. Glad the video brought you in, and Anthony will be pleased.

Marcia Sorini

1 month ago

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning and Repair have been my go to rug cleaners for the past 25 years. Kind, courteous, timely and through. My rugs are beautiful and will last forever with the care the Zeytounian family gives them. Call them now!?♥️♥️♥️

Response from the owner:Thank you, Marcia. Twenty five years of rugs between us is something we don't take lightly. Looking after them so they outlast all of us is the whole idea. We appreciate you saying so.

Sarah Federman

1 month ago

Loved working with them. Not only did our rugs come back beautiful and clean, they taught us more about the history of the carpets. Ours was likely woven by two women over 100 years ago in Persia. They say it took them two years. I feel more connected to these women.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Sarah. Reading where a rug came from is half the pleasure of this work, and a piece like yours carries a lot of hours in it. Glad it came back clean and that you know a little more about it now. We appreciate you taking the time.

Adrian Montfort

1 month ago

This is one of those dying breed of amazing family businesses that make this country great. Friendly service, that old school way of doing business where you feel understood and appreciated. Cleaning service was great and delivered on time, communication was beyond great. I absolutely recommend this place for area rug cleaning.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Adrian. Three generations in, the old school way is really the only way we know. Glad the rug came back on time and that you always knew where things stood. We appreciate the recommendation.

Adam Salter

1 month ago

Zeytounian Rugs did a great job repairing and cleaning a Turkish rug I’ve had since I was a teenager. The corner has been chewed and damaged by my dog many years ago, but they fixed it right up. After the repair and a clean it looks like new, I’m so pleased. The guys are super friendly and knowledgeable, just a pleasure to work with.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Adam. A chewed corner on a rug you've had that long is worth repairing properly rather than hiding, and Turkish weaves take the repair well. Glad it looks like new again.

Reid Perry

2 months ago

Friendly, professional, hardworking brothers. Had two chinese ivory wool rugs cleaned. One large one smaller. One with a few spots i did not think they could get out, but they did. Very pleased. Would highly recommend them.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Reid. Ivory wool is unforgiving, so spots on it are the ones people assume are permanent. Glad we could prove otherwise on both. We appreciate the recommendation.

Vincent Carson

2 months ago

Knowledgeable, hardworking, kind, and professional. What else can I say.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Vincent. That's plenty to say, and we appreciate you taking the time.

patricia arbaugh

2 months ago

I had three rugs cleaned and service was outstanding! Very professional and personable. My rugs look brand new! Repaired fringe on one of my rugs and did an excellent job. Pick up and drop off is so convenient! Would highly recommend!!!

Response from the owner:Thank you, Patricia. Fringe repair is slow work and it's the detail most people notice afterwards, so it's good to hear it came out right. Glad the pickup and drop off made it easy. Three rugs at once is our favourite kind of day.

Krisg123

2 months ago

You never know who you’ll encounter when searching Google for a professional service, but these brothers were an incredible find! They are among the kindest, most efficient, and trustworthy service professionals I’ve ever met. They treated our rug as if it were their own and completely eliminated every sign of staining. Thank you so much for the outstanding service. I’ll gladly recommend you to anyone in need of professional rug cleaning!

Response from the owner:Thank you. Picking a rug cleaner off a search result is a leap of faith, so we're glad it paid off. Treating a rug like it's our own is the only way we know how to do it. We appreciate the recommendation.

Specialty Rug Types and the Method Each One Takes

Construction decides the wash
Rug type	What makes it different	How we clean it
Shag	Long, loose pile, so grit and pet hair sink to the base where a vacuum cannot reach	Thorough dusting, then a full immersion wash of pile and foundation, with drying and grooming to lift the strands
Sheepskin and hide	Wool sits on a natural skin backing that holds its own lanolin, and soaking the skin leaves it stiff and cracked	A gentle low moisture method that keeps the backing soft and pliable
Flokati	A thick hand loomed Greek rug woven entirely from long wool, with far more fiber to manage than a shag	Washed by hand, then the pile is fluffed as it dries so the loft comes back
Cowhide	Hair on leather, not a woven textile, and over wetting is the quickest way to ruin one	Cleaned by hand on the surface in the direction the hair lies, with the leather backing conditioned
Berber	Low, tight uncut loops that trap fine soil and can snag or pull under aggressive scrubbing	Controlled moisture and gentle agitation, then dried flat so the loop pile keeps its shape
Kilim	A flatweave with no pile at all	Washed to suit a flat woven structure rather than a knotted pile

Related Rug Cleaning Services

Viscose Rug Cleaning · Silk Rug Cleaning · Antique Rug Cleaning · Request a free estimate

Contact Us for Professional Rug Cleaning

★★★★★ 5.0 · Google Reviews

Drop your rug off, or we can pick it up. Our shop is at 7343 Ronson Rd Ste U in Kearny Mesa, open Monday to Friday 9 to 4 and Saturday 9 to 2. The same freeway runs our pickup vans make work in reverse: Highway 52 from the coast, Interstate 805 from the South Bay, and Interstate 15 from inland North County, roughly twenty to thirty-five minutes from most of the county.

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