Zeytounian Rugs is a third-generation family business specializing in profesional rug washing in San Diego, serving homeowners throughout San Diego County since 1956.
Every rug is washed in our dedicated off-site facility using a full immersion process that safely removes soil, allergens, and pet urine from deep within the foundation — the method recommended for wool, oriental, and handmade rugs.
We are a dedicated rug washing facility, not an in-home carpet cleaning service. Unlike carpet cleaning companies that clean rugs in your home, every rug we service is taken to our San Diego facility where it is fully immersion washed. This allows contaminants, soil, and pet urine to be flushed from deep within the foundation of the rug — not just the surface. This method is recommended for wool, oriental, and handmade rugs because it protects dyes and fibers while restoring softness and brightness.
Rugs serve as the biggest filter of dust and dirt in your home. Dirty rugs harbor substances like fungus, viruses, toxins, bacteria, and allergens that can be harmful to your health. Vacuuming your rugs alone is not enough to remove those substances as they accumulate deep into the fibers over time. Professionally cleaning your rugs on a regular basis will ensure you’re breathing cleaner air and creating a healthier environment in your home.
We are not any ordinary rug cleaning service. We have over 70+ years of experience. With our knowledge and expertise, you will get your rugs back in excellent shape.
Every rug is unique and requires a specific cleaning approach. Our washing process is tailored to the material, dyes, and construction of each individual area rug to ensure safe and effective cleaning.
We regularly clean all types of area rugs and specialize in oriental and handmade rugs. This includes: Persian, silk, viscose, Chinese, Kilim, Caucasian, Moroccan, Turkish, Navajo, Indian, Karastan, and machine-made rugs.
Persian rugs are hand-knotted using natural wool or silk with vegetable or synthetic dyes that require careful testing before any water is applied. We test each Persian rug for colorfastness, adjust our water temperature and pH accordingly, and wash gently to protect the pile, foundation, and colors. These are among the most valuable rugs we clean, and we treat every one with the care it deserves.
Oriental rugs encompass a wide range of handwoven pieces from Turkish, Chinese, Indian, Afghan, Pakistani, Moroccan, and Caucasian origins — each with its own fiber composition, dye structure, and weave construction. This includes kilims, Navajo, and other flat-weave and tribal rugs from around the world. We identify the origin and construction of every Oriental rug before cleaning and tailor our process to match. Whether it’s a flat-weave Kilim, a Moroccan Beni Ourain, a Pakistani Bokhara, or a densely knotted Afghan, the cleaning approach is never one-size-fits-all.
Wool is one of the most forgiving fibers to clean when handled correctly — its natural lanolin gives it resilience and a degree of soil resistance. Full immersion washing brings wool rugs back to life, restoring softness, brightness, and texture without shrinkage or pile distortion. Wool is also a common fiber found in custom designer and high-end area rugs, which require the same careful facility washing to protect their construction and colors. Improper cleaning, including in-home steam cleaning, can mat wool fibers permanently — which is why facility washing is always the right choice.
Silk rugs require the gentlest possible approach — the fibers are incredibly fine, the dyes are often delicate, and the pile can be permanently damaged by heat or harsh chemicals. We hand-wash silk rugs with specialized low-pH solutions and never subject them to high water pressure or heat drying. The result is a clean rug with its luster, drape, and fine detail fully intact.
Viscose and bamboo silk rugs look luxurious but are among the most fragile fibers we clean. Many custom designer rugs are made with these materials — they carry a premium price tag but require specialist care that most carpet cleaners simply aren’t equipped to handle. They are highly sensitive to water and can brown, stiffen, or distort if washed incorrectly. We use specialized techniques and carefully controlled moisture levels to safely clean these rugs and can often reverse existing cellulosic browning that has built up over time.
Polypropylene, nylon, and polyester rugs may be more durable than handmade pieces, but they still accumulate deep soil, pet odors, and allergens that vacuuming can’t remove. Our full immersion process extracts embedded dirt and refreshes the pile without damaging the backing or construction. Even everyday machine-made rugs benefit enormously from a professional facility wash versus an in-home cleaning attempt.
The first step in getting your rug cleaned is inspecting your rug. We will identify the type of rug, note any pre-existing damage, loose fibers, stains or color runs. We then take measurements and provide you with an estimate.
Before washing the rug, we employ our state of the art dusting process, using vibration to extract any dirt stuck deep in the pile of the rug. This loosens and releases dirt from deep within the rug. This adds years of life to your rug.
In this crucial step, we test your rug for colorfastness. By inspecting the rug alone, it is hard to determine whether or not the dyes will bleed out during a wash. If the rug tests out good, we will proceed with the wash. If the dye test shows running of colors, we will use an alternate technique to clean your rug.
If your rug has been heavily soiled by your pet, then a urine decontamination treatment will need to be added. This is where we soak your rug with a natural and non-toxic solution that breaks down the urine salts at a molecular level which then enables them to be flushed out without any residue.
Before washing the rug, we will pre-treat any troubled areas. After safely removing the stains, the rug is ready to be fully immersed. We will soak both sides of your rug to loosen up any dirt, odors, grime, and pet urine that is deep down in the pile. Once it has been thoroughly soaked it is ready for washing.
To ensure the best possible outcome, we use a fiber-safe soap blend selected specifically for the material and dyes of each rug. The rug is carefully hand-washed, allowing the cleaning solution to reach down into the foundation where soil and contaminants settle.
It is then thoroughly rinsed and flushed until the water runs completely clear, ensuring no dirt or residue remains in the fibers. Both sides of the rug are cleaned to ensure the entire structure is properly washed and restored.
After washing, excess water is removed using a professional rug centrifuge. This controlled wringing process removes up to 90% of the moisture from deep within the rug’s foundation, something air drying alone cannot accomplish. The centrifuge also allows additional flushing and rinsing so any remaining soil or cleaning solution is extracted from the rug.
The rug is then hung on specialized drying racks in a monitored environment with proper airflow and humidity control so it can dry evenly from top to bottom. This prevents shrinkage, browning, dye migration, and mildew while restoring the rug’s natural softness.
After the rug is completely dry, it’s time to properly groom the rug. After many years the pile of your rug can go in many different directions. During this crucial step we brush the pile in one direction, which is the way it was weaved. By doing this it brings the rug back to its original condition.
We then check to see that all stains have been removed, no dirt or debris remains, and that your rug looks amazing. After reviewing our checklist of inspection items, your rug is then vacuumed and rolled for delivery back to your home or for pickup if you dropped it off with us.
