★★★★★ 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.

Rug Odor and Musty Smell Removal in San Diego

Rug odor removal at Zeytounian Rugs takes the smell out rather than covering it. Sprays and powders reach the top of the pile, but the residue sits at the base of the knots, so we dust the rug, wash it through by full immersion, and dry it to the foundation.

✓ 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.

Odors Washed Out at the Source, Not Sprayed Over

Rug odor removal only works when the source comes out of the rug, and the source is almost never on the surface. A musty smell lives deep in the pile and the foundation, in dust, moisture, and residue the fibers have absorbed over years. That is why a smelly rug still smells after airing on the patio and after every spray in the cabinet. At Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair we take a different route: the whole rug goes through a full immersion deep wash at our Kearny Mesa workshop, and what causes the smell leaves with the wash water.

Wool is remarkable at absorbing what surrounds it. A rug stored in a garage picks up the garage. A rug in a beach-adjacent home drinks the damp of the marine layer, season after season, and starts to smell like a closed cellar. Cooking oils, fireplace and cigarette smoke, spilled milk that dried quietly into the pile, a damp pad underneath: each settles into the fiber and stays there until it is washed out.

We have washed odors out of hand-knotted rugs since 1956, and we are honest when the smell points to a bigger problem. Mildew odor after a leak or flood calls for our water damage restoration service, and pet accidents get their own decontamination process on our pet urine and odor removal page. For everything else that makes a rug unpleasant to live with, this is the page.

Rug cleaning technician applying foam to a traditional Persian rug for deep cleaning.

Where the Smell Actually Lives

Naming the odor is the first step to removing it, because different sources sit at different depths in the rug. These are the ones San Diego homes bring us most:

Musty smell from storage, closed rooms, or a damp pad
Mildew odor after a leak, spill, or wet winter
Fireplace, cigarette, and cooking smoke absorbed by wool
Spills that dried on the surface but soured in the pile
The stale, dusty smell of a rug that has never been deep washed

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The Deep Wash That Takes Odors Out

How Odor Removal Actually Works

Why Sprays and Powders Fail

Masking is not removal.

Deodorizing sprays and carpet powders work on the top of the pile, and for a few days the perfume wins. The residue causing the smell is lower down, held in the base of the knots and the foundation threads, where nothing short of water reaches. Humidity is the tell. When the marine layer rolls in and the smell comes back, the odor never left; the air just got damp enough to carry it again. A surface shampoo has the same limit, and it leaves its own detergent residue behind. The fix is not a stronger perfume. It is getting what smells out of the rug.

The Full Immersion Wash

Odor removal at Zeytounian is our full immersion wash doing what it was built to do. The rug is dusted first to shake decades of dry soil out of the foundation, then completely submerged and washed by hand, front and back, so water moves through the pile and the foundation rather than across the surface. Whatever the fibers have been holding, smoke, soured spills, storage must, the residue of a damp season, is flushed through and rinsed until the water runs clean. You can read the whole nine step immersion wash process on our washing page; the point here is that nothing about it is surface work.

Squeegee pushing foam across a blue rug patterned with fish

Drying Done Right

Drying is where odor removal is won or lost, and it is the step home methods cannot manage. Wool holds a surprising amount of water, and a thick hand-knotted rug that stays damp at the core too long will develop the very mustiness you were trying to remove. After the wash we dry rugs thoroughly and completely at the workshop before they are rolled for delivery, checked at the foundation rather than just the surface:

Dried fully through the foundation, not surface-dry
Checked before rolling, so no moisture is trapped
Returned fresh, with no perfume standing in for clean

Why choose Zeytounian Rugs for Rug Odor Removal in San Diego?

Anyone can make a rug smell like fragrance for a week. Making it smell like nothing at all, the way clean wool should, takes a real wash and the judgment to do it safely. Fine rugs carry dyes that must be tested before submersion and fibers that each want different handling, which is exactly the craft this family has practiced since 1956. Anthony and Alexander Zeytounian, the third generation, oversee every wash at the Kearny Mesa workshop.

Musty rugs come to us from across the county, from beach homes in Del Mar and La Jolla where the marine layer keeps everything damp, to estates in Rancho Santa Fe unrolling rugs after years of storage. Moving a smelly rug through your house and your car is nobody’s favorite errand, so we pick up and deliver anywhere in San Diego County.

The evaluation is free, and it tells you what the smell is before we treat it. If we find pet urine, we will say so and use the dedicated process on our pet urine and odor removal page. If the rug took real water damage, mildew needs more than a wash and our water damage restoration service takes over. For every other odor, the full immersion wash on our rug cleaning and washing page is the remedy, and it has been for three generations.

Rug Odor Questions, Answered

Why does my San Diego rug still smell musty after I aired it out?

Because the source of the smell is inside the rug, not on it. Odor-causing residue settles into the base of the pile and the foundation threads, where air and sunlight cannot reach. Airing dries the surface and dulls the smell for a while; the first humid day brings it back. Washing the residue out is the only lasting fix.

Can you get smoke smell out of a San Diego wool rug?

Yes. Wool absorbs smoke from fireplaces, cigarettes, and cooking, and holds it the way a wool coat does. A full immersion wash flushes the smoke residue out of the fiber rather than covering it. Heavily smoke-saturated rugs sometimes take more than one wash, and we tell you honestly at the evaluation.

Is a musty smell the same as mildew in San Diego's coastal air?

Not always, and the difference matters. General mustiness comes from moisture and trapped soil and washes out. Active mildew means the rug stayed wet long enough for growth to start, which can also weaken the fibers. If we find mildew, we treat the rug through our water damage restoration process instead of a standard wash.

Will the smell come back after the wash?

Once the source is washed out, the smell has nothing to come back from. What can return is a new odor from the same conditions, a chronically damp room, a wet pad, or a leak, so we point out anything we notice about the cause when the rug is evaluated.

What about pet urine odor?

Pet urine bonds with fibers and needs its own decontamination soak before the wash, which is why we treat it as a separate service. See our pet urine and odor removal page, or just tell us what happened when you book and we will route the rug correctly.

Do I have to bring the rug to you, or do you collect across San Diego County?

No. We pick up and deliver anywhere in San Diego County, or you can drop the rug at our Kearny Mesa shop, Monday to Friday 9 to 4 and Saturday 9 to 2. The washing and drying all happen in-house.

Authentic handmade rugs with intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

Testimonials from Our Clients

All Testimonials

Excellent

5.0

Emily Cheney

3 days 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 days ago

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

Shinar Zoldi

6 days 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.

Jerry G

1 week 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!!

Stewart Polk

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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

4 weeks 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

4 weeks 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

4 weeks 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

4 weeks 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.

Christian Castrellon

4 weeks ago

We had a rug that had dog urine on it. Took it in on a Thursday and the entire rug was ready by Monday. Extremely quick turn-around time. They pick up rugs as well if you make an appointment which I will be utilizing in the future at this establishment.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Christian. Pet accidents need to be dealt with properly rather than quickly, so getting both on that one felt good. The pickup service is there whenever you need it, just give us a ring to book it in.

David Erb

4 weeks ago

This was the best rug cleaning experience that we’ve had, we’ll absolutely be back again for the excellent results & customer service!!

Response from the owner:David, thank you for the review and trusting us with your rug! We look forward to working with you again

Dewey & Sue Bowen/McMillan

4 weeks ago

Zeytounian did an excellent job cleaning our rugs for a good price. Anthony & Alex were very helpful and quick to respond. They made the whole process easy and even identified the origin and patterns on our rugs. We highly recommend them and will definitely use their services again.

Response from the owner:Thanks for the review guys! Always a pleasure doing business!

Dev Sethi

1 month ago

Superb service. Excellent communication. I was referred to get two large rugs cleaned. One wool , one synthetic blend. The shop arranged pick up, full deep cleaning, and return installation. Anthony was always easy to reach and quick to respond. We are very happy with the results. I highly recommend them for all of your carpet and rug cleaning needs. I will definitely use them again.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Dev. A wool rug and a synthetic blend need different handling, so it's good to hear they both came back the way you hoped. Glad the pickup and return install went smoothly as well. We appreciate the recommendation. Anthony

Katherine Yarborough

1 month ago

Nice guys to work with. They do a great job cleaning filthy Persian carpets (recommend that you watch a couple of their U-tube videos regarding how they do this). Added plus, they are great about answering their phones!

Response from the owner:Hi Katherine, thanks so much for the 5 stars! Persian rug cleaning takes precise, dedicated care, so we’re thrilled you're happy with the results. It's awesome to hear you enjoyed our YouTube videos, too! We always strive to be easy to reach, so whenever you need carpet or rug services again, we're just a phone call away.

David Martin

1 month ago

Reliable, professional, courteous and great cleaning job on special rug. Recommended.

Response from the owner:David, thank you for the review and for trusting us with your beautiful handmade rug from Nepal!

Teri Wikesjo

1 month ago

My carpets hadn’t been cleaned in 20 years. They all came back looking like new. They were so helpful and professional. I highly recommend them.

Response from the owner:Thank you for the review Teri! See you next time!

Maura Kelly Barcelona

1 month ago

Excellent customer service and super convenient. These guys know what they’re doing! And the prices are super reasonable. 10/10 recommend

Response from the owner:Wow, Maura, your kind words made our day! We absolutely love helping keep area rugs fresh and spotless, and it's amazing to hear you enjoyed our service and pricing. Our team is always here to make life easier for you - come back anytime or let us know if you have more rugs that need sprucing up! Share us with your friends for the same great experience!

susan halenza

2 months ago

These 2 brothers are the best:professional,especiallynice to work with,compliant with customer wishes ,the cleaned rugs look great. I have also bought rugs from them that were very special also.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for trusting us with your rugs! We love working with wonderful customers like you and it means a lot to hear you felt comfortable and happy with both our rug cleaning and our collection. Your appreciation makes our day brighter. If you ever want to browse new arrivals or need another cleaning, we're always here to help.

Michael Sheehan

2 months ago

Zeytounian brothers over delivered on cleaning a Moroccan rug that my pets cherished as a potty pad! Guys are legit & price was better than quoted. 3 words “utilize their services “ thanks guys!

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words, Michael! Knowing that your beloved rug is now spotless and back in action makes our day - even happier to hear our pricing worked out better than expected. We’re always up for turning rug disasters into happy endings, so if you or your furry friends need a hand again, just give us a shout. We’re here to help keep your home fresh and inviting!

Debra

2 months ago

The Zeytounian brothers were easy to work with. I found to be trustworthy and the derbies to be reasonably priced. Service was excellent. The large oriental rug came back with more brilliant colors too ! I recommend anyone who needs cleaning of precious and beautiful rugs to go with the Zeytounian brothers.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Debra, for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled that you found our service trustworthy and reasonably priced, and that your oriental rug looks brilliant. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to helping you again.

Debbie Smith

2 months ago

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for trusting us with your area rug cleaning, Debbie! We’re thrilled you found our pricing reasonable and hope your freshly cleaned rug adds extra comfort to your home. Your feedback really brightens our day. If you ever need another refresh or have any friends who could use our service, we’d love to help again!

Why a Rug Odor Comes Back, Method by Method

Odor removal compared
	Deodorizing sprays and carpet powders	Surface shampoo	Full immersion wash
What it reaches	The top of the pile	The top of the pile	Through the pile and the foundation, front and back
Where the residue actually sits	Left in place at the base of the knots and the foundation threads	Left in place	Flushed through and rinsed until the water runs clean
When the marine layer rolls in	The smell comes back, because the odor never left	The smell comes back	Nothing is left to carry a smell
What it adds	A perfume that wins for a few days	Its own detergent residue	Nothing, the rug is dusted first, then washed
Drying	Not applicable	The rug is left to dry where it lies	Dried fully through the foundation and checked before rolling

Related Rug Services

Rug Cleaning and Washing · Pet Urine and Odor Removal · Water Damage Restoration · Pickup and Delivery · Request a free estimate

Zeytounian Rugs gold ZR monogram with olive branch

Contact Us for Professional Rug Odor Removal

★★★★★ 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.

Get Driving Directions to Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair

What San Diego Clients Say About Our Washing

★★★★★ 5.0 · Google Reviews

★★★★★

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.

Peggy Petersen

2 months ago · Google review

★★★★★

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!

Grace Kording

2 months ago · Google review

★★★★★

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.

Liz Sisco

1 week ago · Google review

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