★★★★★ 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 Washing vs Steam Cleaning in San Diego

Zeytounian Rugs does not steam clean rugs. We hand wash them in a full immersion process at our own San Diego facility, because steam heat can mat wool pile permanently and a surface pass leaves soil sitting in the foundation. Steam cleaning belongs on wall-to-wall carpet. Pickup and delivery across San Diego County.

✓ 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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Two Very Different Ways to Clean a Rug

The question usually arrives by phone. A carpet company has offered to run their steam wand over the area rugs while they are at the house anyway, the add-on price sounds convenient, and the homeowner wants to know whether that is safe for a wool or Oriental rug. Our answer has been the same since Nicholas Zeytounian opened the family wash floor in San Diego in 1956: steam cleaning was built for carpet that is nailed to the floor. An area rug can travel to a wash floor, and that changes everything about how it should be cleaned.

This page lays out what each method actually does, which rugs each one suits, and how to decide. If you already know you want a full wash, our rug cleaning and washing page walks through the process in detail.

What Steam Cleaning Does

A truck-mount or portable steam machine sprays hot water and detergent into the pile, then vacuums it back out. On wall-to-wall carpet that is a reasonable approach, since carpet cannot go anywhere and synthetic broadloom tolerates the heat. On an area rug the method has three problems. The heat can mat wool fibers permanently. The extraction only reaches what sits near the surface of the pile, so soil, grit, and any pet urine stay down in the foundation where the wand cannot pull them out. And the rug is left damp on your floor to dry on its own, which is how browning and mildew start.

No knock on the carpet trade intended. For a wool, silk, or hand-knotted rug, and honestly for most machine-made area rugs as well, the wand is simply the wrong tool.

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

Full Immersion Washing at Our Facility

Every rug we clean comes to our Kearny Mesa wash floor. The full nine step process is described on our rug washing page, but the shape of it matters here because each step answers a weakness of surface cleaning:

Dry soil removal first, before any water touches the rug
Every color dye tested so nothing bleeds in the wash
Hand washing with all natural, fiber-safe soap
Soil and urine flushed from the foundation, where steam cannot reach
Centrifuge wringing removes up to 90% of the moisture
Monitored drying racks prevent shrinkage, browning, and mildew

Kristine, one of our Google reviewers, described the result on her area rug simply: “It looked just as it did when we first bought it.”

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Rugs on Our Wash Floor

Which Method Fits Which Rug?

Match the rug you own to the right cleaning method. When in doubt, send us a photo and we will tell you straight, the estimate is free either way.

Rug Washing vs Steam Cleaning, by Rug Type
The rug you have	The safer method	Why
Wall-to-wall carpet	In-home steam cleaning	Broadloom is fixed to the floor and cannot travel to a wash facility. This is the job steam machines were built for.
Wool area rug	Full immersion wash	Steam heat can mat wool pile permanently, and the soil a wool rug holds sits in the foundation, below what a wand extracts.
Oriental, Persian, or hand-knotted rug	Full immersion wash	Dyes must be tested for colorfastness before washing. A hand wash with fiber-safe soap protects both the dyes and the knots.
Silk or viscose rug	Full immersion wash, gentlest handling	The fibers are very fine and the dyes delicate. See our silk rug cleaning service.
Machine-made area rug	Full immersion wash	Machine-made rugs benefit from the full wash too. Surface cleaning reaches the top of the pile and leaves the rest.
Any rug with pet urine	Immersion wash with urine decontamination	Urine soaks into the foundation. Our wash includes a decontamination step, described on our pet urine and odor removal page.

The High-Traffic Wool Rug Question

The comparison people most often ask us to settle is a wool rug in a busy room. Hallway runners, family room rugs, the wool piece under the dining table. Grit works down into wool pile faster in high-traffic spots, and grit is what cuts fibers and dulls the color. A surface pass takes off the visible dirt and leaves the grinding layer in place.

Washing handles it differently. We beat the dry soil out first, then the wash flushes the foundation, and the pile comes back soft. Karen, a repeat client, wrote that her area rugs “look fabulous after they are cleaned. We wouldn’t use any other cleaning service.” That softness is also why wool shows up in high-end designer rugs, and why we wash those at the facility rather than touching them in the home. Our wool rug cleaning and area rug cleaning pages cover the fiber-specific details.

Getting the rug to the wash floor is easy. We pick up and deliver anywhere in San Diego County, or you can drop the rug at the shop on Ronson Road. Details are on the rug pickup and delivery page.

Rug Washing vs Steam Cleaning, Answered

Is steam cleaning safe for a wool area rug in San Diego?

We advise against it. Steam cleaning heat can mat wool fibers permanently, and the extraction only removes what sits near the surface of the pile. Wool rugs do best with a full immersion wash at a facility, where the soil in the foundation actually rinses out.

Does Zeytounian offer steam cleaning?

No. We are a dedicated rug washing facility, not an in-home carpet cleaning service. Every rug we take on travels to our Kearny Mesa wash floor for the full immersion process. For wall-to-wall carpet, which we do not service, an in-home carpet cleaner is the right call.

What does full immersion washing at your San Diego facility include?

Nine steps: inspection, deep dry soil removal, dye testing, urine decontamination when needed, pre-wash stain treatment, hand washing and rinsing, controlled drying, finishing, and a final inspection before delivery. The centrifuge removes up to 90% of the moisture before the rug ever reaches the drying racks.

Can a machine-made rug go through the immersion wash?

Yes. Machine-made rugs benefit from the full wash as well, since surface cleaning leaves the lower pile and foundation untouched. We wash machine-made pieces regularly alongside the hand-knotted ones.

Why does drying matter so much in San Diego's coastal humidity after a rug is cleaned?

A steam-cleaned rug is left damp on your floor to dry on its own, and lingering moisture is how browning and mildew begin. On our wash floor the centrifuge wrings out most of the water and the rug finishes on monitored drying racks, which prevents shrinkage, browning, and mildew.

How do I get my rug to your San Diego wash facility?

Two ways. We pick up and deliver anywhere in San Diego County, or you can drop the rug off at 7343 Ronson Rd Ste U in Kearny Mesa, Monday to Friday 9 to 4 and Saturday 9 to 2.

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!

Related Rug Services

Rug Cleaning and Washing · Area Rug Cleaning · Wool Rug Cleaning · Oriental Rug Cleaning · Rug Pickup and Delivery · Request a free estimate

Contact Us for Professional Rug Washing

★★★★★ 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. By car we are a Highway 52 or Interstate 805 run for most of the county: about twenty minutes from Solana Beach or Coronado, twenty-five from Chula Vista, and thirty-five from Carlsbad.

Get Driving Directions to Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair

What San Diego Clients Say About Our Rug Washing

★★★★★ 5.0 · Google Reviews

★★★★★

We have had our area rugs cleaned several times. They look fabulous after they are cleaned. We wouldn’t use any other cleaning service.

Karen Renberg

Google review

★★★★★

Zeytounian Rugs was amazing! They explained the process for cleaning the rug, listened to me talk about how the rug fit into our decor and how much we loved our rug (even though it was machine made), and they did an absolutely beautiful job of cleaning and repairing it with brand new fringe. Their work is superb, and I would recommend them to anyone needing to have a rug cleaned and/or repaired.

Bettina Pedersen

Google review

★★★★★

This is an exceptional business run by 2 brothers… professional and high quality work. Thank you for taking care of our family Persian carpets!

Katy Motiey

Google review

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