Frequently Asked Questions

Oriental and specialty rugs are all unique and different. Please call (410) 667-7847 or submit your information on our Ask an Expert page for a free estimate for your particular rug. Remember, we also have free pickup and delivery in the Maryland, DC, Virginia, and Pennsylvania metropolitan areas!

At Greenspring Rug Care, we have our own cleaning and repair facility with the most up-to-date equipment in the industry. We place a huge emphasis on customer service and will pick up and deliver your rugs free of charge. There is never a deposit; you pay when you are satisfied. We also offer our revolutionary free rug pad cleaning for life program, 100% pet odor removal guarantee, free pickup and delivery, and a 100% risk-free guarantee.

Yes, chances are it has accumulated soil, pet hair, or pet dander that are all major sources for allergy symptoms. These can be removed effectively with a thorough cleaning from our experts.

Yes, we have a chemical-free cleaning option.

• In-Home: Surface only, dust and sand cannot be removed nor properly rinsed, leaves moisture in the pad, risk of floor damage.
• Greenspring Facility: dirt and contaminants fully removed, full-immersion wash, temperature-controlled drying, and fringe detailing.

Yes, we do! Our master craftspeople can do almost any type of repair on both antique and contemporary handmade rugs, custom-made rugs, and machine-made rugs. We can expertly reweave holes, re-nap worn areas, restore moth damage, repair seams, reduce a rug size, rewrap the binding on the side, reweave worn or missing fringes, sew on artificial fringes, unravel and overcast worn fringes, and patch holes.

All fringes wear over time and can be repaired or replaced. Some options include:

• Hand-fringing or reweaving to match existing fringe exactly
• Machine-made fringes can be sewn over worn fringe
• Removing damaged fringes and replace with binding

When your rug arrives at our facility, we will evaluate it and make a recommendation for repair. Our master craftsmen can reweave or add additional material to holes or spots, depending on the severity of the damage.

Wear is harder to treat than damage, but our experts are happy to evaluate your piece and help you make the most informed choice possible.

In most cases, professional restoration is more cost-effective than replacing a high-quality or heirloom rug. Our experts can perform hand-reweaving, fringe replacement, and side-binding repairs to restore a rug’s structural integrity and value. We recommend an assessment if your rug shows signs of moth damage, holes, or fraying edges, as early repairs prevent more costly damage later.

We proudly serve Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and the Pennsylvania metropolitan area! Our cleaning plant is located in Timonium, Maryland, just north of Baltimore City at 2205 Greenspring Dr, Timonium, MD 21093.

Yes! Our free pickup and delivery are available to customers in the Maryland, D.C., Virginia, and Southern Pennsylvania areas. We offer prompt, professional home appointments using our own employees. Simply contact us to schedule pickup or delivery.

Yes. There is a very nice discount on our cleaning services when you bring your rugs to our facility. When you arrive, we will take the rugs out of your vehicle and bring them into our facility – you do not have to lift or move anything.

Our office hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. EST.

We provide free pickup and delivery throughout the Baltimore metro area, Washington D.C., and Montgomery County (including Bethesda and Potomac).

Sure, it’s really pretty simple. Take your rug(s) to a UPS or FedEx store and have them ship it to us. We will inspect the rug and provide you with a comprehensive plan to restore your rug. We will then ship it back to you via UPS or common carrier at no charge to you.

After the cleaning and repair process is complete, we can have rugs delivered to any location of your choice within our service area, or we can wrap them to be shipped anywhere in the country.

Greenspring Rug Care offers free pickup and delivery for all area rug cleaning and repair services throughout Baltimore, MD, Washington D.C., and Southern Pennsylvania. Our team handles the heavy lifting, picking up your rugs from your home and returning them—perfectly cleaned and groomed—within approximately three weeks.

We can clean and repair most any kind of area rug such as Persian, Turkish, Chinese, Indian, Nepalese, Kilims, Oriental (antique or new), wool, silk, linen, viscos, Navajo, Karastan, Gabbe, flat-woven, hooked, braided, tufted, custom-tufted, Tibetan, modern designer rugs, shag, or Flokati. Our craftsmen are experts who have the knowledge and experience to clean, repair, and restore your treasures.

Delicate fibers like silk, wool, and viscose require pH-balanced, non-toxic cleaning agents to prevent fiber damage or dye bleeding. Greenspring Rug Care uses a meticulous 11-step cleaning process—including dry soil removal, color-fastness testing, and controlled drying—specifically designed for handmade and antique Oriental rugs to ensure they are cleaned safely without the use of harsh chemicals.

Yes, Greenspring Rug Care specializes in the expert cleaning of all types of high-value and specialty area rugs. We understand that each fiber and construction method requires a unique approach to prevent shrinking, dye bleeding, or texture loss.

Our specialized processes include:

• Wool & Persian Rugs: We use a full-immersion wash with pH-balanced cleansers to remove deeply embedded grit that acts like sandpaper on wool fibers.
• Silk & Antique Orientals: For delicate silk or aged hand-knotted rugs, we utilize a low-moisture or "dry" cleaning method to protect fragile fibers and prevent color migration.
• Kilims & Flatweaves: These rugs require careful tensioning during the drying process to ensure they maintain their original shape and size.
• Sisal, Jute & Seagrass: Because natural plant fibers are highly absorbent, we use specialized organic cleaning agents that clean the surface without over-saturating the core.
• Modern & Synthetic Rugs: We treat nylon, polyester, and viscose rugs with high-performance solutions to remove stains and restore pile softness.

Regardless of the material, every rug undergoes a pre-wash inspection and a color-fastness test to ensure the safest and most effective cleaning method is used.

We certainly can! We offer ScotchGard. This is the finest stain, soil, and wear protectant available. Once the stain protection has dried, it is non-toxic and non-allergenic. A stain protectant also makes vacuuming more effective, allows for more complete stain removal, and makes future cleaning easier and better. These stain protectants can be applied in our cleaning facility or in your home.

Prevention is key to rug longevity. We offer moth and insect control treatments to deter pests, as well as MicroSeal protection. These treatments create an invisible, non-toxic barrier that makes vacuuming more effective and prevents liquid spills from becoming permanent stains, extending the time between professional cleanings.

We are rug cleaning and care experts. If your rug needs cleaning or repair, we will explain what can be done and provide you with an estimate. We will address any special concerns you have and can provide a detailed plan for cleaning, restoration, and repair if needed.

Yes, all the products we use are safe for use in the home.

Our expert technicians can safely clean damaged or fragile rugs without causing further damage. Cleaning methods are modified for a specific rug’s needs. All rugs are thoroughly inspected prior to cleaning to ensure any areas of concern are addressed accordingly. These types of rugs are hand cleaned by one of our rug cleaning specialists.

No, cleaning will actually prolong the life of your rug because it removes soil and grit that has accumulated over time. This dirt and debris can damage the fibers in your rug. In addition, stains become more difficult to remove as rugs age, and urine stains can actually start to break down the rug fibers themselves.

Call Greenspring Rug Care and we can pick up your rugs and properly, effectively, and most importantly, safely eliminate the moth infestation.

After you call us, the next step is to contact a licensed pest control expert who specializes in dealing with moths. They will need to come into your home and treat items such as installed carpet, clothing, furniture, and more.

The entire process will take approximately three weeks from pickup to delivery. We can also hold your rugs and carpets until an exterminator can come to your home and perform their services.

When we pick up your rugs to bring them to our facility, we place them in sealed, heavy-duty plastic and immediately place them in our heated drying room. The rugs are kept in the drying room where temperatures reach up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for two to three days. Next, the rug is treated by a licensed exterminator, repacked in heavy-duty plastic, and placed back in the drying room for an additional two to three days. After this process, the rug is thoroughly washed, cleaned, and completely dried. When this step is completed, the rugs then go through a final inspection and are wrapped and delivered back to you.

Moths are insects, and like all insects, they get in through an open window or door, a torn screen, a small crack or space under a door, or in an open crevice in your house or apartment. Regardless of how they arrive, there are a number of ways to help protect your rugs, carpets, clothing, and other items from moths. Cornell University’s Insect Diagnostic Laboratory offers these tips:

• Thoroughly inspect vulnerable clothes, fabrics, and stored items at least once a year for moth larvae and damage. Consider discarding damaged items if it is difficult to repair them satisfactorily.
• Check areas around the home where moths may hide, looking for signs of infestation. Remove items from closets and drawers and vacuum thoroughly, trapping the lint on which larvae can feed.
• Clean regularly to help prevent lint, dust, or hair from accumulating. Vacuum rugs and carpets, drapes, upholstered furniture, and pet bedding. Vacuum under furniture that is seldom moved and along baseboards where wool lint might accumulate.
• Vacuum inside closets, around water heaters and other appliances, near air vents and ducts, and in cracks and crevices along floors.
• Clean clothing and other fabrics thoroughly before storing them, especially if they will be stored for a long period. Place items in secure plastic bags or airtight containers.
• When shopping for woolens or wool blends, consider buying items that the manufacturer has treated with a moth-resistant compound. Professional cleaners may also be able to add mothproofing to certain items.

Moths will not eat a man-made fiber such as nylon, linen, viscos, polypropylene, olefin, or polyester. Please note that this is no reason not to purchase wool rugs and carpeting. Wool is an amazing fiber that has been used in handmade rugs for thousands of years and in wall-to-wall carpeting for over 100 years. With proper care and maintenance, handmade rugs can last for generations. Wool is soft, has amazing colors, hides soil, and has tremendous resiliency (the ability to bounce back).

Simply follow these steps:

• Vacuum at least once a week.
• Move furniture to vacuum under skirts and upholstery.
• Use the vacuum attachment to get behind beds, in corners, and in closets.
• Clean all wool carpet and rugs once every one to two years depending on usage.

After we return your rugs that have gone through the eradication process, your moth problem is solved, but you must have the rest of your home treated by a professional exterminator. Don’t bring the rugs back home until this important step has been completed.

Absolutely. Moths and other insects like dirty, quiet, and dark areas to eat wool. Frequent vacuuming, cleaning, and movement will greatly decrease the chance of moths and bugs becoming a problem in your home.

Yes, we can fix both hand-sewn and machine-made rug fringe.

Yes, our specialists will give your area rugs the tender, loving care they deserve. Choose from our wide range of area rug repair services:

• Refringing, binding, or serging, either by hand or by machine.
• Repairing of missing or worn areas either by rebuilding or patching.
• Altering rugs to your specification.
• Replacing backing.
• Blocking, sizing, and latex backing of rugs.

When a rug still looks soiled after vacuuming, it’s probably time to have it cleaned. Try this test: Blot the nap of your rug in an inconspicuous spot with a damp white cloth. Let the cloth dry flat to see what was transferred from your rug. If the cloth is soiled, your rug would benefit from a cleaning. Remember, never clean an area rug in your home. Allow us to pick it up, bring it to our facility, thoroughly clean and dry it, and then deliver it back to you.

To maintain indoor air quality and remove allergens like dust mites and pet dander, we recommend professional cleaning every 12 to 24 months. For homes with high traffic, smokers, or pets, annual cleaning is best. Our deep-cleaning process removes deeply embedded particulates that standard household vacuuming cannot reach.

Great question. There are several ways to determine whether a rug is handmade or machine made. In either case, our experts will be glad to examine your treasure and tell you more about it and what makes it unique.

Of course, rugs can be washed, but it’s best to leave this to the experts. Rug washing requires the expertise of certified technicians and master craftsmen to ensure your rug is cleaned and handled properly.

We can clean and repair most any kind of area rug such as Persian, Turkish, Chinese, Indian, Nepalese, Kilims, Oriental (antique or new), wool, silk, viscose, linen, Navajo, Karastan, Gabbe, flat-woven, hooked, braided, tufted, Tibetan, modern designer rugs, shag, or Flokati. Our craftsmen are experts that have the knowledge and experience to clean, repair, and restore your treasures.

After an initial inspection, our experts remove as much dry soil as possible through mechanical dusting. Rugs are then submerged in water, washed flat with detergents and cleaning agents, thoroughly rinsed, centrifuged to extract as much water as possible, and then are air-dried in fewer than eight hours. Dry rugs are re-inspected, groomed, and returned looking their best.

When you start seeing your fringe looking discolored and dingy, your rug and the fringe could use a good professional rug cleaning. You may feel like your fringe is past the point of no return with major soiling and staining, but you may be surprised how clean it will be with a good quality washing. For worn fringe, we may be able to give it a good trim to even up the edges. We also offer fringe repair services.

Our expert technicians can safely clean damaged or fragile rugs without causing further damage. Cleaning methods are modified for a specific rug’s needs. All rugs are thoroughly inspected prior to cleaning to ensure any spots of concern are addressed accordingly. These types of rugs are hand cleaned by one of our Specialists.

Cleaning will actually prolong the life of your rug because it removes soil and grit that has accumulated over time which damages the fibers in your rug. In addition, stains become more difficult to remove as they age, and urine stains can actually start to break down the rug fibers themselves.

Slide your hand back and forth from one fringe to the other and you will feel the difference, or look closely to see the direction the pile lays in. While looking down on the rug pile, it will appear lighter and shiny. While looking into the rug pile, it will appear darker and more richly colored.

Yes. If you are moving or changing your room layout, Greenspring Rug Care provides professional rug resizing and binding services. We can expertly cut down larger rugs and apply custom serging or binding to the new edges, ensuring the rug looks original and fits your new space perfectly.

Yes, most stains can be removed, though results might vary depending on the type of stain and what’s been previously done to the stain. Our expert cleaning technicians take great care to remove stains as best as possible.

Standard surface cleaning often fails to remove deeply embedded uric acid. At Greenspring Rug Care, we provide a 100% Pet Odor Removal Guarantee. Our specialized immersion process reaches deep into the fibers to neutralize odors at the source, rather than just masking them. For stubborn stains, we also offer professional rug color restoration to fix discoloration caused by pet accidents.

Yes, our washing process and our guaranteed odor removal process is very effective in removing these types of odors completely.

Yes, our expert technicians can remove mildew from rugs if it is not very old. There are cases when mildew can be permanent.

Yes! Home treatments can effectively minimize fresh stains. The key is quick action that doesn’t make things worse. First, while still wet, blot spots immediately with something absorbent such as paper towels or cotton rags. Don’t add water and don’t scrub. Blot both the front and back of the rug until no more moisture can be removed.

Next, check to see if any of the rug’s dye has transferred to your towels or rags. If you see dye transfer, stop and let the rug dry. If not, you can blot out more of the stain with a sponge dampened (not dripping) with water and a drop of liquid dish detergent. Get the area as dry as possible by pressing paper towels on the nap and then elevate the area so it can dry from both sides. If the stain is visible after the rug is dry, give us a call.

Don’t worry or panic! Anything you can’t get out now can be removed later by a professional cleaner, even wine and urine stains that have dried on the rug. Don’t try to flood a stain with large amounts of water. This can create other problems. Just wait to have them worked on by one of our technicians.

Yes, try spot cleaning with a sponge dampened (not dripping) with a weak solution of water and a drop of liquid dish detergent. Stop if you see any dye bleed. Blot the rug as dry as possible by pressing paper towels on the nap. Then elevate the area so it can dry from both sides. Do not try to rinse or flood the rug with water. This can be done by one of our cleaning technicians or when the rug comes to our facility for complete cleaning.

Most other household cleaning agents (Fantastic, OxiClean, laundry bleach, etc.) are too powerful for home use on natural fiber and may do more harm than good.

Yes, most color runs can be improved or removed entirely. While procedures to remove color runs are simple, it takes experience and skill for consistently good results.

Our washing process rinses urine completely from rugs, and with our guaranteed odor removal processes, the urine and odor are completely removed.

Yes. Rugs that have shifted out of shape can be stretched or blocked to improve their shape. Once we see your rug, we can give you a good idea of how much it can be improved.

It is possible for some rugs to sustain minor shrinkage due to the cleaning process. This is more likely to occur on rugs that have never been washed. Some rugs may also become slightly larger. Please note that most handmade area rugs are not square before cleaning.

Yes. Rugs look better and last longer when kept free of dust, loose soil, and animal hair. Vacuums can be damaging to rugs though, so it’s important to be careful. For regular vacuuming, move with the direction of the nap or pile (the direction the rug feels smoothest), not against it. Also, do not vacuum fringes with an upright vacuum.

Canister vacuums with hard surface attachments are very gentle, making them ideal for fragile rugs or to clean fringes, but they are also not powerful soil removers. Upright vacuums with spinning beater bar/brush assemblies are very effective, but they can remove fibers or cause damage over time if used without care. The type and condition of your rug are important factors when choosing a vacuum. Give us a call if you would like to discuss what might be best for you.