Reference

Rug & Carpet Cleaning Glossary

If a quote uses a word you do not recognise, it is probably here. Knowing these makes two quotes comparable.

Hot-water extraction: Hot water and solution are injected into the pile and extracted immediately. Often called steam cleaning. The most common deep-cleaning method for carpet, and commonly required by warranties.
Low-moisture encapsulation: A solution crystallises around soil so it can be vacuumed away. Dries in about 1–2 hours, which suits offices and maintenance cleaning.
Bonnet cleaning: A rotary pad cleans the surface of the pile. Fast and appearance-level, not a deep clean.
Dry compound: An absorbent compound is worked into the pile and vacuumed out. Minimal moisture and downtime, limited on heavy soil.
In-plant washing: The rug is taken to a cleaning plant where it can be dusted, fully washed, rinsed and dried under controlled conditions.

Hand-knotted: Each knot tied by hand around the foundation. The pattern is visible from the back, and the fringe is part of the structure.
Machine-made: Woven by machine, usually with a uniform back and a fringe sewn on afterwards.
Tufted: Yarn punched into a backing and held with glue or latex. Age and moisture can break down the adhesive.
Foundation: The warp and weft threads that carry the rug. Grit trapped here does the damage that cleaning cannot reverse.
Pile: The surface you walk on, made of the knots or fibers standing up from the foundation.
Viscose: A plant-based fiber sold as art silk, bamboo silk or banana silk. Weakens when wet and marks easily, so it needs a low-moisture approach.

Dusting: Removing dry grit from the foundation before any water. A 9×12 wool rug can release several pounds of dry soil.
Dye testing: Checking whether colours will bleed before washing. Unstable dyes change the method or rule out immersion.
Pre-treatment: Treating stains and problem areas individually before the main clean.
Grooming: Setting the pile direction after cleaning so the rug lies and reflects light evenly.
Blocking: Stretching and setting a curled or buckled rug so it lies flat again.

Serging: Wrapping yarn around the rug edge to finish and protect it. Typically $3–$10 per linear foot.
Binding: A fabric tape sewn along the edge, common on machine-made rugs and carpet remnants.
Reweaving: Rebuilding a damaged area knot by knot with matching materials. Quoted individually.
Moth treatment: Treatment against wool-eating larvae, typically $20–$50 per rug.
Rug pad: A cushion between rug and floor that reduces abrasion, stops slipping and improves vacuuming.

Per square foot: The usual basis for area rugs: length × width, multiplied by a rate set by fiber and borough.
Per room: A carpet pricing basis, typically $50–$150, usually with a size cap of about 200–250 sq ft. Common practice, not a standard.
Minimum job charge: The smallest amount a company will accept for a visit, because the appointment itself is the fixed cost.
Pickup minimum: The order value needed for free collection, typically $150–$250.
Certificate of insurance (COI): Proof of a company’s insurance, made out to your building. Many NYC buildings require one before work or collection.
Bailee coverage: Insurance covering customers’ property while it is in a company’s care, such as your rug at their plant.

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