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Introduction to Rug Care (On Demand)
Regular price $250.00Location: Digital On Demand
IICRC Continuing Education: 6 credit hours
Past Dates: 2019/12, 2019/09, 2019/02, 2018/09, 2018/06, 2017/10, 2017/05, 2016/08, 2016/02, 2015/08, 2015/02, 2014/10
ARCS's Introduction to Rug Care course is designed to increase student’s knowledge at a fraction of the cost of other formal education programs. Geared towards employees and those new to the industry, the Introduction to Rug Care course gives students the information they need to make informed cleaning decisions and speak confidently with customers about the cleaning process.
Not simply an online textbook, this is a virtual class in every sense of the word. A live teacher guides a small group of students through the curriculum, answering student’s questions as they arise. Divided into four sessions lasting 80 minutes each, the cleaning process, rug fibers, basic cleaning chemistry and basic rug ID are all presented in ways that everyone can understand. A review test is sent following each session which students may use to evaluate their understanding of the material presented.
Member Price: $150; Nonmember Price: $225
If you have any questions, please contact info@rugcarespecialists.org.
The basic outline of the course is as follows:
Session One – The Cleaning ProcessReviews the basic steps in a “best practice” rug cleaning, why we do them and some of the most common prevailing methods in application today. While pros and cons of each method are discussed, editorial content is kept out.
- Pre-cleaning Inspection – Why some consider it the most important step in rug cleaning and some of the most common conditions encountered in area rugs.
- Dry soil removal – Why it’s important and ways to do it.
- Washing – From dry cleaning methods to full saturation washing. Each method is discussed covering the why and how as well as the pros and cons.
- Drying – Surveying the most common methods in use today
- Finishing processes – Grooming, browning correction, color correction, etc.
Covers the basics of the most common fibers and chemicals encountered in area rug care. Topics are discussed generically, avoiding favoritism and bias.
Fibers- Wool – Why it is the most common rug fiber. How we go from sheep to rug yarn.
- Cotton – Production and application
- Silk – It’s advantages, disadvantages and production
- Bast Fibers – production and uses
- Plastics – Nylon, Olefin, etc.
- Rayon – production and it’s many other names
- Soil – most common types, how they accumulate and implications for cleaning
- Solvents – Polar and Non-polar, volatile and nonvolatile and applications for cleaning
- Detergents – what they are and how they work
- The PH scale – What it is, why it’s important and the general PH of specific substances
- Sinner circle
A general discussion of tufted rugs and their specific cleaning needs and concerns is followed by a survey of the most common types of tufted rugs encountered, how to identify them and their specific cleaning needs and concerns. We finish covering the most common specialty rugs a cleaner will encounter.
- Tufted rugs – What they are and how they differ from other area rugs
- Tufted rugs made in China
- Tufted rugs made in India
- Custom-tufted rugs
- Machine-tufted rugs
- Specialty rugs – Skins, Shags, craft rugs, etc.
Picks up where we left off. We start with Machine-made rugs and cover how to tell them from handmade rugs. While handmade rug ID is not discussed, students are introduced to the basics of where they are made, different construction techniques and the terminology used, building a foundation for future classes.
- Wilton construction – both traditional and face-to-face variants
- Axminster – both tradition and the Karastan® variants
- Handmade – piled and non-piled construction, terminology and how to tell them from machine-made rugs
About the instructor - Armen Dohanian: is a fourth generation rug cleaner. His family owns a 100 + year old rug cleaning and restoration business in Boston, Massachusetts. Involved in rug cleaning from an early age, Armen is currently vice-president of operations at the Oriental Rug Cleaning Company in Dallas, TX, a 103 year old, “full-service” rug cleaning and restoration company. Mr. Dohanian is an ARCS Certified Rug Specialist (CRS), a certified Master Rug Cleaner and a Woolsafe North America "Fiber Care Specialist" as well as a member of the International Society of Appraisers.
Effective Communication for Rug Cleaners Course (On Demand)
Regular price $0.00Location: Digital On Demand
Past Dates: 2019/08, 2019/02, 2018/06
This class will cover all of the important steps that can make or break your customer experience:
- Learn about your company and what you offer
- Elevator Pitch
- Common Pre-Inspection Conditions
- Terminology: How to Convey Technical Explanations in Layman’s Terms
- Help new customers navigate the rug cleaning process
- How to Make Repeat Customers Continue to Feel Valued
- THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCUMENTATION
- Managing Customer Expectations
- Dealing with Complaints
- Proper Phone Etiquette
- Proper In-Person Etiquette
- Inter-Office Communication
Jennifer Colaco: joined Oriental Rug Cleaning in Dallas, Texas as office manager in 2010, becoming the fourth generation of her family to be involved in the flooring business. Prior to this, she worked in textile project management. Jennifer is Vice-President on the Association of Rug Care Specialist Board (ARCS), a Certified Rug Specialist, and Master Rug Cleaner.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Jennifer and has spent the majority of her professional career interfacing with customers. Her focus on delivering excellent customer practices for her team led her to create and teach “Effective Communications for Rug Cleaners”, currently offered through ARCS.
2023/11 - Small Group Travel: Santa Fe
Regular price $900.00Date: November 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2023
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Join ARCS on a small group trip like no other as we head to Santa Fe, New Mexico. We’re receiving incredible access to galleries, private collections, and museums. We’ll dive head first into the big world of Southwest textiles, visiting with the people who collect them and the people who take care of them.
Wednesday, November 1, 2023: Arrive by late afternoon so that you can enjoy the welcome dinner! It will be a great way to start the trip and visit with your fellow travelers.
Thursday, November 2 & November 3rd: We have two days full of museum and gallery visits including the School for Advanced Research and the Museums of New Mexico. We have an incredible local guide who will be walking us through our visits. And of course, we have great lunches lined up at couple of the local’s favorite restaurants. Northern New Mexico cooking is a distinct regional style and quite delicious!
The event officially ends after our last gallery visit on Friday afternoon, but feel free to stay and make it a long weekend. This is an incredible place and fall in the high desert mesa country is a special time. Red rock against crystal clear blue skies. Santa Fe is also an amazing shopping town; art, fashion, craft, antiques. It’s surprising what you can see in such a small space!
We look forward to seeing you there!
Additional Information:
- Transportation will be provided Thursday and Friday for our tours.
- The hotel is located right off the square within walking distance to a plethora of amazing restaurants.
- If you are able to find great flights into Santa Fe, congrats! For the rest of us, fly into Albuquerque, NM. There is an easy shuttle and rail system that can get you from ABQ to the plaza in Santa Fe
1501 Paseo de Peralta,
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(855) 825-9876
www.hotelsantafe.com
Click here to make your room reservations online now
2023/10 Discover Rug Cleaning (Olathe, KS)
Regular price $250.00Date: October 21, 2023
Location: Kansas City Rug Cleaning and Repair
Instructor: Jordan King
IICRC Continuing Education: 7 credit hours
Pricing: Member Price: $250; Non-member Price: $250
Kansas City Rug Cleaning and Repair is a medium-sized washing operation that began professionally cleaning rugs in 2014. Get up and close and personal with using a tumble duster, centrifuge, electric hanging tower & hands-on washing on the wash floor. See what cleaning rugs in a medium-sized rug cleaning business really looks like! Lunch, drinks and snacks are included!
2070 S. Strang Line Road, Olathe, KS 66062
19353 W 151st Terrace, Olathe, KS 66061
Click here to make your room reservations online now
2023/09 Discover Rug Cleaning (Rochester, NY)
Regular price $250.00Date: September 30, 2023
Location: Pinnacle Eco Clean, Inc. Rochester, NY
Instructor: Kyle Kluth
IICRC Continuing Education: 7 credit hours
Pricing: Member Price: $250; Non-member Price: $250
At their 3,000 square foot rug washing facility located just outside of Rochester, New York, the technicians at Pinnacle Eco Clean have been successfully cleaning all sorts of textiles from around the world! Pinnacle utilizes many of the highest quality machines and devices to assist in their rug washing process, along with specially selected chemistry to deliver the best results possible in an eco-friendly manner. Their background in the cleaning industry with cleaning carpets, upholstery, and all types of hard surface flooring gave them a competitive and technological edge when they decided to take on rug washing. In the business for over 40 years, their education and insight is unmatched in their area. From rug check-in to dusting, washing to putting the final finishing touches on their clients’ rugs, each technician takes pride in what they do, making sure that the finished result is the best it could possibly be. Lunch, drinks and snacks are included!
280 Clay Rd, Rochester, NY 14623