Upcoming Events for Non-Members

All classes and events are subject to rescheduling, postponement, or cancellation if ARCS or the host member determines the circumstances are unsafe to hold the class or event. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility in these difficult and unusual times.

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2023/09 Discover Rug Cleaning (Rochester, NY)
2023/09 Discover Rug Cleaning (Rochester, NY)
$250.00
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2023/10 Discover Rug Cleaning (Olathe, KS) - FULL
2023/10 Discover Rug Cleaning (Olathe, KS) - FULL
$250.00
Learn More
2023/11 - Small Group Travel: Santa Fe
2023/11 - Small Group Travel: Santa Fe
$900.00
Learn More
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)
$250.00
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Effective Communication for Rug Cleaners Course (On Demand)
Effective Communication for Rug Cleaners Course (On Demand)
$200.00
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Introduction to Rug Care (On Demand) Non-Member
Introduction to Rug Care (On Demand) Non-Member
$225.00
2023/09 Discover Rug Cleaning (Rochester, NY)

2023/09 Discover Rug Cleaning (Rochester, NY)

$250.00

Date: 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!


Pinnacle Eco Clean, Inc. 
215 Mushroom Blvd #1803, Rochester, NY 14623
rochestercarpetcare.com
Kevin Kluth
kzkluth@gmail.com

As for hotels, there are many within a 5-minute or less distance from our shop, but the Hampton Inn is the newest and always a safe option. Here is the location:
Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester/Henrietta
280 Clay Rd, Rochester, NY 14623
Hampton Inn & Suites Reservations
Click here to make your room reservations online now
2023/10 Discover Rug Cleaning (Olathe, KS) - FULL

2023/10 Discover Rug Cleaning (Olathe, KS) - FULL

$250.00

Date: 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!


Kansas City Rug Cleaning and Repair
19353 W 151st Terr. Olathe, KS 66062
kcrugcleaning.com
Travis Briar
travis@krugcleaning.com

Decent Hotel, Lower Price, and Good Location:
Hilton Garden Inn
2070 S. Strang Line Road, Olathe, KS 66062
Hilton Garden Reservations
Click here to make your room reservations online now

Nicest (but furthest):
Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe
19353 W 151st Terrace, Olathe, KS 66061
Embassy Suites Reservations
Click here to make your room reservations online now
2023/11 - Small Group Travel: Santa Fe

2023/11 - Small Group Travel: Santa Fe

$900.00

Date: 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:

  1. Transportation will be provided Thursday and Friday for our tours.
  2. The hotel is located right off the square within walking distance to a plethora of amazing restaurants.
  3. 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
Hotel Santa Fe The Hacienda & Spa
1501 Paseo de Peralta,
Santa Fe, NM 87501

(855) 825-9876

www.hotelsantafe.com
Click here to make your room reservations online now
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)
2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)

2024/02 Discover Rug Cleaning (Palm Desert, CA)

$250.00

Date: February 24, 2024
Location: The Rug Salon by Spot Out, Inc Palm Desert, CA
Instructor: Joshua and Connie Klopfenstein 
IICRC Continuing Education: 7 credit hours
Pricing: Member Price: $250; Non-member Price: $250

The Rug Salon by Spot Out, Inc. is Coachella Valley’s premier state of the art rug washing facility.  Located in Palm Desert, CA, The Rug Salon has been cleaning area rugs and high-end upholstery in our cleaning facility since 2014.  During this class you will have the opportunity to put on your wash boots and see how to wash rugs. Whether you’re just starting out with very little equipment, or you are a little more seasoned and want to see how to use a tumble duster, wash tub and centrifuge, this class has something for everyone.  All skill levels are welcome. This is a great opportunity to see how a medium sized rug plant runs and operates.  The Rug Salon has two Master Rug Cleaner certified staff members as well as the areas only Certified Rug Specialist.  This is a hands on class so, BYOB (bring your own boots) and come see what rug washing is all about.

Lunch, drinks and snacks are included!


The Rug Salon by Spot Out, Inc
75121 Mediterranean Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92211
therugsalon.com
Joshua and Connie Klopfenstein
connie@therugsalon.com

As for a hotel, there are many within 8 minutes or less distance from our shop. There is breakfast included and plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
74777 Technology Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92211
Reservation Link:
Click here to make your room reservations online now
Effective Communication for Rug Cleaners Course (On Demand)

Effective Communication for Rug Cleaners Course (On Demand)

$200.00

Location: Digital On Demand
IICRC Continuing Education: 4 credit hours

Don't forget to fill out the registration form after checking out - you must complete the form in order to receive your credit hours!

On demand videos can only be viewed from the ARCS website and are available on your account page for 30 days after your date of purchase.

If you have any questions, please contact info@rugcarespecialists.org.

This class consists of two 2-hour sessions and 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.

“This was a great webinar… I'm so glad I made this investment… my husband, office staff and wash technician watched this with me, we all agree this was a great webinar” - Cathy Snyder
Introduction to Rug Care (On Demand) Non-Member

Introduction to Rug Care (On Demand) Non-Member

$225.00

Location: Digital On Demand
IICRC Continuing Education: 6 credit hours

The Intro to Rug Care course is an online class taught by fourth-generation cleaner Armen Dohanian of Oriental Rug Cleaning in Dallas, Texas. The class consists of four 80-minute sessions designed for new employees or those new to the rug cleaning industry. Some of the topics covered include the cleaning process, fibers and chemistry, rug construction and basic rug ID. Give your new employees a crash course in the rug cleaning process.

Member Price: $150; Non­member Price: $225

Don't forget to fill out the registration form after checking out - you must complete the form in order to receive your credit hours!

On demand videos can only be viewed from the ARCS website and are available on your account page for 30 days after your date of purchase.

If you have any questions, please contact info@rugcarespecialists.org.

Session One – The Cleaning Process

Reviews 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.

Session Two – Fibers and Chemistry

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

Chemistry

  • Soil – most common types, how they accumulate and implications for cleaning
  • Solvents – Polar and Non-polar, volatile and non-volatile 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

Session Three – Rug ID – Tufted Rugs

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.

  • 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

Session Four – Rug ID – Non-tufted rugs

Picks up where we left off. We start with Machine-made rugs and cover how to tell them from hand-made rugs. While hand-made 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. We wrap up with a discussion of some of the most common specialty rugs you will encounter.

  • Wilton construction – both traditional and face-to-face variants
  • Axminster – both tradition and the Karastan® variants
  • Hand-made – piled and non-piled construction, terminology and how to tell them from machine-made rugs
  • Specialty rugs – Skins, Shags, craft rugs, etc.

Armen Dohanian: A fourth-generation rug cleaner, Armen's 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.

Coming soon!