2019/04 - Intermediate In-Plant Rug Cleaning (Washington, DC)
Regular price $0.00The class consists of three intensive eight-hour days taught primarily on the work floor of an operational wash plant.
Topics covered will be basic rug identification, cleaning chemistry, spotting, rug identification, learning to 'read' and identify rug construction, rug intake assessment, rug washing, drying theory, and finishing after wash.
Hands-on portions of the class will demonstrate the practical application of all that theory on an active wash floor in real time. The hands-on training will focus on wet cleaning; students will wash a lot of rugs and have the opportunity to try a range of techniques and observe the results.
More than just an opportunity to work and learn on a high production wash floor, students will gain a broader understanding of the cleaning process and how it applies to their own businesses.
Fee for the class includes lunch for the three days, handouts, and all teaching materials. A short test will be given at the end of the class session. You will need to bring wash boots.
Basic Outline
The Tools of Rug Identification – Grouped in a linear and methodical progression, students learn how to read a rug's construction to identify its origins. Material progresses from easily discernible traits to more nuanced variations using the most commonly encountered area rugs as teaching material. Students come away knowing the covered material as well as how to advance their skills outside of class.
Survey of hand-tufted, machine-made and specialty rugs
Hand-knotted Rugs – a brief history, nomenclature and introduction to structure, the tools of rug ID
- Persian rugs
- Copies of Persian rugs
- Designer rugs
- Flat-weaves
- Overview of Cleaning Process
Review of the steps in a “best practice” rug cleaning as outlined in ARCS' Industry Guide & Recommended Practice for Rug Cleaning
Rug Intake
Pre-inspection and documentation, inventory control & pre-wash stabilization
About Rugs & Fibers
A review of the most commonly encountered rug fibers and construction techniques and what their implications are for the cleaning process.
About Soils & Cleaning
Review of the types of soils found in rugs What are they? How do they accumulate?
Rug Washing
- Getting our hands dirty cleaning the host plants inventory. Topics will include:
- How to generate a cleaning plan
- How all the host's “toys” work and how to scale the operation up and down to meet the demands of each student
- What to do if a rug starts to go south
- Drying Theory
- Discussion of drying theory and its effects on the cleaning process.
Results
Evaluating results and discussing the next steps. Discussion, how clean is clean enough? weighing risks vs rewards.
Finishing Processes
A survey of the non-wash processes that go into a rug cleaning
- Grooming
- Fringe Correction
- Post-wash treatments
- Cosmetic Touchups
- Checkout procedures
- Recording and reporting results
- Spotting techniques
- A discussion of the techniques for removing common spots such as rust, paint, wax, etc.
Discoloration Remediation
- How the products work and how they differ from spotters.
- Risks and how to manage them
- Discussion and demonstrations of common applications and techniques
- Urine Stain removal
- Floor Stripping of Dye
- Dry stripping of Dye
Review Test - Don't worry, it isn't graded
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.
Since 1952, we have been cleaning and restoring thousands of carpets and rugs every year. As the area’s leading floor covering experts – Interior Designers, Property Managers, and Home Owners refer our services exclusively. Our reputation ensures that you can trust our company to provide you with the most outstanding service experience ever!
Carpet and Rug Cleaning is our specialty! We are experienced in all types of fibers and soiling conditions, no matter how unusual they may be. Ayoub Carpet Service is known for being able to solve cleaning related problems that no one else can solve. Simply put…we’ve raised the bar on our competition.