Rugs and fitted carpet are often cleaned in the same visit, with the same hot water extraction equipment, so it is easy to think of them as the same job. They are not quite. A fitted carpet is one known product, fixed in place over underlay. A rug is a loose piece that could be anything from a machine-made synthetic runner to a hand-made wool or viscose piece — and that changes what needs checking before it is cleaned.
The main differences
| Fitted carpet | Loose rug | |
|---|---|---|
| What is underneath | Underlay, fixed to the floor | A hard floor or carpet — and it can be lifted |
| Construction | Machine-made, usually with a known maker and care guide | Machine-made, hand-tufted or hand-knotted, often with no paperwork |
| Fibres | Named in the maker’s paperwork | Wool, cotton, jute, viscose, silk and blends — some unsuited to water |
| Edges | Fixed at the walls | Fringes and bound edges |
| After cleaning | Dries in place | Should be fully dry before it goes back on the floor |
Why rugs need a closer look
Some fibres should not get wet
This is the biggest difference. The fitted-carpet care guides we checked from Australian carpet makers recommend professional hot water extraction. Rugs are not all like that. RH’s published rug care sheets, for example, say liquids should never be used on viscose, jute or cashmere rugs, and that these should go to a professional service with experience cleaning fine or natural-fibre rugs.
If you are not sure what your rug is made of, check the label — usually sewn on the underside near an edge or corner — before booking any wet cleaning. A rug with a silky sheen is worth checking in particular, as that look can come from viscose rather than silk.
Dyes and construction vary
Rugs are dyed and made in many different ways. A rug made from a mix of fibres, or one that has been hand-made, may not behave the way a fitted carpet does when it is cleaned. A label, a receipt or the shop you bought it from is the best guide; without one, a photo of the front and back helps us tell you what we can and cannot do.
Fringes and edges need care
Fringes and bound edges take wear that fitted carpet never does: vacuums catch on them and furniture sits on them. Cleaning does not repair a fraying fringe or a loose edge. If a thread is sticking out, do not pull it — RH’s care sheets advise trimming protruding ends with scissors instead.
How we clean rugs
Our carpet and rug steam cleaning cleans rugs on site, in your home, in the same visit as your carpets — pre-treatment, then hot water extraction, as for carpet. Before booking, tell us about the rug so we can confirm whether that method suits it. If your rug is viscose, silk, jute or a valuable hand-made piece, mention it with photos when you enquire, so we can talk it through before anything is booked.
The same limits apply as for carpet. Marks from dye, bleach or burns change the fibre and cannot be removed by cleaning, and old stains may only lighten — what carpet stains professional cleaning can help with explains why.
Rugs that sit on carpet
If a rug has been on top of fitted carpet for a long time, the carpet underneath is often a slightly different shade from the rest of the room. It has been shielded from sunlight and foot traffic while the exposed carpet faded and wore. Cleaning removes soil, not fading or wear, so the two areas may still look different afterwards. Mention any rugs that sit on carpet when you book, so both can be planned for.
Drying
Carpet usually dries within a few hours, depending on the weather and ventilation — how long carpet takes to dry explains what helps. A thick rug can take longer. Keep furniture and foot traffic off it until it is dry, and do not put it back on a timber floor until it is completely dry, as trapped moisture can mark some floor finishes. Once it is back down, a rug pad underneath helps it last and stops it slipping.
What to tell us before booking
- How many rugs, and their rough size (length × width)
- The material, from the label if there is one
- Hand-made or machine-made, if you know
- Photos of the front, the back and the label
- Any marks, and anything already used on them
- What it sits on: carpet, timber or tiles
Spills in the meantime
For a spill on either a rug or carpet, the safe first steps are the same: lift solids, blot liquids with a white cloth or paper towel, do not rub, and test any product on a hidden area first — or leave it alone if the label says no liquids. Carpet is priced per room, from $79 + GST for one room; how carpet steam cleaning is priced explains what affects the total.
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Sources
- RH — Rug care instructions (care sheets by fibre)
- Godfrey Hirst Australia — Wool carpet maintenance booklet (Australian edition)
Rules change. Check the official source for your situation; this guide is general information, not legal advice.