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Area rugs are a great way to add personality to your space while protecting your flooring, especially in high-traffic areas. You probably have an area rug or two (or maybe several) in your home. Although some of the smaller area rugs may be able to be thrown into the washer and dryer, you’ll likely find that most of them need to be professionally cleaned from time to time. Depending on the area rug itself, whether it’s because you just love how it looks or feels, or maybe it was very expensive, to begin with, professional cleaning will help keep your area rugs in great shape for much longer. We’ll break down area rug cleaning and take a look at what the average cost is to clean an area rug.

what is the average cost to clean an area rug

Factors That Affect Area Rug Cleaning Costs

Generally, the cost of cleaning area rugs runs from approximately $60 to $600, typically on a per square foot basis. The cost of area rug cleaning varies based on several factors. The size, the method, the materials – all are factors that affect cost. Other factors that can influence the cost of cleaning your area rugs include whether or not you take the rug to the cleaner or the cleaning company picks it up and delivers it back to your home. The further away you live will also affect the pickup and delivery cost. Where you live also affects the cost, as the cost of living in your area can make the cost higher or lower. Areas such as New York City or San Fransisco have a high cost of living and can drive the prices up significantly. If your rug needs any repairs in addition to cleaning, that will usually be an additional cost as well.

Methods of Professional Rug Cleaning

There are three methods that professional cleaners use for area rug cleaning: dry cleaning, steam cleaning, and hand washing

  • Dry cleaningThe average cost for dry cleaning is $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot. It’s important to note that “dry cleaning” cleaning services can also involve a low-moisture chemical solution. If the cleaning service needs to use a chemical solution, that will usually push the cost toward the $5.00 per square foot mark
  • Steam cleaning – As the most recommended method, steam cleaning usually costs between $1.00 and $4.00 per square foot. This method is preferred by most professional cleaners because they can deep clean your area rug without damaging the rug’s fibers as it doesn’t require harsh scrubbing. Steam cleaning is also the least expensive option. 
  • Hand washing – The most time-intensive method, hand washing, is also the most expensive at $3.00 to $8.00 per square foot. Hand washing is usually only recommended for particularly delicate area rugs because of the time required and the higher price.  

cost to clean an area rug

Area Rug Materials

Not only does the method of cleaning affect the cost, but the material the area rug is made of also affects the cost. Often, the cost of the area rug when you purchase it will also indicate whether it will be expensive to clean, as the more expensive materials are more difficult to clean and therefore cost more. The most common rugs materials are wool, cotton, silk, synthetic, sisal, and sheepskin. Synthetic rugs cost the least to clean, whereas wool and silk are the most expensive

Area Rug Styles

You may be a little more surprised to note that the styles of area rugs also affect the cost of cleaning. For example, oriental and Persian rugs, in particular, are very intricate and require hand washing. These rug styles typically cost $5.00 to $8.00 to clean

clean an area rug

Cleaning Area Rugs by Size

Unsurprisingly, size is a determining factor for cost. Obviously, a tiny rug is going to cost less to clean than a large rug. 

Although there are several factors to consider when determining the cost of cleaning your area rugs, you know have some basic understanding of what that cost might be!

Whats the Area Rug Cleaning Cost?

Aspect Average Cost Per Square Foot Cost for a Standard 8’x10′ Area Rug
Professional Rug Cleaning $2 – $7 $150 – $600
Extra Treatments (e.g., odor or stain removal) $10 – $50

Please note that the costs for extra treatments are provided per treatment and are not included in the total cost for cleaning the standard 8’x10′ area rug.

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