Area Rug Cleaning in Columbia, MO, Done by Hand in Our Rug Studio
Your rug leaves the house, gets inspected, dusted and washed by hand in our shop on Clinkscales Road, then dries flat in a dehumidified dry room. Drop it off, or ask us to pick it up.
Get a Quote
Tell us what needs cleaning and we'll call you back with a quote. Rather pick a time yourself? Book online.
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- WoolSafe Approved Service Provider
Area Rug Cleaning
How does area rug cleaning work at the Maxcare Rug Studio?
Area rug cleaning in Columbia, MO, at Maxcare happens in our shop, not on your floor. Each rug is inspected and photographed, dusted to shake out the grit, washed by hand with a shampoo made for its fiber, and dried flat in a dry room. No two rugs get the same plan, because no two are built alike.
- Hand-knotted wool pile rugs
- Machine-made and power-loomed rugs
- Tufted rugs
- Flatweave, slit-weave and soumak rugs
- Shag and high-pile rugs
- Cotton, jute and sisal rugs
- Silk and rayon/viscose rugs
- Leather, hide and pelt rugs
Good to know
Why does dusting matter more than the wash?
Because dry grit does the real harm. Sand and soil sink deep into the foundation, and every footstep grinds them against the fibers like sandpaper, so the rug ages early. We vacuum it, lay it face down on a vibrating grid where, as Rob says, “most soil just falls right out,” then blow out the fine, silty dust.
Getting your rug ready for the studio
- Measure the length and width, and take a photo of the front and the back.
- Snap a picture of the room so the rug can go back in the exact spot it came from.
- Tell us about any pet accidents. The blacklight finds them anyway, but it helps to know.
- Skip store-bought spot sprays and peroxide, above all on wool, silk, cotton, jute or sisal.
- Call (573) 817-2540 or book online, and tell us if you’ll drop it off or want it picked up.
Worth knowing
How often should an area rug be cleaned?
For a standard wool pile rug, Rob’s rug studio handout lays out a simple schedule: check it at home once a quarter, have it dusted outside the home once a year, and give it a full wash every 3 to 5 years. Heavy foot traffic and a lot of soil push it toward the short end.
3–5 yrsbetween full washes for a wool pile rug (Maxcare rug handout)
The quarterly check is one you can do yourself: turn the rug so it wears evenly, peek along the edges and under furniture for moths or carpet beetles, and lift out old spill residue. The University of Missouri Extension guide to carpet beetles and clothes moths points the same way for wool: vacuum often enough that hair and lint never pile up. Rather not do it yourself? We offer a quarterly visit to inspect, rotate and spot treat your rugs at home. You can watch the yearly dusting in our air dusting video.
Our process
From your floor to the dry room and back
- InspectBlacklight, pH and fiber tests plus photos, with a full emailed report if you ask.
- DustVacuumed, vibrated face down on a grid, then air dusted to pull out the fine grit.
- WashCool water cascades over it, a shampoo for its fiber goes in, then a long rinse.
- Groom and dryPile brushed to its lay, then dried flat in our 13 by 23 foot dry room.
- FinishA last pH check and any add-ons you chose, then back to your door or our counter.
Watch it
See a rug go through the wash
Rob filmed a whole wash at the studio: the cool rinse cascading over the rug, the fiber-matched shampoo worked in by hand, the second rinse and the grooming. It runs long because the real thing does.
Pricing
What does area rug cleaning cost at the studio?
There’s no flat price, because it depends on the rug: its size, what it’s made of, how it’s built and what shape it’s in. Pet urine, heavy soil or shaky dyes add steps, and so do extras like protectant, moth coating or repairs. For a quote, call (573) 817-2540, book online, or bring the rug to the shop.
From a customer
What do people say when their rug comes back from the studio?
Mostly that it looks new and someone else did the heavy lifting. Christina Banton wrote that MaxCare “makes sure it is back in the exact right spot,” and her rugs came back “bright and fluffy.” Linda Askew said “When Rob returned our rug it looked brand new.” Susan Even said our process “brought out the lovely colors.”
“I never wanted to get my rugs cleaned because of the absolute hassle of getting them out from under things and then putting them back. But MaxCare does all of that for you and makes sure it is back in the exact right spot. I have quite a few pets that love my rugs, so the rugs were absolutely filthy. The rugs came back bright and fluffy - practically brand new. My dog was actually so confused by how clean it was that she had to tiptoe around it for a few days before determining it was the same rug she had always known and loved, just clean!”
FAQ
Area Rug Questions from Columbia-Area Homes
Can you pick up my rug, or do I have to bring it in?
Either way works. You’re welcome to carry your rug into the shop at 1218 Clinkscales Rd, Monday through Friday from 8 to 5, or on a Saturday by appointment. If it’s big, heavy or stuck under the dining table, ask about pickup and delivery when you call (573) 817-2540, and we’ll set up a time with you.
My dog peed on the rug. Will a regular wash fix that?
Usually not on its own. Dried urine leaves salts deep in the foundation, and plain water can wake the smell right back up. Every rug gets a blacklight check, so we’ll see where it went, front and back. If it’s there, we’ll talk about decontamination, which is sold separately. Our pet urine and odor page explains more.
My rug has been rolled up in the basement for years. Is it worth cleaning?
It’s worth a look. Unroll it at the shop and we’ll go over it front and back, photograph any stains, moth damage or dye trouble, and test the fibers. Years of packed-in soil come out in the dusting, before the rug ever gets wet. Then we’ll tell you plainly what a wash can do for it and what it can’t.
Why not just clean the rug right on my carpet or hardwood?
Because the dirt that matters is down in the foundation, and getting it out means shaking, vibrating and rinsing the whole rug. That can’t happen on your floor. Washing it at the shop also keeps water off your hardwood, and the rug dries flat in a room built for it. Watch part of our wash.
What if I'm not happy with how my rug turned out?
Call us. MaxCare stands behind every service with a satisfaction guarantee, unless something different is put in writing: if you’re unhappy for any reason, we’ll set up an inspection and work out how to fix it. One thing we’ll always say up front: color repair on dyes that have already run is not guaranteed.
Service area
Which towns does the rug studio serve?
Related services
More care for the rugs in your house
Talk to Rob's team
Have a rug that needs more than a vacuum?
Bring it by the shop on Clinkscales Road or ask us to come get it. Call (573) 817-2540 or book online, and we’ll walk you through the plan before any water touches it.