Persian & Oriental Rug Cleaning in Vancouver, WA & Portland, OR
Hand-knotted rugs need a specialist: dye testing first, a gentle hand wash at our Vancouver plant, and careful drying. Free pickup and delivery within 35 miles.
Short answer: Persian and Oriental rugs should be washed by hand-immersion by a specialist who tests the dyes first, avoids hot water and steam, and dries the rug with airflow. Plan on cleaning about every 2 years, or every 12 to 18 months with pets, children or a busy entryway. Our price is $4.00 to $4.50 per square foot for wool and hand-knotted rugs, and $5.00 to $5.50 for silk. Pickup and delivery are free within 35 miles.
Recent Persian & Oriental Rug Projects
Real Persian and Oriental-style rugs we washed across Clark County and the Portland metro. Each project has its own page with full before-and-after photos.
Persian 8×10 Wool Rug Cleaning in West Linn, OR
Hand-knotted Persian-style 8×10 wool rug from a West Linn, OR home.
Read the case study →
Persian 9×12 Rug Cleaning in Ridgefield, WA: Pet Hair, Fraying and Faded Color
Persian 9×12 rug from a Ridgefield, WA home.
Read the case study →
Annual Wool Rug Cleaning in Brush Prairie, WA: A 9×12 Oriental-Style Rug
Large Oriental-style wool rug with a blue-gray field, rust-red borders and floral and medallion patterns, from a Brush Prairie, WA home.
Read the case study →
Round Wool Rug Cleaning in Battle Ground, WA
Round wool Oriental rug, about 8 feet across, from a Battle Ground, WA home.
Read the case study →What Counts as a Persian or Oriental Rug
Persian rugs are made in Iran, formerly Persia. Oriental rugs is the broader trade term for handmade rugs from across Asia, including India, Pakistan, Turkey, China and Afghanistan, so every Persian rug is an Oriental rug but not the other way around.
Most are hand-knotted, with wool or silk pile tied onto a cotton, wool or silk foundation, and colored with dyes that can behave very differently in water than the dyes in a machine-made rug. That is why we treat each one as an individual piece, not a size on a price list.
Persian (Iranian) rugs
Tabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Qum, Nain, Heriz, Sarouk, Kerman and many others
Oriental rugs
Indian, Pakistani, Turkish, Chinese, Afghan and Nepali or Tibetan handmade rugs
What Can Go Wrong, and How We Prevent It
Dye bleed
Some dyes can run when wet. We test before washing, because bleed on a fine rug can be impossible to correct.
Over-wetting
Too much moisture can weaken the foundation and cause shrinking or browning if the rug dries slowly.
Heat and steam
Hot water and steam can damage wool and make colors bleed. We wash with mild, pH-balanced cleanser instead.
Grit in the foundation
Dry soil settles deep and cuts fibers as people walk on the rug, so we remove it before washing.
Painted restoration
Worn areas are sometimes touched up with liquid pigment that is not colorfast and can run when washed.
Pet urine
Urine can change dyes and leave odor deep in the pile. Early treatment gives the best result.
How We Wash Your Rug
The same 8 steps are used for every rug, adjusted to its fiber and condition. See the plant page for more.
- 01
Pre-Wash Inspection
We identify the fiber and run color-fastness tests so dyes are not put at risk.
- 02
Dry Dust Extraction
Specialized equipment vibrates out dry, abrasive soil before any water touches the rug.
- 03
Pre-Conditioning
Targeted treatment for traffic lanes and spills, or a bio-enzymatic treatment where pet urine is present.
- 04
Submersion Hand Wash
The rug is fully submerged in a flowing pool of mild, pH-balanced cleanser chosen for its weave.
- 05
Fresh Water Rinsing
Continuous flushing carries away suspended dirt and cleanser, leaving fibers soft.
- 06
Centrifugal Extraction
A centrifuge removes most of the moisture in minutes, which helps prevent color migration.
- 07
Climate-Controlled Drying
The rug hangs in a temperature and humidity-monitored room, typically for 24 to 48 hours.
- 08
Detailing & Delivery
Fringes are hand-washed, the pile is groomed, and the rug is delivered back to you.
See Where Your Rug Is Washed
Every rug we pick up is washed at our dedicated Vancouver, WA facility. Take a look inside, or read the 8-step process.
Rug Cleaning Prices by Size
Priced by the square foot and fiber. Free pickup and delivery are included within 35 miles.
| Rug size | Wool & hand-knotted $4.00-$4.50 / sq ft | Silk Persian $5.00-$5.50 / sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 3×5 accent rug15 sq ft | $60 – $68 | $75 – $82 |
| 4×6 rug24 sq ft | $96 – $108 | $120 – $132 |
| 5×8 rug40 sq ft | $160 – $180 | $200 – $220 |
| 6×9 rug54 sq ft | $216 – $243 | $270 – $297 |
| 8×10 rug80 sq ft | $320 – $360 | $400 – $440 |
| 9×12 rug108 sq ft | $432 – $486 | $540 – $594 |
| 10×14 rug140 sq ft | $560 – $630 | $700 – $770 |
| 2.5×10 runner25 sq ft | $100 – $112 | $125 – $138 |
Estimates only. Your final price is confirmed after inspection. Pet odor treatment is priced additionally upon inspection.
What We Check Before We Wash
We inspect every rug before it is washed. These are the things that change how, or whether, we proceed:
- Dyes that bleed in testing
- Painted or liquid restoration in worn areas
- Dry rot or a weakened foundation
- Old repairs, moth damage or embedded urine
If anything puts your rug at risk, we tell you before we wash it and talk through your options.
Caring for Your Rug Between Cleanings
- Vacuum the pile regularly with suction only. Avoid beater bars and power brushes on hand-knotted rugs, and keep the vacuum off the fringe.
- Blot spills right away with a clean white cloth. Do not rub, and test any cleaner on a hidden corner first.
- Rotate the rug every few months so wear and sunlight are even.
- Use a breathable rug pad, and keep the rug dry underneath.
- If a rug gets wet, dry it flat with airflow on both sides. Never fold or stack a wet rug, because dye can transfer.
Rain, mud and damp winters are hard on rugs in the Portland-Vancouver area. Grit tracked in from outside settles into the foundation, and a rug that stays damp can develop odor or browning. A plant wash with controlled drying avoids putting water on your floors and leaves your rug fully dry before it comes home.
For more, read our rug care guides.
Rug Terms, Explained
- Hand-knotted
- A rug made by tying individual knots of pile yarn by hand onto a foundation, as opposed to being tufted or machine-woven.
- Foundation
- The warp and weft threads, usually cotton, wool or silk, that hold the knots of a rug in place.
- Pile
- The raised surface of knotted or cut fibers that you see and walk on.
- Colorfastness
- How well a dye resists running or fading when exposed to water, light or cleaning products.
- Dye bleed
- Dye moving out of one area and into another, usually when a rug is wet.
- Liquid restoration
- Pigment or ink painted onto worn areas to hide wear. It is often not colorfast and can run when washed.
Family-Owned Since 1988
Benchmark is led by owners Adam and Carrie Vermilyea, who live in Clark County, Washington. Every rug we wash goes through the same inspection, dye testing and monitored drying, and we tell you what we find before we proceed.
4.9 on Google
131 Google reviews, as of October 2026. Read what customers say about their rugs, or leave your own.
Persian & Oriental Rug Cleaning Questions
What is the difference between a Persian rug and an Oriental rug?
Persian rugs are made in Iran, formerly Persia. Oriental rug is the broader term for handmade rugs from Asia, including India, Pakistan, Turkey, China and Afghanistan. Persian rugs are a type of Oriental rug.
How much does it cost to clean a Persian or Oriental rug in Portland and Vancouver?
We charge $4.00 to $4.50 per square foot for wool and hand-knotted rugs, and $5.00 to $5.50 for silk. An 8×10 wool rug is about $320 to $360. Your final price is confirmed after inspection, and pickup and delivery are free within 35 miles.
How often should a Persian rug be cleaned?
We recommend about every 2 years for normal use, and every 12 to 18 months for homes with pets, young children or an entryway rug. Clean it sooner after a pet accident or water exposure.
Will the colors in my Persian rug bleed when it is washed?
We test the dyes before we wash. If a dye is unstable, we will tell you before we go further and talk through the options. No one can promise a rug will never bleed, which is why testing comes first.
Is it safe to steam clean a Persian or Oriental rug?
We do not recommend it. Hot water and steam can damage wool and cause colors to bleed. Rugs we clean are hand-washed with mild, pH-balanced cleanser and dried in a monitored room.
How long will my rug be gone?
Typical turnaround is 7 to 10 business days. Drying alone usually takes 24 to 48 hours in our temperature and humidity-monitored drying room.
Can you remove pet urine from a Persian or Oriental rug?
We treat pet urine with a bio-enzymatic wash at our plant. If odor returns within 14 days, we re-treat at no charge. See our pet odor page for details, and call us if the stain is old or the rug is silk.
Do you pick up Persian rugs in my area?
Yes. Pickup and delivery are free within 35 miles of our Vancouver, WA plant, covering Clark County and the Portland metro. You can check your ZIP code on our service areas page.
Source: Cleanfax, “When to Hold ‘Em and When to Fold ‘Em” (rug cleaning trade magazine). Prices and policies are Benchmark’s own. Last updated October 26, 2026.
Explore More Rug Cleaning
Area Rug Cleaning →
Our full rug cleaning service.
Wool, Silk & Antique Rugs →
Fiber-by-fiber care.
Pet Odor in Rugs →
Urine and odor removal.
Pricing Guide →
Every price, by size and fiber.
Free Pickup & Delivery →
How it works and when your rug returns.
Before & After Case Studies →
Real projects with photos.
Get Your Free Quote
Tell us about your rug and we will confirm your pickup window. Free pickup and delivery within 35 miles of Vancouver, WA.