Antique Rug Cleaning in Memphis, TN.
Conservative, documented antique rug cleaning across the Mid-South — methods refined over four generations.
Cleaning antique rugs continuously since 1881.
Same family, same standards, four generations of craft.
Listed by the Oriental Rug Buyers Guide as one of the country's top rug cleaners.
Accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, Memphis chapter.
Memphis is one of the older oriental rug markets in the South, which means antique pieces — 80+ years old — are common in long-established neighborhoods. Central Gardens, Chickasaw Gardens, Hein Park, and many of the Memphis estate homes hold pieces from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These antique rugs require fundamentally conservative cleaning: cool water, low-pH chemistry, dye testing on every color, and documented methodology throughout. We have been cleaning antique rugs in Memphis since 1881 — Fred Remmers itself is older than many of the pieces we work on.
Antique rugs — typically 80 years and older — require fundamentally conservative cleaning methods. Aggressive chemistry strips natural dyes, hot water damages weakened foundations, and excessive agitation breaks aged fibers. Our antique approach is the most cautious we offer: cool water, low-pH chemistry, dye testing on every color, and documented before-and-after photography for each piece. The goal is to remove soil without compromising the rug's antique character or structural integrity.
Free pick-up across West Tennessee, Northwest Mississippi, and East Arkansas. Most rugs are returned within 7 days from pick-up. We provide a written estimate before any work begins.
Conservative methods for every antique tradition.
Antique cleaning differs by weaving tradition. Each requires its own conservative approach.
Antique Persian
Tabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Heriz, Qom — antique pieces 80+ years old often have weakened foundations and fugitive natural dyes.
Antique Turkish
Hereke, Ushak, Konya — robust construction but antique dyes (madder reds, indigo blues) can be fugitive.
Antique Caucasian
Kazak, Shirvan, Kuba, Karabagh — bold geometric pieces often with vegetable dyes that need careful handling.
Antique Indian
Mughal Agra, antique Jaipur — fine handspun wool, often natural dyes, require conservative immersion methods.
Antique Chinese
Antique Peking and Ningxia — silk highlights are common, requiring silk-specific cleaning approach.
Antique American
Hand-hooked, hand-braided pieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Surface cleaning methods preserve original character.
Free pick-up across Memphis and surrounding areas.
- Memphis
- Germantown
- Collierville
- Cordova
- Bartlett
- Millington
- Arlington
- Lakeland
- Eads
- Ellendale
- Brunswick
- Munford
- Atoka
- Drummonds
- Rossville
- Oakland
- Mason
- Brighton
- Southaven
- Olive Branch
- Horn Lake
- Hernando
- Walls
- Nesbit
- Lake Cormorant
- Coldwater
- Byhalia
- Holly Springs
- Red Banks
- West Memphis
- Marion
- Crawfordsville
- Earle
- Edmondson
- Heth
- Hughes
- Joiner
- Marked Tree
- Tyronza
- Turrell
Common questions about antique rug cleaning in Memphis.
Where in Memphis do you offer antique rug pick-up?
Free pick-up across Memphis, Germantown, Cordova, Collierville, Bartlett, Olive Branch, Southaven, and the wider Mid-South. Special handling for fragile antique pieces.
What counts as an antique rug?
Most experts use 80 to 100 years as the boundary for 'antique.' Pieces 50–80 years old are typically called 'semi-antique,' and pieces 100+ years are sometimes called 'museum-quality.'
Are Memphis antique rugs often un-cleaned for decades?
Frequently. Many Memphis antique collections have not seen professional cleaning since the original owner's lifetime. We see pieces with 50+ years of accumulated soil. Conservative cleaning methods can transform these rugs without damaging their character.
Will cleaning damage my antique rug?
Properly performed conservative cleaning will not damage an antique rug. Damage scenarios — color run, fiber loss, foundation cracking — happen when antiques are cleaned with methods designed for newer pieces.
Do you provide before-and-after documentation?
Yes — standard for all antique cleaning. We document the rug before work begins, photograph any pre-existing damage, and photograph again after delivery.
Available across five metros.
Free pick-up and delivery in every city we serve. Tap a city for local details and your nearest phone number.