Wool Rug Cleaning since 1881.
Specialist hand-finished cleaning for every kind of wool rug — hand-knotted oriental, hand-tufted designer, machine-made, flat-weave. Lanolin-preserving methods. Free pick-up across five metros.
Cleaning wool 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.
Wool is the most common fiber in fine rugs for one fundamental reason: it has a natural lanolin coating that resists soil, repels water, and gives the fiber its characteristic resilience. That lanolin is also exactly what aggressive cleaning methods strip away. A wool rug cleaned with hot water and alkaline chemistry — the standard for steam cleaning and most chain operations — comes back looking acceptable but has lost much of what made the wool valuable in the first place. The lanolin is gone, the fiber is more vulnerable to soiling next time around, and the rug's lifespan has been shortened.
Fred Remmers Rug Cleaners has been cleaning wool rugs since 1881. Four generations of family training. Our wool cleaning method is built around preserving the lanolin: neutral or low-pH chemistry (never alkaline), cool-to-warm water (never hot), shortened wash cycles, and controlled flat drying. The wool comes out cleaner than steam cleaning could ever achieve — and with its natural soil resistance fully intact.
That method is now backed by formal certification as well as inheritance. Mehdi Abesi completed The WoolSafe Organisation's Fibre Care Specialist course in August 2026, scoring 98% against an 80% pass mark — an examined qualification covering fibre identification and the cleaning chemistry appropriate to each fibre. WoolSafe is an independent body founded in 1991 for the specific purpose of setting standards in wool care, which makes it a reasonable outside measure of exactly the work described above.
We clean every wool construction: hand-knotted oriental rugs (Persian, Turkish, Caucasian, Tibetan, Indian), hand-tufted modern designer rugs (Pottery Barn, RH, West Elm), machine-made wool (Karastan, Couristan), flat-weaves (kilim, dhurrie, soumak), and specialty wools (New Zealand, merino, Tibetan highland, traditional handspun). Each construction gets the cleaning method appropriate for it — but the lanolin-preserving approach is consistent across them all.
Why wool needs different methods.
Wool fibers behave fundamentally differently from synthetics. These are the specific concerns that drive our wool cleaning approach.
Lanolin preservation
Lanolin is the natural oil in wool that resists soil and water. Alkaline chemistry strips it permanently. Our neutral-pH wool wash removes soil while leaving the lanolin coating intact.
Heat sensitivity
Hot water damages wool fiber structure and can cause felting (irreversible matting). Our wool method uses cool-to-warm water exclusively — never hot.
Shrinkage prevention
Untreated wool can shrink dramatically with hot water and aggressive agitation. Our cool wash, gentle handling, and controlled flat drying preserve dimensions exactly.
Dye stability
Many wool rugs use dyes that bleed under aggressive chemistry — particularly older natural dyes (madder reds, indigo blues, walnut browns). We test every color before any wet cleaning.
Pile distortion
High-pile wool rugs can mat or distort under improper cleaning, losing the upright pile that gives them their character. Our method preserves the pile structure throughout the wash and drying.
Moth and pest history
Wool is a moth target. We inspect for moth damage, larvae, or eggs during cleaning and recommend mothproofing for any rug stored seasonally — see our mothproof service for details.
Specialist methods for every wool type.
Hand-spun Persian & Turkish
Traditional handspun wool used in fine oriental rugs. High lanolin content, irregular fiber length, often natural dyes. The most lanolin-rich and most demanding wool to clean correctly.
Tibetan highland wool
From Tibetan-Himalayan sheep, exceptionally high lanolin and long staple length. Common in modern hand-knotted Tibetan and Nepalese rugs. Very durable when cleaned properly.
New Zealand wool
The standard for modern hand-tufted designer rugs (Pottery Barn, RH, West Elm). Fine and consistent. Generally very clean wool — easy to wash without affecting color.
Merino
Soft, fine, premium wool used in higher-end modern rugs. Lower lanolin than handspun, requires careful cleaning to maintain softness without over-processing.
Hand-tufted designer wool
Modern wool pile bonded to a backing with latex adhesive. The wash must protect the latex from over-saturation. Common construction in contemporary designer rugs.
Machine-made wool
Karastan, Couristan, and similar — machine-loomed wool, usually New Zealand or merino blend. Robust construction, generally tolerates wool-specific cleaning very well.
Lanolin-preserving wool cleaning, step by step.
1. Inspection
Identify wool type, construction, condition, and any pre-existing damage or repair history. Check for moth or pest activity.
2. Dye-stability testing
Every color tested for fugitiveness on a small inconspicuous area. Stabilization applied where needed.
3. Hand-dusting
Removes the embedded grit that home vacuuming cannot reach — pounds of fine particulate per rug is typical for wool that has not been professionally cleaned recently.
4. Hand pre-treatment
Targeted stain removal with neutral-pH chemistry chosen for the specific stain and wool type.
5. Lanolin-preserving wash
Cool-to-warm water (never hot), neutral or low-pH chemistry (never alkaline), shortened wash cycles, gentle hand agitation.
6. Controlled flat drying & final inspection
Drying flat in a controlled-humidity room, never in direct sun, never in a tumbler. Final inspection and any necessary fringe finishing before delivery.
Wool rug cleaning across 5 metros.
Hand-finished cleaning for wool rugs in every market we serve. Free pick-up, free delivery.
Frequently asked questions.
Why does wool rug cleaning need specialized methods?
Can wool rugs be machine-cleaned or steam-cleaned at home?
How often should I have my wool rug cleaned?
Will cleaning shrink my wool rug?
Do you clean New Zealand wool, merino, and specialty wools?
Learn more about rug cleaning.
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.