How much does rug cleaning cost in the UK?

Area rugs can be the centre of attention in any room thanks to their high-end fabrics and intricate details. Hence, it’s important to keep them pristine and spotless so they won’t be a showstopper for all the wrong reasons.

And if you’re wondering about the potential price of getting your rugs cleaned once they start getting dirty, this guide can show you the major rug cleaning cost factors and the average price of the service in the UK.

What are the average rug cleaning prices in the UK?

The rug cleaning price list below can give you an idea of the average fees rug cleaners charge in various cities across the country:

*Prices shown are typical total costs per job based on recent Airtasker data. Actual costs may vary.

What factors affect the average costs of rug cleaning?

You can learn to gauge how much to clean a rug by considering all the factors involved, including rug size, shape, condition, cleaning method, and number.

Rug size and shape

Traditional red area rug in a bright, antique-furnished living room (Source: iStock)

The cost of cleaning area rugs depends heavily on your rug’s size and shape. This is because smaller rugs, especially square or rectangular ones, usually take less time and effort to clean and dry than larger ones or those with odd shapes.

Rug material and construction

How much is the cost of rug cleaning when taking material and construction into account? In general, delicate pieces such as oriental, Persian, and wool rugs—along with hand-tufted, antique, and silk rugs—often need specialist handling and cleaning products, making them more expensive to clean. Meanwhile, synthetic rugs and other types with tougher fibres can be washed as usual.

Cleaning method

Gloved hand scrubbing a patterned rug with foamy cleaning solution (Source: iStock)

Different cleaning processes translate to varying prices. For instance, a rug’s dry cleaning cost is typically lower than hand washing rates, since the latter is more physically demanding.

Number of rugs

Having several rugs cleaned (as opposed to just one) means paying higher rates. However, this can lead to a lower average fee per rug, especially if the service provider you’re hiring is offering a volume discount.

Furniture moving and cleaning setup

Mustard yellow living room with a round rug and vintage furnishings (Source: iStock)

Moving heavy and upholstered furniture off your delicate rugs and cleaning the surrounding space don’t just take time and effort; they can also make your rug cleaner ask for a higher fee due to the additional work involved.

Additional treatments and restoration

How much is the average cost to clean a rug if there are additional treatments to be done? Expect to pay an extra £10 to 1250 or more, depending on the service to be performed. For instance, you may need to pay only a minimal fee if you want to avoid getting pet stains on your rug and needing stain removal service in the future.

However, if your rug requires restoration or repair, you may have to shell out a significantly higher amount, especially if it will involve complex techniques and fragile fibres. 

What are some ways to save on rug cleaning?

Here are some measures you can take if you’re aiming for cheap rug cleaning prices:

• Mop floors and use your vacuum cleaner to make your rug’s clean condition last longer.

• Avoid stepping on your rug with extremely dirty shoes or eating and drinking right on its surface to avoid stains and deep-seated dirt that may cost more to clean.

• Schedule a cleaning session outside peak seasons and weekends.

• Ask different service providers for free estimates so you can compare rates.

What should you look for in a professional rug cleaner?

If you’re looking for someone to perform rug-cleaning services, don’t forget these criteria:

• Experience: Pick an expert with significant years of experience who knows how to match the right cleaning method to each rug type and condition.

• Process, tools, and equipment: Learn whether they perform a pre-inspection and which cleaning process, tools, and equipment they plan to use for your rug’s fabric.

• Reputation: Seek out what their past customers have said about the quality of their service via reviews and ratings, including whether their thorough cleaning helped remove dust mites and other allergens to improve indoor air quality.

• Cost: Request quotes to assess whether their service pricing is fair.

Keep your rugs and other floor ornaments clean with Airtasker

Vacuum cleaner moving across a traditional red and cream area rug (Source: iStock)

It’s best to leave rug cleaning to the experts if you don’t want to inadvertently damage their delicate fibres or worsen their stains. And through Airtasker, you won’t have a difficult time finding qualified and reliable rug cleaners where you are.

Simply sign up and create a task on the platform to easily reach out to rug cleaning professionals in your area. Afterwards, you can discuss fees with these Taskers and review their past customers’ reviews and ratings to decide which person is right for the role.