Wet viscose becomes much weaker, can turn brown or yellow, and the pile can flatten, so it is not cleaned on the floor at home. The price is from €15/m², and the final price is given from a photo.
Bamboo rug cleaning: it is usually viscose
Rugs sold as “bamboo silk” are usually made of viscose. The name “bamboo” says little about cleaning: what matters is the fibre the pile is made of. Such rugs look like silk, but when wet they become much weaker.
If the rug is made of bamboo slats or braided from plant fibres, that is a different matter: see jute and sisal rug cleaning. If the purchase documents say “silk”, compare with silk rug cleaning.
What happens to viscose when it gets wet
- Wet viscose becomes much weaker than dry viscose and can change shape.
- The pile can turn brown or yellow from water. High humidity and hot water make it worse.
- Water and pressure can crush the pile permanently.
- The pile must not be rubbed or steamed.
So a viscose rug needs controlled wet cleaning and full drying, which a living room floor does not give. A dry pile is brushed only in the direction of the pile.
Sources: Ohio State University fact sheet HYG-5538 (viscose when wet); Cleanfax, “Rayon: the fiber that just won’t go away” (browning, flattening); Brentano Fabrics care sheet (do not rub, do not steam, brush with the pile). Checked 10.11.2026.
If liquid has been spilled on a viscose rug
Blot the liquid with a clean, absorbent cloth from the edges of the stain towards the centre, without rubbing. Do not pour water on it to “rinse”, because on viscose extra moisture can leave a brown edge. Do not use hot water, steam or a hair dryer, and do not brush the pile while it is damp.
Then photograph the spot and write in the request what was spilled and whether you have already tried to clean it. About the methods and why steam does not suit viscose: dry, wet or steam carpet cleaning.
What to add to the request
- The size in metres, measured without the fringe.
- A photo of the label or a purchase description with the name of the fibre.
- Photos of the top in raking light and of the underside.
- Stains, yellow or brown areas, smell.
- Whether the rug has already been cleaned and how.
Flattened areas and differences in shade are easier to see if the rug is photographed from two angles.
How much viscose rug cleaning costs
Silk, viscose, hide, hand-made and Persian rugs (with pick-up): from €15/m², price from a photo. Pick-up and return in Riga costs €10 (both ways together); in the Riga region up to about 15 km from the Riga boundary it is also €10, and further out another €10 is added.
Example: a 1.6 × 2.3 m viscose rug is 3.68 m² × €15 = from €55.20 and pick-up and return €10, in total from €65.20, the final price from a photo. For a smaller rug the minimum order is €45: if the total is lower, you pay €45. All prices: carpet and rug cleaning prices.
What to expect from viscose rug cleaning
Usually comes out
- dust and everyday dirt in the pile;
- fresh stains that have not been rubbed or heated.
May stay
- a flattened viscose pile;
- brown or yellow areas after earlier wet cleaning;
- differences in shade where the pile is bent in another direction;
- wear in walking areas.
A flattened viscose pile may stay. Before the job, a specialist tells you what to expect from your rug.
Sources
- Wet viscose becomes much weaker and can change shape checked 10 November 2026
- A viscose pile can turn brown or yellow and flatten, hot water makes it worse checked 10 November 2026
- Do not rub or steam a viscose pile, blot from the edges, brush with the pile when dry checked 7 November 2026
