Professional rug cleaning in Johannesburg costs between R299 and R3,499. The price is set by two things: the size of the rug, and whether it is made of delicate natural fibres such as wool or silk. A small synthetic rug starts at R299, while a large hand-knotted wool or silk piece is priced as a delicate, specialist clean. Every price is all-inclusive, deodorisation, stain treatment, urine treatment, rejuvenation and a hypoallergenic rinse are built in, and there are no call-out fees and no add-ons at the end.
Rug cleaning prices at a glance
Rugs are priced by size band, measured to the next size up, and split into standard (synthetic) and delicate (natural-fibre) cleaning. These are our 2026 all-inclusive rates:
| Rug size | Standard (synthetic) | Delicate (wool / silk / natural) |
|---|---|---|
| Small, up to 1m × 1m | R299 | R599 |
| Medium, up to 2m × 2m | R599 | R899 |
| Large, up to 3m × 3m | R899 | R1,799 |
| Extra-large, up to 4m × 4m | R1,199 | R2,399 |
| XXL, up to 5m × 5m | R1,799 | R3,499 |
If your rug falls between two bands, it is priced at the larger band. You can see the same list, alongside our carpet and upholstery rates, on the pricing page.
What the two price columns mean
The single biggest factor in what you pay is the fibre, because it dictates how the rug must be cleaned.
- Standard (synthetic). The rug is made only of man-made fibres, polypropylene, polyester, nylon or acrylic, or a blend of just these. These fibres are stable and forgiving, so the rug is cleaned by hand at our standard rate.
- Delicate (natural-fibre). The rug contains any wool, silk, cotton, viscose or jute, even in a blend. Natural fibres are pH-sensitive, prone to dye movement and easily damaged by the wrong chemistry, so the rug is cleaned by hand as a specialist piece, with fibre-appropriate chemistry, controlled moisture and dye-fastness testing before any treatment. That extra care and time is why the delicate rate is higher.
Not sure which yours is? Read how to identify what type of rug you have, or send us a photo and we will tell you. Persian, Afghan and other hand-knotted rugs are always treated as delicate, see our Persian and oriental rug care guide, and anything sold as silk, art-silk, bamboo silk or viscose needs the extra caution we explain in the dangers of cleaning silk and viscose rugs.
What is included in every rug clean
The quoted price is the price you pay. Every rug clean includes, at no extra cost:
- Deodorisation treatment
- Stain treatment for removable stains
- Urine treatment and odour neutralisation
- Rejuvenation treatment that restores fibre suppleness
- A hypoallergenic rinse that removes allergen proteins and cleaning residue
- No call-out fee
And every rug, without exception, is cleaned by hand. We never put a rug through a rotary machine or a factory wash line, which is the reason we are trusted as Persian and oriental rug specialists in Gauteng.
Why hand-cleaning costs more than a machine wash
A machine applies uniform force across a rug that is anything but uniform, and that is exactly how dye migration, warp distortion and crushed pile happen. Hand-cleaning is slower and more skilled: a technician identifies the fibre, tests the dyes, follows the pile direction, controls the moisture across each section, and adjusts in real time to how the rug is responding. You are paying for the time and the judgement that protect the rug, not just the clean. On a valuable hand-knotted piece, that is the difference between a rug that is refreshed and one that is ruined.
What can change your quote
- Size. Measured to the next band up. A 2.4m × 1.8m rug is priced as a large (3m × 3m) rug.
- Fibre. Delicate natural fibres are cleaned at the specialist rate, as above.
- Condition. Stain, urine and odour treatment are already included, so heavy soiling does not usually change the price. Where a rug has permanent damage, such as old dye bleed, sun fade or fibre wear, we tell you honestly before we start rather than charge for a result we cannot deliver.
Optional fabric protection
After a clean you can add MasterGuard fabric protection, a water-based, pet- and family-safe treatment that helps spills bead instead of soaking in. Protecting a rug costs the same as cleaning it, and it is applied to the clean fibre at the end of the job. It is optional, and we will tell you honestly which rugs are worth protecting, see our guide to fabric protectors.
Common questions
How much does it cost to clean a Persian or wool rug?
Persian, Afghan and wool rugs are priced as delicate, specialist cleans: from R599 for a small piece up to R3,499 for an XXL rug, hand-cleaned with fibre-safe chemistry and dye-fastness testing.
Is urine and stain removal charged extra?
No. Deodorisation, stain treatment and urine treatment are included in every rug price. There are no add-ons at the end.
Do you charge a call-out or collection fee?
There is no call-out fee. The price you are quoted for the size and fibre of your rug is the price you pay.
How is the size measured?
By the rug's length and width, rounded up to the next size band. If you are unsure, send us the dimensions and we will confirm the band before you book.
To get an exact price for your rug, send a photo and the dimensions through our contact page, use the rug category finder beside the quote form, or read more about our hand-cleaning approach on the rug cleaning page. For carpet pricing instead, see carpet cleaning prices in Johannesburg.