How Do I Prepare My Rug Before Pickup?
Preparing your rug for pickup is simple. Clear furniture and small objects off it, give it a light vacuum if you can, roll it loosely with the pile facing inward, and have it ready by your front door or in a safe undercover spot. Tell us about any stains, spills or pet accidents — and that's it. We handle the rest.
Clear, Check and Lightly Vacuum the Rug
Start by clearing everything off the rug — furniture, plant pots, decor and any small items like toys, coins or hairpins that could be hiding in the pile. This gives our team a clean, unobstructed rug to collect. If it’s easy to do, give the rug a gentle vacuum on both sides to lift loose surface dust, but use suction only and avoid a rotating beater bar on wool, silk or fringed rugs, as it can pull fibres. Don’t worry if you can’t vacuum it thoroughly — deep dusting to remove the grit embedded deep in the foundation is one of the first things we do at our Yatala facility, and it’s far more effective than a household vacuum. While you’re there, take a quick look for loose threads, curling edges or worn fringes so you can mention them to us. There’s no need to attempt any deep cleaning or stain removal yourself before pickup; in fact, it’s often better not to, so our IICRC-certified technicians can assess the rug in its current state.
Roll the Rug the Right Way
Once the rug is clear, roll it rather than folding it. Folding can crease or crack the foundation of older and hand-knotted rugs, while rolling keeps it safe in transit. Roll with the pile (the soft top surface) facing inward and the backing on the outside, keeping the edges straight as you go so it rolls up evenly. For wool, Persian, Oriental and antique rugs this is especially important, as it protects the delicate face fibres. Once rolled, you can secure it loosely with cotton tape, soft string or even a couple of old sheets — just avoid tape or anything sticky directly on the rug itself. If your rug is very large, heavy or oversized, don’t struggle with it; let us know when you book and our team will manage the rolling and lifting for you on collection day. The goal is simply to have it in a manageable, rolled bundle so it can be loaded and transported without strain or damage.
Flag Any Stains, Spills or Pet Accidents
Before pickup, make a quick mental note of anything we should know about — and tell us. The most useful details are the location and nature of any stains (red wine, coffee, ink, pet urine, vomit, mould or water damage), roughly how long they’ve been there, and crucially, whether you’ve already tried to treat them and with what product. Home remedies like vinegar, baking soda, supermarket sprays or carpet shampoos can change how a stain reacts to professional treatment, so it genuinely helps us to know. If your pet has had an accident, point it out even if it looks dry; urine often penetrates deep into the foundation where surface cleaning can’t reach. A clear photo sent through when you book is ideal. Sharing this upfront lets us choose the right fibre-safe treatment and set realistic expectations, rather than discovering a hidden problem mid-clean. There’s no judgement here — the more we know, the better the result.
Have It Ready and Book Your Free Pickup
On collection day, have the rolled rug ready by your front door, or in a safe, dry, undercover area if you won’t be home. Our driver will usually call or text when they’re on the way, with collections generally running between morning and late afternoon. You don’t need to leave home to use the service at all — free pickup and delivery is included across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and the Northern Rivers of NSW. With 29 years of specialist experience and our dedicated immersion-wash facility, we take care of the dusting, washing, stain and odour treatment and controlled drying, then return your rug fully dry and refreshed. To get started, simply book a free pickup or request a no-obligation quote, and we’ll confirm a collection time that suits you.
Get a Free Rug Cleaning Quote
Free pickup & delivery across South East QLD and Northern NSW — all cleaning done at our dedicated Yatala facility. Get your free quote below or call 1800 655 949.
Get your free quote today
Tell us about your rug and we’ll take it from there — free pickup and delivery, and an honest assessment before any work begins.