Reilly's cleans and repairs oriental, antique, silk and wall-to-wall rugs and carpets in northern New Jersey. Its website also lists tile and grout cleaning and water damage services. The company says it has operated since 1918.

Listed since 02/13/2020

Rug and water damage work in northern Bergen County

Northern New Jersey has plenty of finer rugs in finished basements and living rooms, and storms test them. The remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021 put Bergen County under a state of emergency, with thousands rescued from homes and cars and the Saddle River swamping streets in Lodi and Saddle Brook.

A wet rug is a different problem from wet carpet. Wool and silk can hold water, dye can run, and a rug left damp on a floor can sour within days. Flood water adds contamination to the mix.

What a rug cleaning and water job involves

For a rug, cleaning typically starts with an inspection of fibers, dyes and foundation, dusting to remove the dry soil, then washing and controlled drying. Hand-knotted rugs are usually washed off the floor, not in the room. After water damage the questions are how long the rug was wet, what kind of water it was, and whether it can be dried flat and cleaned or should be replaced.

Ask about color testing before washing and how drying is done. Lift rugs off wet floors early, and read the first 24 hours after water damage. Photograph each one first, as described in documenting your loss.