What Is ARCS? And Why You Should Check If Your Rug Cleaner Has It
March 19th, 2026
If you’ve ever searched for a rug cleaner on Long Island, you’ve probably noticed that almost every carpet cleaning company claims to clean rugs. It’s on their websites, their Google listings, their social media. “We clean rugs!” But here’s a question almost nobody asks: how do you actually prove that you’re a rug cleaner — and not just a carpet cleaner who takes rugs as a side job?
The answer is ARCS. And most companies on Long Island don’t have it.
What Is ARCS?
ARCS stands for the Association of Rug Care Specialists — an international trade organization founded specifically to improve the quality of area rug cleaning and repair across the industry. Unlike general cleaning associations that cover everything from tile to upholstery to carpet, ARCS exists for one purpose: area rugs.
Their mission is to enhance the quality of rug care through educational programs, technical training, hands-on workshops, mill and museum tours, and shared knowledge between specialists at every level. It is, as they describe themselves, “the preeminent trade association dedicated solely to the art and science of rug care.”
That word — solely — matters more than it might seem.
What Does It Actually Take to Become a Member?
This is where ARCS separates itself from every other certification in the cleaning industry and where most companies quietly disqualify themselves.
To become an ARCS member, a company must meet one non-negotiable requirement: 95% of the work must be performed at the member’s own cleaning facility — not subcontracted, and not done in the customer’s home.
Read that again.
Ninety-five percent. At their own facility.
That means the company sending someone to your house with a portable steam machine and calling it rug cleaning? They cannot be ARCS members. The carpet cleaner who offers rugs as an upsell and sends them to a third party? They cannot be ARCS members.
To maintain ARCS membership, a company must demonstrate that area rug cleaning is their primary business — not a side service.
Around The Clock Rug Washing & Specialty Cleaning is an ARCS registered member. That means we passed every one of those requirements.
Why That Standard Changes Everything for You as a Consumer
When you hand over a Persian rug, a hand-knotted wool piece, or an heirloom your family has owned for generations, you’re not handing it to just anyone. You’re trusting that the person on the other end knows exactly what they’re holding.
Area rugs are not carpet. They are constructed differently, dyed differently, and they react to water, heat, and cleaning agents in completely different ways. A wool rug can shrink or bleed dye if washed incorrectly. A silk rug can be permanently damaged by the wrong pH solution. An antique rug can lose structural integrity if it’s not dried properly after washing.
These are not things a generalist learns on the job. They are things a specialist studies, trains for, and refines over years of working exclusively with rugs.
ARCS members go through educational programs specifically designed around rug identification, fiber types, dye testing, cleaning techniques, and repair — not general cleaning theory. When you find an ARCS member, you’re finding someone who has committed to that level of knowledge and has a facility built to apply it.
Around The Clock Rug Washing & Specialty Cleaning is that company on Long Island.
Why That Standard Changes Everything for You as a Consumer
When you hand over a Persian rug, a hand-knotted wool piece, or an heirloom your family has owned for generations, you’re not handing it to just anyone. You’re trusting that the person on the other end knows exactly what they’re holding.
Area rugs are not carpet. They are constructed differently, dyed differently, and they react to water, heat, and cleaning agents in completely different ways. A wool rug can shrink or bleed dye if washed incorrectly. A silk rug can be permanently damaged by the wrong pH solution. An antique rug can lose structural integrity if it’s not dried properly after washing.
These are not things a generalist learns on the job. They are things a specialist studies, trains for, and refines over years of working exclusively with rugs.
ARCS members go through educational programs specifically designed around rug identification, fiber types, dye testing, cleaning techniques, and repair — not general cleaning theory. When you find an ARCS member, you’re finding someone who has committed to that level of knowledge and has a facility built to apply it.
Around The Clock Rug Washing & Specialty Cleaning is that company on Long Island.
Any Carpet Cleaner Can Say They Clean Rugs. ARCS Makes You Prove It.
This is the part most consumers never think to ask about — and the part that most cleaning companies are hoping you don’t.
Saying “we clean rugs” costs nothing. Building a dedicated rug washing facility, operating it as your primary business, ensuring 95% of your work is performed in-plant, and meeting the standards of an international trade association — that costs something. It costs investment, commitment, and genuine expertise.
At Around The Clock Rug Washing & Specialty Cleaning, we are ARCS registered. That means we passed.
Our entire operation is built around area rug care. We don’t do rugs on the side. We operate a dedicated rug washing facility at 54 Sarah Drive in Farmingdale, New York built specifically for the kind of full-submersion, controlled-drying process that area rugs actually need.
What ARCS Membership Means When You're Searching for a Cleaner
ARCS maintains a member directory on their website specifically so consumers can find qualified professionals in their area. It’s one of the most reliable ways to cut through the noise when every company is claiming to be the best.
Here’s what to look for when evaluating any rug cleaner:
- Do they have their own facility? In-plant cleaning is the right way to properly wash, rinse, extract, and dry a rug with full control over the process. Around The Clock Rug Washing operates exactly that — a dedicated facility in Farmingdale built for that.
- Are they ARCS registered? Around The Clock Rug Washing & Specialty Cleaning is. If the company you’re considering isn’t, ask why.
- Are their technicians trained in rug-specific techniques? Fiber identification, dye testing, and hand-finishing are skills — not assumptions. At Around The Clock, every technician is trained specifically for rug care.
The IICRC certification (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) is another credential worth asking about — particularly for water damage restoration. Around The Clock Rug Washing technicians hold IICRC certifications as well, which matters if your rug has been exposed to flooding, a burst pipe, or any moisture damage.
But for area rug cleaning specifically, ARCS membership is the standard that actually requires proof and Around The Clock has it.
The Bottom Line
Around The Clock Rug Washing & Specialty Cleaning is ARCS registered. Around The Clock is IICRC certified. We’ve built our entire business around doing this one thing correctly. We operate out of Farmingdale and serve all of Long Island, with pickup and delivery available to bring your rug directly to our facility.
If you want it done right — you know where to find us.
