From historic family heirlooms to everyday living room throws, the employees at The Great American Rug Cleaning Co. in Tomball take pride in ensuring each customer's household rugs are treated with care.
"We anticipated the growth in the area and also the growth in rugs," co-owner Kevin Ashe said. "At first look somebody might think, rug cleaning, so what? But when you have a $10,000 rug, don't you want somebody that specializes in that?"
The business first launched in 1993 under the name ProSteem Carpet Care and continues its original mission to offer in-home cleaning services for carpets, ceramic tile and stone.
About three years ago, Ashe and co-owner Richard Middleton relocated the company from Magnolia to Tomball and added a new division in 2012 known as The Great American Rug Cleaning Co., which specializes in high-tech, in-plant rug cleaning exclusively. Ashe and Middleton own and manage services for ProSteem Carpet Care and The Great American Rug Cleaning Co. from the same Tomball location.
Using a 10-step process, the company has streamlined rug cleaning with new technology such as a Centrum Star Wash Tub and Centrum Maxx Rug Wringer to thoroughly remove dirt and debris with about a 14-day turnaround, Ashe said.
"We were cleaning rugs the old way a long time ago in 1993, and so we developed the expertise over all of those years with training and certifications," Ashe said. "With this better technology, it's progressed to where it's more feasible. It's what we've always done, but now we do it better."
Middleton said the business cleans and repairs an average of 200-300 rugs a month and boasts a 30 percent growth in annual sales. ProSteem Carpet Care and The Great American Rug Cleaning Co. are located in an 8,000-square-foot facility, and there are plans to expand the cleaning warehouse by 2,000 square feet possibly beginning next year to accommodate growth, Middleton said.
More than 10 people are employed at the two businesses, and more staff members are expected to be added along with new equipment as business continues to grow, Middleton said. The company's customer base stems largely from Tomball and Magnolia as well as The Woodlands, Champion Forest, Klein and Conroe, Ashe said.
"We service an existing customer base and of course new customers as well," Middleton said. "There's only a handful of people in the Greater Houston area that actually do repairs [on rugs]. That's very unique for up here."
Although they are Magnolia residents, Ashe and Middleton said they enjoy the business climate in Tomball and plan to keep The Great American Rug Cleaning Co. at its Main Street location.
"We're very grateful and blessed to be here on Main Street Tomball," Middleton said. "We see that as a great opportunity for business, the community and our lives in general."
Services and products
- Cleaning and repairs for various rug types such as Persian, Pakistani, Afghani, Chinese, Indian, antiques, silk and handmade
- Pet odor removal
- Protective coatings
- Custom fit rug pads
- Moth guards
- Rug appraisals
Specials and deals
- Free pick-up and delivery of rugs
- 15 percent "cash and carry" discount for customers who bring their own rugs into the store
- Senior citizen discounts
- $10 discount via the company's website
The Great American Rug Cleaning Co. , 212 E. Main St., Tomball 281-255-0024, greatamericanrugcleaningcompany.com, Hours: Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
