Understand the Fibers. Make More Confident Cleaning Decisions.

A cotton rug that bleeds during washing. A jute backing that causes browning on the surface. A stain treatment that removes the spot but changes the color. These challenges become easier to evaluate when you understand the materials involved.

Welcome to Cellulosic Fibers, a practical course for rug care professionals. Across four lessons, you’ll explore cotton, jute, sisal, seagrass, and linen, connecting their characteristics to the cleaning decisions you make every day.

Through fiber explanations and real case studies, you’ll learn why problems develop, how to reduce avoidable risks, and how to approach corrections thoughtfully. The goal is to build your understanding of what to test, what to consider, and how to choose your next step.

What You’ll Gain

• A clearer understanding of the materials you clean, including cellulosic fibers hidden in foundations, backings, and borders.
• Better awareness of cleaning risks, from dye bleeding and shrinkage to browning and moisture-related problems.
• A practical approach to correction, using inspection and testing to guide treatment choices.
• More informed client conversations about fiber characteristics, care considerations, and realistic expectations.

Meet Your Instructor

Kyle Kluth | Rug Washing and Textile Specialist

Kyle Kluth is a Master Textile Cleaner with more than 20 years of experience in fabric care. A second-generation professional at his family’s company, Pinnacle Eco Clean in Rochester, New York, he works with handmade rugs, carpets, upholstery, and specialty textiles.

Kyle combines a deep interest in textile science with practical cleaning experience to help professionals understand why fibers behave the way they do. In this course, he brings that approach to cellulosic fibers, using real examples to connect material knowledge with informed cleaning decisions.

What’s Included

The course begins with a Course Introduction, followed by four lessons that build on one another:

• Lesson 1: Cotton. Explore cotton’s origins, dyeing methods, and the factors that influence bleeding, browning, and shrinkage.
• Lesson 2: Bast Fibers. Examine jute, sisal, seagrass, and linen, including their differences, processing methods, and cleaning considerations.
• Lesson 3: Corrections and Decisions. Work through browning and stain-correction examples to understand how chemistry, testing, and construction shape your approach.
• Lesson 4: Wrap-up and Field Application. Bring the principles together with a practical framework for identifying spots and soils and selecting appropriate treatments.

Each lesson includes a video and a quiz to reinforce your understanding. A final test brings together the key concepts from the course.

Start Your Course

Purchase the course and complete your enrollment before accessing the lessons. Once you’re enrolled, select Course Introduction in the Course Content section below to begin.

Work through the lessons in order, and revisit them whenever you need a refresher.

Throughout the course, keep this principle in mind: identify first, test before treatment, and let the results guide your next step.