[MRM]

I saw a show on Persian rugs a few years ago. The dealer who was being interviewed said that they experimented forever before they found the best way to do it. They spread the rugs on a driveway that has a slope to it, hose them down with a garden hose and then use bars of Ivory soap to scrub them down. He said they tried everything but bars of Ivory worked best and was mild enough not to harm the rugs. The hardest part is rinsing them so they are free of soap.

If it was me I'd just follow his advice in a driveway and hang them to dry.

The Chinese rugs have little value. True Persians, especially antiques, have limited supply and are expensive. Chinese rugs, even if they're high quality hand made, especially the modern ones, have an almost unlimited supply.