Looking after your carpet
Caring for your carpet is crucial because by eliminating dirt that leads to stains, you preserve the carpet's original texture and extend its lifespan. Here's a concise breakdown of the fundamental aspects of carpet and rug maintenance. its lifespan. Here's a concise breakdown of the fundamental aspects of carpet and rug maintenance.
Soil Buildup
Frequently, soil buildup happens when dirt is tracked in from outdoors by people or pets. Prevention is better than cure, and it's advised to place doormats at all entry points.
Stains
Stains arise when a pigment chemically bonds with the carpet fibres. Once this bonding occurs, separating them without causing damage is quite challenging. This underscores the importance of promptly addressing spills and stains.
Regular cleaning should correspond to how much dirt your carpet is exposed to. It's recommended to opt for more frequent, gentle cleaning as opposed to infrequent aggressive treatments.
Dry vacuuming should be performed at least weekly, especially in high-traffic areas. This helps prevent soil embedding in the fibres and wearing out the tufts at the base.
Loop and Shag Pile Carpets
For these types of carpets, a plain suction-type vacuum cleaner is recommended. While turbo or revolving brush head attachments can minimise frizzing on the surface, excessive use may lead to frizzing, particularly on loop pile carpets. Beater bars and adjustable revolving brushes should be sparingly used and set on the lightest settings.
Cut Pile Carpets
All kinds of cleaner heads are suitable, but overusing a revolving brush vacuum head might affect the neat appearance of your cut pile. It's suggested to employ a plain suction head, avoiding excessive pressure that could flatten the carpet. Occasional grooming with a turbo or revolving brush head is also beneficial.
If necessary, a professional steam clean can eliminate trapped soil particles and refresh the carpet's appearance. Concerns about steam cleaning removing natural oil from wool carpets are unfounded, as most of it is removed during manufacturing to prevent rapid dirt accumulation. For synthetic carpets, steam cleaning every two years is recommended, often a requirement for many carpet warranties.
Spills and Stains
DO:
Immediately contain the stain and blot liquids using paper towels. Swiftly remove solids with a knife or spoon, avoiding
pushing them into the carpet.
DON'T:
Ever rub a wet wool carpet, as this damages the fibres and embeds the stain.Saturate the carpet with water or other liquids.For liquid stains, dilute the area with lukewarm water and gently blot with clean, dry paper towels. Avoid rubbing the stain and continue applying water and blotting. Wool piles tolerate water well if not over-wet, preventing watermarks or backing damage.
Crush Marks
New carpets may exhibit light and dark patches, particularly with plusher pile carpets. This phenomenon, known as crush marks, results from the carpet's weight pressing on layers below. Regular vacuuming and foot traffic will diminish this effect over time, though it might take a few months for marks to completely disappear.
Fading
Like all natural textiles, wool carpets will fade over time in areas exposed to consistent sunlight. Light-coloured carpets are especially susceptible. Installing UV-protected glass in north or west-facing doors and windows, along with curtains or blinds, helps prevent fading. Tiles around the room's perimeter can also shield against strong sunlight.
Fluffing on New Carpet
New carpets might develop surface fluff. These loose fibres from the manufacturing process can be safely vacuumed. On loop pile carpets, fluff may resemble frizz, which can be alleviated using a strong suction vacuum. Walking on the carpet with socks or pantyhose can accentuate fluffing.
Indentations
To minimise indentations, place cups under heavy furniture legs and occasionally shift furniture. Protector mats are advisable for castor chairs. Revive flattened piles by using a warm steam iron over a towel placed on the carpet. Avoid pressing the iron on the towel to prevent gloss marks.
Insect Damage
Insect damage occurs near wool carpets when food, plant, or animal substances are present. Regular vacuuming, especially in less frequently moved furniture areas, helps prevent this. Synthetic carpets are immune to insect damage.
Sprouting
Single tufts rising from the pile surface are known as 'sprouting.' In cut pile carpets, you can trim these safely with scissors. Loop pile carpets require professional repair, which can be arranged through your carpet dealer.
Tracking and Permanent Shading
All cut pile carpets, particularly plush piles, develop lighter or darker patches due to permanent bending of carpet fibres. This is called shading or watermarking. It's not a defect, doesn't impact wear, and cannot be reduced through brushing or shampooing.
Cleaning Solutions
- Lukewarm water
- One teaspoon of wool detergent with one teaspoon of white vinegar in one litre of warm water.
- Clear household disinfectant
- Dry Stain Remover. Use only on dry stains.
- Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off solids.
- Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water.
- Warm water
- Nail polish remover (should not contain lanolin)
- Surgical alcohol
- Place absorbent paper over wax or paper towel and apply hot iron to paper. Wax will melt and be absorbed by paper.
- Vacuum clean
- Mineral turpentine
- Seek assistance from a professional carpet cleaner.
Stain Guide for Wool Carpet
Before taking any action, ensure solids are scraped and excess liquid is blotted with paper towels. Never rub wet carpet.
Refer to the table below for treatment guidance specific to the stain type.
Stain Type
Method
Beer, Wine Spirits
1,2
Bleach
1,13
Blood
1,2
Butter
4,2
Candle Wax
10,4
Chewing Gum
5,4
Chocolate
4,2
Coffee
1,2,6
Soft Drinks
1,2
Cooking Oil
4,2
Cream
2,4
Egg
2,13
Faeces
2,3,13
Floor Wax
4,2
Fruit Juice
1,2
Furniture Polish
4,2
Sauces
7,2
Ink - Ballpoint
9,2
Ink - Felt tip
4,2
Lipstick
4,2
Milk
2,4
Mustard
2
Nail Polish
8,4
Oil & Grease
4,2
Paint (oil based)
4
Paint (acrylic)
1,2
Rust
6,13
Salad Dressing
2,4
Shoe Polish
4,2
Soot
11,4
Tar
12,4
Tea
1,2,6
Tomato Sauce
1,2
Urine (fresh)
1,2,3
Urine (stain)
13
Vomit
2,3,6
Cleaning Solutions
- Lukewarm water
- One teaspoon of wool detergent with one teaspoon of white vinegar in one litre of warm water.
- Clear household disinfectant
- Dry Stain Remover. Use only on dry stains.
- Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off solids.
- Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water.
- Warm water
- Nail polish remover (should not contain lanolin)
- Surgical alcohol
- Place absorbent paper over wax or paper towel and apply hot iron to paper. Wax will melt and be absorbed by paper.
- Vacuum clean
- Mineral turpentine
- Seek assistance from a professional carpet cleaner.
Stain guide for Synthetics
Here’s our easy reference guide about what to use for specific spills and stains on solution-dyed nylon carpets.
Simply cross reference the type of treatment options below with the specific stain in the table.
Cleaning Solutions
- Dry cleaning fluid
- Nail polish remover
- Detergent mix – two tsps. mild liquid detergent mixed with two cups water.
- Lukewarm tap water
- Vinegar solution – one cup vinegar to two cups water.
- Ammonia solution – two tbsps. household ammonia to one cup water.
- Dry Stain Remover
- Professional clean advised
Stain Type
Method
Beer, Wine Spirits
3,6,5,4,8
Bleach
3,4,8
Blood
6,3,4,7,8
Candle Wax
2,1,8
Chewing Gum
1,8
Chocolate
3,5,4,7,8
Coffee
3,5,4,7,8
Soft Drinks
3,6,5,4,7,8
Cooking Oil
1,3,7,8
Faeces
2,3
Fruit Juice
3,6,5,4,7,8
Furniture Polish
3,4,1,6,7,8
Sauces
7,2
Ink - Ballpoint
9,2
Ink - Felt tip
2,1,3,6,5,4,7,8
Lipstick
2,1,3,6,5,4,7,8
Milk
3,5,4,7,8
Mustard
3,5,4,7,8
Nail Polish
2
Oil & Grease
1,3,4,8
Paint (oil based)
3,6,4,7,8
Paint (acrylic)
3,6,4,7,8
Rust
5,3,4,7,8
Shoe Polish
2,1,3,6,4,7,8
Tar
1,7,8
Tea
3,5,4,7,8
Urine (fresh)
3,6,5,4,8
Urine (stain)
3,4,5,6,8
Vomit
3,6,5,7,8
Note: some spills contain chemicals that may discolour or even damage the carpet fibre or dyes. If you have doubts about what caused the stain, and how to remove it, please contact a professional carpet cleaner. While this advice is offered in good faith, no responsibility is accepted for claims arising from the recommended treatments.