Carpet - How To Take Care?

A new wool or wool-based carpet will last longer and look better if a routine of regular vacuuming, periodic cleaning and immediate removal of spots and spills is followed. With many alternative carpet materials offering easy-clean properties, it’s important to know how best natural products can be maintained.

Wool is dirt-resistant because the fibre is opaque and dirt doesn’t show as much as with some clearer, brighter man-made fibres. It also has a matt, uneven surface to which dirt does not stick easily. Its surface – it has scales like those on a fish, coated with a thin water-repellent layer – also makes it easier to remove dry dirt by vacuum cleaning and greasy dirt with detergents.

Its ability to release dirt when cleaned means that wool carpets and rugs will retain their colour, and consequently their pattern and design, despite heavy use and frequent cleaning. This also means they can be used in lighter and brighter colours.

If something is spilled:

• DO deal with spillages as soon as possible: scoop, scrape or blot up using white tissue.
• DON’T rub the pile (it causes pile burst, fuzzing and lightening of the colour.)
• DON’T pour white wine on a red wine spill!  Use a little water instead, but blot it up as soon as possible.
• DON’T pour salt on a liquid spillage: all it does is make a strong salt solution and this can change the colour of some dyes permanently.
• DON’T use detergents such as dish washing liquids, soaps or other cleaners recommended for general household use. Although they may clean your carpet satisfactorily they will almost certainly cause problems such as rapid re-soiling, colour bleeding or other damage to the pile or backing of the carpet.

Always work from the edge of the spot inwards.

• DO apply small quantities of spot remover (approved for wool) at a time and work it into the spot with a small brush, cloth or sponge.
• DO thoroughly rinse the spot afterwards if water-based spotters have been used.
• DO dry the spot with a hairdryer if possible and brush cut pile (velour) carpets in the direction of the natural pile lay.

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