Wool Carpet Maintenance and Cleaning
Your choice of wool carpet is an investment in beauty, practicality, and ease of maintenance. You can ensure your wool carpet will last longer and look better by following the three basic rules of carpet maintenance:
- Vacuum regularly.
- Remove spills immediately.
- Professionally clean as required
Vacuuming
The most important maintenance step is proper vacuuming. Regular and thorough vacuuming at least once a week and more often in traffic areas will remove soil and dirt particles before they become imbedded into the pile of the carpet. An upright Vacuum cleaner with rotating beater bar and brush or canister type with a power head are the most efficient cleaners. The head of the vacuum cleaner should be adjusted so that the brushes barely touch the surface of the carpet. The easiest way to do this is to place a sheet of paper under the vacuum and adjust it until you hear the beater bar hitting the paper.-
DO NOT use a self adjusting vacuum since they adjust too deeply into the pile and will cause excessive fuzzing.
DO NOT use an overly stiff brush on the beater bar since this too will cause excessive fuzzing.
It is important to remember to move the vacuum cleaner slowly to allow time to remove soil, and above all, make sure that the dust bag is never more than half full. Remember you cannot over vacuum, and vacuuming should begin the day the carpet is installed.
Spot and Spill Removal
One of the most crucial areas of carpet maintenance is the removal of spots and spills. Acting quickly when anything is dropped or spilled and always having the necessary cleaning materials on hand are of the utmost importance.|
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| Alcoholic Beverages | 1 | 2 | / |
| Bleach | 1 | 2 | / |
| Blood | 1 | 2 | / |
| Butter | 3 | 2 | / |
| Candle Wax** | / | / | / |
| Chewing Gum | 4 | 3 | / |
| Chocolate | 2 | 3 | / |
| Coffee | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Colas and Soft Drinks | 1 | 2 | / |
| Cooking Oils | 4 | 2 | / |
| Cream | 2 | 3 | / |
| Egg | 2 | / | / |
| Floor Wax | 3 | 2 | / |
| Fruit Juice | 1 | 2 | / |
| Furniture Polish | 3 | 2 | / |
| Gravy and Sauces | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Ink (Fountain Pen) | 1 | 2 | / |
| Ink (Ball Point) | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| Ink (Felt Tip) | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Ketchup | 5 | 2 | / |
| Lipstick | 3 | 2 | / |
| Mercurochrome* | 2 | 10 | / |
| Milk | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Mustard | 2 | / | / |
| Nail Polish | 6 | 3 | / |
| Oil and Grease | 3 | 2 | / |
| Paint (Latex) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Paint (Oil) | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| Rust | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| Salad Dressing | 2 | 3 | / |
| Shoe Polish | 3 | 2 | / |
| Soot | 3 | 2 | / |
| Tar | 3 | / | / |
| Tea | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Urine (Fresh) | 1 | 2 | / |
| Urine (Old) | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Vomit | 2 | / | / |
| Wine | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Material | 3 | 10 | 2 |
* repeat step 2
** absorbent paper and hot iron
Type of Treatment
- Add cold water and blot
- Detergent solution or WoolClean Dry Spot Remover #1
- Methylated mineral spirits, turpentine, or WoolClean Dry Spot Remover #2
- Chill with aerosol freezing agent or ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off gum.
- Warm water
- Clean nail polish remover (preferably acetone)
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Rust remover
- Absorbent powder (e.g., salt, talc, or Absorb-It)
- Absorbent cleaner (Host, Caputre, or Dri-Matic)
Cleaning Agents for Spot Removal
Detergent Solution Mix one teaspoon of clear dish washing liquid or detergent powder (containing no bleaches or strong alkalies) with a cup of warm water. This solution must be well rinsed with clean water.
Absorbent Cleaners Host, Capture, or DriMatic
Warnings:
- Some chemicals are hazardous (corrosive, flammable, toxic, etc.) and should be used with great care, strictly in accordance with their use and safety instructions.
- When applying Dry Spot Remover #2 or other solvent-containing products, have the work area well ventilated.
- Do NOT apply stain repellent treatments which contain any silicone because they tend to accelerate carpet soiling.
- Always pre-test a cleaning agent in an inconspicuous place, such as under a piece of furniture or in the corner of the room, to insure that it does not remove color
Steps for Successful Spot Removal
- Blot spills with white paper towels or clean absorbent cloth. Scoop solids with knife or spoon.
- Pretest spot-removal materials in an inconspicuous area.
- Apply cleaning agent to an absorbent towel, not the carpet, and blot
- Do not over-wet the carpet.
- Work inward from the edge of the spot to prevent excessive spreading
- Rinse by applying clear, tepid water using a clean cloth. Again, work from the edge to the center. Do not rub and do not over-wet.
- Remove excess moisture by applying pressure with paper towels or absorbent cloth.
- To dry: apply a ˝” thick layer of paper towels over the wet areas and weigh them down. Change as the towels become wet. Brush the pile with your fingers to restore the texture after the area has dried.