Prompt and immediate attention to any spillages or stains is important to avoid the penetration of a stain into the carpet fibres. Liquids (particularly hot liquids) must be attended to immediately. If allowed to cool or dry, the stain will be almost impossible to remove. Care must be taken as haphazard attempts at spot removal can cause permanent stain setting, pile distortion and loss of colour.

  1. Immediately remove as much of the spill as possible.

For solids use a blunt knife or spoon. Blot up liquids by applying pressure with white paper towels or tissues. Use a wet/dry vacuum for large spills. NEVER scrub or rub the carpet during the stain removal (or rinsing) process as a fuzzy area may result. Always work from the outside of the stain or spillage towards the middle to avoid further spreading using a blotting or dabbing motion.

  1. Treat with warm water

Most common household food and beverage stains (not including stains containing strong dyes or substances which destroy or change the colour of carpet) need to be treated solely with warm, not hot, (do you wash your woolly jumpers on hot water, it’s the same principle for wool carpets) water immediately applied to the stained area. Repeat treatment above until no stain is evident on the cloth or towels used to press dry the area.

  1. Press dry

Ensure carpet is press dried with a clean white cloth or white paper towel to remove excess moisture. Do not rub, as rubbing can alter the carpet’s texture.

  1. Stain still remaining?

If the stain remains’, try using a clean white cloth or sponge, treat with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of approved wool laundry detergent and one teaspoon of white vinegar in 1 litre of warm water. Rinse with warm water, repeating treatment until no stain is evident on cloth or towels.

  1. Do not walk on the carpet until dry

After the spill or stain has been treated, place several layers of white paper towel over the area and place a flat weight on them until dry. A hairdryer may be used to speed up the drying process but do NOT overheat the area. Do not walk on the carpet until dry

  1. Repeat if required

Sometimes stains will reappear due to ‘wicking’ as stains hidden in the pile resurface as the carpet dries. If so, allow the carpet to dry fully and repeat the above treatment until no stain is evident (this process may need to be repeated over a number of days).

  1. Need more help?

If stains fail to respond adequately to treatment, call Amethyst Cleaning Services 01271 470 049 for further advice immediately.

Stains should be differentiated from soiling. Ensure that any residue from spills or cleaning mixtures are fully removed. For example, many sugar-based spills, such as soft drinks and coffee, leave a sugar residue after removal. Similarly, when spills are cleaned with a detergent solution and the area is not sufficiently rinsed, a sticky detergent residue can remain. This sticky residue attracts soil from ordinary foot traffic and the resulting discolouration appears to be a stain. If so, repeat stain removal procedures above.

Every Day Care of your Beautiful Wool Carpet

Most people will agree that wool is the most desirable material for carpets. The natural fibre is strong, soft and flexible, meaning that carpets made from wool are hard wearing, sound absorbing, warmth retaining and pile retaining, as well as being environmentally friendly.

If you’ve invested in a beautiful wool carpet in your home, you may appreciate some professional carpet cleaning advice from Amethyst Cleaning Services to protect and keep your carpets looking clean and smart for a long time.

  • Place a welcome mat outside your home’s front and back doors. This will encourage visitors to clean their shoes before they set foot on your wool carpet.
  • Take off your shoes, but leave your socks on. Shoes carry dirt and the soles are abrasive, so can damage your wool carpet. Wearing socks protects your wool carpet from the oils in your skin, which dirt can stick to.
  • Regular vacuuming will pick up loose dust and dirt from your carpet..
  • Vacuum slowly to make sure you pick up all the dirt and vacuum in different directions to help prevent flattening.
  • Replace your vacuum bag regularly. This will keep your vacuum working efficiently.
  • All twist wool carpets will shed. This is only a small amount of the fibre in the weave and can be vacuumed clear.
  • Every so often, a tuft will work free and stand above your wool carpet. Use scissors to cut the tuft level with the rest of the pile.
  • Sometimes, a sharp object will snag on a loop pile wool carpet and pull the weave. Again, use scissors to trim the loose loop level with the pile.

Here are some useful Do’s and Don’ts for looking after your wool carpets.

DO Use the beater/turbo brush

For extra help to remove debris from your wool carpet, use the beater brush or turbo brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. However, if you have long-haired or Berber wool carpets, you must not use beater brushes as they can do real damage to the fibres.

DO Attend to stains straight away

Once a stain has penetrated deeply into the carpet pile, it can be tricky to remove. Using a quality carpet stain remover, and adhering strictly to the manufacturer’s instructions, get to work immediately a spillage has occurred. Make sure you test the product on an inconspicuous area of the carpet first, in case of colourfastness problems or adverse reactions. After cleaning, dry the spot thoroughly.

DON’T Over wet the fibres

The wool fibres create little air pockets that provide welcome insulation during the colder months. The downside is that this makes wool carpets very difficult to dry. If you saturate your carpet, it may take weeks for it to dry properly and it may start to smell. To help the drying process, ventilate the room throughout cleaning, open windows and use a fan.

DON’T Clean with hot water

Whether you’re washing woolly jumpers or cleaning woollen carpets, the water temperature should always remain below 60 C. Wool will shrink and, in the case of carpets, pull away from the wall, if hot water is used for cleaning.

DON’T Use harsh cleaning products

Wool consists of sensitive natural fibres that should not be exposed to direct sunlight or abrasive cleaning agents. Select a mild carpet cleaner without brightener or bleach and with a pH of 5-8.

For specific advice regarding your wool carpets or a free quotation for professional carpet cleaning services, why not contact us on 01271 470 049