Regular cleaning will extend the life of your carpet and maintain its appearance. Vacuum clean regularly and thoroughly, which removes gritty dirt that can damage the fibres.
Deal with spillages as soon as possible, preferably the moment they occur.
When your carpet or rug reaches a stage where it could do with a really good cleaning, it is best to engage the services of a professional carpet & upholstery cleaning company. To get a really expert job done entrust the work to a WoolSafe or CleanSeal accredited carpet cleaning company. These companies are fully trained, have a reputation for top quality service and use only WoolSafe- or CleanSeal-approved cleaning agents on you carpets and rugs! WoolSafe- or CleanSeal-approved carpet care products have been independently and scientifically tested and are safe and effective for cleaning and maintaining carpets and rugs.
Housekeeping Tips for Carpets and Rugs
Entrance or walk-off mats
The use of entrance mats at all outside entrances to the house is highly recommended, as it will significantly reduce the rate at which the carpet will soil. They should be of adequate size to allow street dirt to be removed from shoe soles and must be cleaned regularly themselves.
Protective treatments
Many synthetic and some wool carpets come with a protective fibre treatment to reduce problems with soiling and staining. These treatments, while effective in many ways, are not bullet-proof and will eventually wear off. Quick response to spills and regular cleaning is still required.
Carpets that have no protector applied by the manufacturer can be treated after installation on the floor by a WoolSafe accredited carpet cleaning company using an approved protector.
Some carpet manufacturers do not recommend the application of protectors to their carpets or rugs. It is therefore advisable to consult the manufacturer of your carpet prior to having any protector applied.
Draught marking
Carpets may show increased soiling around the edges of a room, under doors and near air ducts. This is called draught marking or fogging and is caused by the pile fibres filtering out dirt particles from the air blowing under skirting boards or doors, or from ducts.
Shading
Shading, also known as pile reversal or - wrongly - water marking, is the effect whereby areas of velour or velvet carpet appear to become lighter or darker in colour than the surrounding area. It is a optical effect, brought about by localised changes in the direction of pile lay and made visible by the way light is reflected off the carpet surface. It is caused by traffic patterns or unevenness in the floor, but is NOT a carpet defect. Loop pile carpets are not affected by this.
Sprouting
Occasionally tufts may appear above the surface of the carpet. Do NOT pull them out, but cut them level with the surrounding tufts with small scissors.
Colour change
The carpet may change colour over time for a variety of reasons, usually due to pile flattening, gradual soiling and slight fading of the dyes used to colour the fibres. A good professional cleaning will usually restore the carpet's appearance.
Fibre loss
Many newly installed carpets, particularly those with a cut or velour pile, tend to lose fibre during the first few weeks on the floor. This effect, called shedding or fluffing, is caused by the way the yarn is spun and the carpet is made. It is no reason for alarm, but a natural phenomenon, which will stop eventually. Just vacuum the carpet a little more gently for the first few weeks and empty the dust bag or receptacle regularly.
