Wool is one of the most popular types of rug material, and for good reason. A wool rug not only looks beautiful, but it feels soft and warm, and has excellent durability. Retaining the benefits of a wool rug means that it will need cleaning regularly, both at home and through using professional services. Our rug cleaning London experts can let you into all of the secrets of cleaning a wool rug successfully.
Regular vacuuming
As with any rug, vacuuming a wool rug regularly is vital to keep on top of the dust, hairs, crumbs, fluff and other particles that can get trapped inside its dense fibres.
On average, wool rugs need vacuuming once or twice per week, but this can depend on the rug and how much use it gets. For example, a cream, wool rug in front of the fireplace that’s a favourite spot for pets with dark or long hair may need vacuuming every other day to keep pet hairs from spoiling the rug’s appearance. Equally, a wool rug with a deep pile is going to collect more dust than a wool rug with a flatweave, so will need cleaning more often.
Wool is a thick material that can easily hide small things, such as earrings or coins, so it’s a good idea to check over the rug carefully for loose items before you start vacuuming it.
Being so thick, wool can be more difficult to vacuum than other types of fabrics, so it’s important to use the right method and technique to make sure you pick up as much dirt, dust and debris as possible, without damaging wool fibres.
If you have a canister vacuum cleaner, this is the ideal option for vacuuming a wool rug as it has a hose with a suction that’s gentle to fibres yet works well at removing dust and debris.
Upright vacuum cleaners can also be used on a wool rug, but just make sure it’s got a beater bar. Adjust this to a gentle setting to protect wool fibres.
When vacuuming the rug, work in the natural direction of the pile fibres, rather than against it, as this allows for easier dirt elimination without fraying materials.
Apply gentle, even, slow strokes when vacuuming without using too much force or pressure. Once you’ve vacuumed the entire area, switch directions and vacuum it again, to make sure you’ve picked up all of the dirt that may be hiding in fibres.
If the rug has fringe lining, use a special attachment to make sure the delicate strands aren’t pulled at.
If you want advice on how to vacuum your wool rugs properly, our rug cleaning spa London team will be able to answer any of your questions.
Stain removal for wool rugs
Accidents happen, so when a drink gets spilled on a wool rug or a pet walks its muddy paws over a white, shaggy rug pile, the sooner you tackle the stain, the more successful the results will be.
First of all, blot any excess liquid from the rug, using a clean, paper towel or absorbent cloth to soak up as much liquid as possible. If the stain is solid, use a spoon to scoop it up first.
You can buy wool-safe cleaning products, which can be used to treat spills and stains in wool rugs, but before you apply any of the solution, read the instructions on the label first.
If you prefer using a natural remedy to remove stains, you could try mixing equal parts of white vinegar and water, and blotting to the stain. Vinegar is renowned for breaking down stains in fabrics and is safe to use on wool.
If the stain is greasy or oily, you might want to try adding a small amount of baking soda or cornstarch first, as these can absorb oils and grease.
Gently dab at the stain with a clean cloth, and avoid rubbing or scrubbing fibres, as this can damage the rug and spread the stain further into the pile and widen it.
Once you’re confident the stain has gone, dab a damp cloth to the stain to soak up any excess cleaning solution, before allowing the rug to fully dry.
Stains can be tricky to remove from a wool rug, particularly if you’ve got a unique variety. To avoid any potential problems, it’s, therefore, a good idea to consult with a specialist, vintage or oriental rug cleaning London expert, such as Carpet Bright UK, to ensure stains can be removed safely and carefully.
Removing odours from wool rugs
Wool’s thickness makes it the perfect place for trapping odours, so if you’re confronted with a wool rug that doesn’t smell very fresh, it’s important to know how to proceed.
The first thing you need to do is locate the source of the smell. If it has come from pet urine or food residues, treat the stain first.
To eradicate any lingering odour residues, apply baking soda to the rug and leave it in the rug for at least an hour, or even overnight to absorb the odours. Then, vacuum the rug to remove the baking soda and, hopefully, the bad smell will be gone.
Avoid using shop-bought deodorisers or air fresheners, because these usually only offer a short-term solution to the problem.
If the smell still persists, then it’s probably a good idea to check in with our rug cleaning spa London specialists, who use effective deep cleaning methods and professional deodorisers to fully and safely eliminate odours from wool rugs.
Professional cleaning
Maintaining wool rugs yourself can help to tackle everyday dirt, but this isn’t a replacement for getting your rugs professionally cleaned by an experienced rug cleaning London company, ideally, once or twice each year.
Whilst wool is naturally anti-microbial, dirt can still accumulate in a rug over time, affecting its appearance, condition and colours, which may even contribute to fabric damage. Professional cleaning can eliminate the build-up of dirt, stains, odours and allergens in the wool rug, offering a much higher quality of cleaning service than you could ever compete with yourself.
For example, at Carpet Bright UK, we have access to industrial deep cleaning machines and our technicians have wide-ranging experience and knowledge that covers cleaning all types of wool rugs, whether you’ve got a hand-knotted, vintage, shaggy pile or oriental wool rug.
Contact our award-winning oriental rug cleaning London professionals to give your wool rugs a new lease of life.
