If you own a carpet made from wool, you’re in good company. This highly sought-after carpet material boasts a wide range of benefits, from being aesthetically pleasing to long-lasting, soft and stylish – and the list goes on. Because wool is made from natural fibres and breathable, overlapping scales, this type of carpet is prone to absorbing spills and dirt that can penetrate deep inside fabrics. Proper maintenance and care, and using professional wool carpet cleaning services, are, therefore, essential to keep your wool carpet in prime condition and to extend its longevity. Here’s everything you need to know about cleaning a wool carpet.
Frequent vacuuming
Like any carpet, a wool carpet will need vacuuming frequently to remove the loose dust and dirt that can fall onto its surface, and to prevent debris from getting trodden down deeper into the carpet pile.
Wool is constructed with fibres that are very thick, so this kind of material easily traps dirt, allergens and dust which can be damaging to it, and harmful to your health. Vacuuming can help to protect both you and your carpet. In fact, studies have found that regular vacuuming can slash allergen numbers by as much as 30%.
Experts advise that a weekly or twice-weekly vacuum is required for your wool carpet, but a lot depends on how frequently your carpet is used and where it’s located. In high traffic areas, particularly used by children and pets, your wool carpet could need vacuuming daily or every other day, for example.
Correct vacuuming
The last thing you’ll want is for your wool carpet to fray when you vacuum it, so choosing the right machine is important to prevent this occurring.
Ideally, you want a suction-only vacuum or a machine with a gentle brush. Avoid using a vacuum with a beater bar, as this can damage delicate wool fibres.
When vacuuming your wool carpet, work slowly and thoroughly in different directions so you can pick up as much of the hidden dirt and dust as possible.
Tackling stains
The natural fibres in wool make it susceptible to absorbing spills and stains, so knowing how to remove these quickly and effectively is key to prevent permanent damage to your wool carpet.
As with any carpet spillage, you need to act fast, because the sooner you work on the stain, the higher the chance of successfully removing it. Researchers have found that if you tackle spills within the first five minutes, up to 80% of stains can be successfully removed.
Careful blotting
Start by blotting the spillage with a clean, absorbent cloth, dabbing it in circular motions to soak up as much of the moisture as possible.
You might be tempted to rub at the stain, but hold off. This could set the stain into the carpet and widen the area it covers. Furthermore, scrubbing or rubbing the carpet can be abrasive to the natural fibres, making them look worn and frayed.
Natural cleaning solutions
Many stains can be treated naturally, using a combination of a small amount of mild detergent with warm water, dabbed onto the stain to absorb it, which is safe to use on a wool carpet.
For tougher or greasy stains, a mixture of three parts water and one part white vinegar can effectively break down organic stains, whilst also neutralising any odours. Applying baking soda to the carpet before vacuuming it can also be effective at removing fabric odours.
Cleaning products
Stains in wool carpets can also be removed using specialist cleaning products, but always make sure that the product is a wool-safe one, and read the instructions on the label first.
Carry out a spot test first on a part of the carpet that’s not noticeable, such as under furniture.
Since wool is a very sensitive material that’s prone to fading and discoloration, avoid using any harsh chemicals, ammonia or bleaches when cleaning it. Additionally, the keratin proteins in wool can break down when they come in contact with strong chemicals, resulting in wear and tear, aging, damage and reduced lifespan for your carpet.
It’s also important to remember that wool has a pH balance of around 4.5 to 5.5, so be mindful of choosing neutral pH, wool-safe cleaners. Products with a higher or lower pH can strip the natural oils in wool, making fibres dry and brittle, whilst weakening the chemical bonds which could alter the structure and texture of the carpet.
Because of the risk involved with attempting to remove stains yourself, it’s recommended to seek guidance from professional wool carpet cleaning experts, such as Carpet Bright UK.
Moisture control
Wool carpets don’t like being exposed to a lot of water, so be careful how much you use when cleaning it. Because the natural fibres in wool readily absorb moisture, this means a wool carpet is more likely to stay damp for longer, and may be prone to the growth of mould and mildew.
What’s more, excessive exposure to moisture can cause a wool carpet to shrink, smell, become stiff and experience colour bleeding.
When applying water to the carpet during the cleaning process, getting the temperature right is also key, because if the water is too hot, wool in a carpet may shrink, be prone to felting and lose its shape.
You can avoid these problems from occurring by leaving the cleaning to the experts, instead, such as our carpet cleaning West Sussex team who has vast experience of correctly and safely cleaning wool carpets, using low-moisture methods.
Professional cleaning
Whilst it’s important to look after and clean your wool carpet yourself, this is never a substitute for getting it professionally cleaned.
A professional wool carpet cleaning company will use much more powerful and effective cleaning technologies and products than you could have access to yourself at home.
Moreover, professionals like our carpet cleaning West Sussex technicians understand how to remove different types of spills and stains from wool carpets, and which techniques to use to safely and thoroughly deep clean the carpet, for optimum clean and fresh results.
Experts recommend you should get your wool carpet professionally cleaned at least once every year, so if yours is due for a tidy up, why not contact the award-winning team at Carpet Bright UK?
