How to Care for Wool Carpets and Rugs

First of all, you will need to make sure you are equipped properly for the job. Here is a list of things that will be handy to have around for cleaning wool floor coverings:

• Vacuum;
• Gentle laundry detergent or a homemade solution if you prefer eco products;
• Bucket;
• Sponge;
• White towels or clean cloths.

Now that you are equipped appropriately for the job, let us get to the work. Here is our guide on how to care for wool carpets and rugs:

1. First off, take your floor covering outside, if possible, and give it a good shaking to get rid of any loose dirt in the fibres. If not, try hanging it over a railing or something and giving it a good whack with a flat head sweeping brush.
2. Now, give the carpet a once over with a vacuum to get rid of dust buried into the fibres.
3. Next up, get your bucket and fill it with cool water. Then add a capful of your gentle laundry detergent and mix it into the water.
4. Time to sponge. Get your sponge and dip it into the water. There is no need to go overboard with the moisture, so use enough, but do not soak the rug. Start working it from the corners inwards with your sponge and soapy water.
5. Now, rinse out your bucket and fill it with clean water. Use this to rinse out the soapy water from your carpet.
6. Finally, get your dry towels to soak up as much of the moisture as possible. Then leave your carpet in a spot to dry. Preferably not under direct sunlight, as it may fade the colours.

Professional Pointers on General Wool Carpet and Rug Care

Now, not everything is in the cleaning process. There are a few things that every proud wool floor covering owner should now about how to care for wool carpets and rugs. That is why our team of professional cleaners has put this list of pointers together.

• New wool rugs and carpets shed a lot. Regular hoovering for the first month or so will help. We recommend no more than twice a week until the shedding slows. After that, 2-4 times a month is sufficient.
• Do not use an overly powerful hoover on your wool carpet as it may cause too much shedding. Placing a sock over the end of the vacuum pipe helps deafen the suction power slightly.
• Never use too much water when cleaning your wool floor coverings. It can be damaging to the fibres. Use as much as is needed and never more.
• Pet hair stuck inbetween the wool fibresa cn be removed using a hard brush. Always brush in the direction of the nap of the carpet.
• Spots and stains on your rug? Do not wash the whole thing. Rather, only tackle the soiled area. Over-washing is not good for wool rugs. If it does not seem to be going well, it may be a good idea to call in professional carpet cleaners to help deal with the situation.
• Hoover the underside once every one or two months.
• Using snow to clean your wool is an ancient technique that many people still like to apply. It is supposed to freeze and kill bacteria in the process.

Check out: How Much does Professional Carpet Cleaning Cost?

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Steam kills various fungi and bacteria lurking between the rug’s fibres.

Solution for Steam Cleaner

Using a steam cleaner to refresh your rugs is one of the best ways to kill fungi and bacteria settled deep into the threads and fibres. And the best thing about using steam is that you don’t have to use toxic chemicals – the high temperature eliminates all microbes!

Read also: What is the Best Deep Cleaning Method for Your Carpet?

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp dishwashing liquid
• ½ cup hydrogen peroxide
• ½ cup white distilled vinegar
• 5-6 drops of your favourite essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

Put all ingredients in a plastic bowl and stir well until you get a smooth and homogenous mixture. The essential oil is optional, but it gives a pleasant odour to your cleaner. Pour the mixture inside the container of your steam cleaner and fill water to the top. Shake the tank well to dilute the cleaning mixture in the water. Turn on the steam and run it over the rug. After you cover the whole surface, dispose of the liquid from the container, rinse it, fill it with clean water and then rerun it to ‘wash’ the residues of the solution.

This rug freshener will remove even old odours leaving your rug smelling and looking great!

Rug Freshener

This is such a great, easy to prepare freshener! This formula will help you get rid of foul odours coming from your rug fast and safely. You can apply it to remove pet odours, cigarette scent and smells from cooking. Use this freshener as often as you want because it is very gentle to the rug’s fibres.

Check also: 5 Carpet Cleaning Secrets of the Pros You Can Try at Home

Ingredients:

• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup baking soda
• 7-8 drops essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

Put the two dry ingredients in a bowl and mix them properly. Add a few drops of essential oil and stir well. Distribute the compound evenly directly onto the rug. Spread the mixture evenly onto the whole surface using a soft brush. Let it sit for half an hour. The dry ingredients are the key to the efficacy of the recipe. Both baking soda and borax absorb strong odours quickly, without leaving a trace. The scented oil is optional. However, it will give a pleasant gentle fragrance into the room. Vacuum the carpet thoroughly to extract the compound in full.

Dull colours are no reason to throw away your rug. You can easily make the carpet bright again with the recipe below.

Rug Colour Enhancer

If your rug looks dull and dark even after meticulous vacuuming, you can use this formula to refresh its colours.

Read also: 5 Green Ways to Keep Your Carpet Clean

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white distilled vinegar
• tap water

Instructions:

Add the vinegar into the tank of your steam cleaner and fill it with water to the top. Run the steamer onto the rug and let it dry. The vinegar solution will revive the colours, and the carpet will look as new. Don’t be afraid the vinegar smell will stay – if you open a window, the smell will be gone in an hour.

Some rugs are prone to colour bleeding. If yours is like this, try this gentle cleaning foam.

Colour-Safe Rug Shampoo

If you are worried that the DIY cleaning of your rug can cause colour bleeding, you can try this homemade colour-protect shampoo.

Check also: How to Clean and Maintain Valuable Oriental Rugs?

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp distilled white vinegar
• ½ tsp ammonia
• 4 tbsp dishwashing liquid
• 2 cups lukewarm water

Instructions:

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until you have a nice thick foam. If you don’t have a food processor, you can use an egg whisk or simply get a foam dispenser bottle. Distribute the foam evenly onto the rug without pressing or rubbing hard. Let the foam sit for 10 minutes. After this, remove the foam from the carpet using a spatula. Get a clean sponge, dip it in water, and squeeze it until almost dry. Blot the rug to rinse it from any excess residues from your cleaner. The carpet will be slightly damp after you finish, and it will dry quickly, especially if you leave a window open. Vacuum the rug after it has dried.

If you need to deal with old stubborn stains on your rug, or if it is water sensitive, homemade formulas might not be the best option. Call us, and we will provide an excellent rug cleaning service and stain removal job at a competitive price.

The post 4 Easy Eco-Friendly Recipes for Homemade Rug Cleaners appeared first on KTMA Ltd..

Many people hesitate before buying an original Persian, Tabriz or other kind of oriental rug. Their main concern is that these original oriental carpets are hard to clean and maintain without deteriorating the fibres. It is true that these beautiful rugs require some specific care, because they are made from natural materials and often – natural dyes. This is why we decided to list what are the things that can deteriorate your oriental rug and how to deal with them. Quality oriental carpets can last really long time with good care.

Check also: How to green clean carpets and rugs.

Keep Insects Away

Carpet beetles and carpet moths are widely distributed around the globe. These two species are a real threat for oriental rugs and all the carpets with natural fibres. These bugs lay their eggs in dark, hard to reach corners of the house – most often behind furniture. When the larvae hatch they start eating their way through all natural textile items around. Sometimes when you notice them it is too late and the damage is done.

The good news is that with regular thorough vacuuming around the house you can prevent their appearance. Every now and then check the corners, and move the furniture around to clean and inspect for larvae. You can find professionals who repair oriental rugs, but once damaged the precious oriental loose their value.

Keep Your Oriental Rug Far from Sunlight

Most of the original oriental carpets are made from wool threads, and much more rarely – from cotton. Natural textile fibres don’t stand well direct sunlight. The light will make colours fade away, so if you want to protect your oriental rug you should keep it away from the window. You can also put thick drapes in the room where your carpet is. Another solution is to rotate your oriental rug every now and then to avoid colours wearing and fading unevenly. There is a third option as well – cover your windows with mylar film. A layer of this material will block the UV rays, which are causing discolouration.

Moisture Deteriorates Oriental Carpets

Contrary to many popular believes oriental rugs can be cleaned with water, although moisture can cause permanent damage. When the rug is washed it should be hang outside to dry completely. Always turn the carpet with backside up, when drying it outside in direct sunlight. If you have to treat a small spot, you can leave the rug inside, but keep your windows open until the rug dries. If the weather is cold and moist, keep the windows closed and run a fan in the room to dry the spot on the oriental rug. If you leave your rug damp for too long you risk mould appearance, which will cause a permanent damage of the fibres.

How to Deal with Stains on Oriental Carpets

The sooner you act when there is a spill or a stain on the carpet the better. If the stain dried try to dilute it with some water. After that, blot to take out as much of the dirt and liquid as possible. Use mild detergent to treat the affected area. Never use regular carpet cleaning product – they usually are too strong and can cause discolouration of the dye. If the stain isn’t water soluble – like grease, or enzyme stain, better call professional carpet cleaners to deal with it.

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