Cleaning Your Carpet
When you've invested in a new carpet, rug or hard wood flooring, naturally you'll want to maintain the new appearance as long as possible. Here are some simple guidelines on care, cleaning and stain removal.
Cleaning your carpet
Regular vacuuming is good for your carpet. Dirt and grit collect at the base of the tufts and once removed, means the tufts can stay upright, keeping colour rich and bright.
Loop pile carpets , such as Berbers, should be vacuumed using the suction head only as beater brushes and heads can cause a felted look.
Occasional thorough cleaning will depend on the amount of wear your carpet gets. We'd recommend getting the professionals in, but if you want to do it yourself do avoid saturating your carpet (anything cotton-backed may shrink), and make sure the carpet is completely dry before you walk on it or replace furniture. Keep the room really well ventilated if you're using solvents.
Treating carpet stains
Water-based stains
- Blot with white tissue and remove semi-solid substnaces with a spatula
- Sponge affected area with small amount of 50/50 water/white vinegar solution
- Blot gently with a tissue, moving from the outside to the inside of the stain
Oil-based paint
- Blot spilt paint with tissue
- Clean with a cloth lightly moistened with white spirit
- Once paint is removed, dab the area a clean white cloth moistened with diluted carpet shampoo
- Blot, apply clean water and blot again - leave until dry
- Brush dry affected area in the direction of the pile
General Care
Stray tufts: Don't pull them out, just cut them down to match the rest of the pile.
Pilling: Can occur in blended fibre carpets. Again, snip off pills carefully with scissors.
Shedding: This is usual for the first few months with new carpet. The more frequently you vacuum, the sooner it will stop.
Shading: This is normal on cut pile carpets such as velvets, and the light and dark patches should disappear with vacuuming.
Static: This can build up in a carpet in a dry atmosphere. Increase humidity levels by putting pot plants in water trays or using a humidifier.
Caring for rugs
- As with hard flooring, cylinder cleaners are gentler than uprights. If you do have an upright, switch off the brush, or use the tools if possible.
- It’s best to blot stains on rugs rather than rub to try and remove them. Put cold water on and just keep blotting.
- Turn rugs regularly if they’re in a sunny patch of the room to help prevent uneven fading.
For further advice about dealing with spills, removing stains, and to find a local carpet cleaner, you may wish to contact the National Carpet Cleaners Association (www.ncca.co.uk).