Recommendations for cleaning wool carpets at home
A real wool carpet with proper use and quality care can last for decades.
In order for it to maintain its attractive appearance throughout this time, it is necessary to properly clean the product.
We will tell you about proper cleaning of wool carpets at home in this article.
Content
How to clean: general rules
A natural wool carpet is made from animal hair (sheep, camel, goat). Handmade carpets are more demanding in terms of care; those made in factories are less capricious, but also require careful treatment.
Because of this feature, restrictions are imposed on the operating conditions of the carpet and the rules for caring for it.
These include the following points:
- prohibition on using a steam generator and a washing vacuum cleaner for cleaning;
- inadmissibility of washing;
- prohibition on staying in rooms with high humidity.
A damp carpet will quickly develop an unpleasant odor and can become a breeding ground for mold to grow. At the same time, the quality of the pile itself deteriorates, and the color may suffer.
The base of the carpet, which is usually made of cotton, is also at risk of destruction. When exposed to moisture, it becomes deformed and can even collapse completely.
Other features of wool carpets include:
- the likelihood of being attacked by moths;
- tendency to burn out;
- instability to aggressive mechanical stress;
- prohibition on drying using heating devices.
Unless strictly necessary, the carpet cannot be over-moistened, washed, or used aggressive cleaning methods.
Dry cleaning
Guided by the principle that dry cleaning Preferably damp; for woolen carpets, periodic treatment with a vacuum cleaner is recommended. This cleansing should be done as needed, at least once a week. Regular use of a vacuum cleaner in carpet care prevents the development of moths.
Particular care must be taken when cleaning the following carpets:
- long-pile;
- with unstable coloring;
- with low pile density.
Advantages of the “dry” method:
- Fast processing.
- Simplicity.
- Suitable even for daily cleaning.
- Waste collection efficiency.
Disadvantages of vacuuming:
- Stains are not removed.
- The brightness of the colors does not return.
- Cleaning does not always cope with ingrained dirt and dust clogged in the pile.
- Mold does not disappear.
Dry cleaning is complemented by periodic beating of the carpet. The best option is to place it on supports and crossbars with the pile down. And only after that start knocking out.
Wet processing
Wet cleaning for some types of wool carpets is not an acceptable method of care. Before you adopt one of the “wet” methods, you need to check whether this care option is possible or not.
Preparation for wet processing should begin with the following activities:
- Checking color fastness. To do this, you need to move a damp cloth over the pile in an inconspicuous area. If the shades begin to fade, do not use wet cleaning.
- The detergent that is prepared for cleaning the carpet should be tested on an inconspicuous area. If the paints blur or become discolored, and the pile is wrinkled, the prepared composition cannot be used.
Soap solution
For processing, prepare a mild soap solution (10 grams of soap per 1 liter of water). Only cold water should be used for cooking.
Vinegar
Treatment with vinegar solution is one of the effective ways to revive flowers.
For carpet treatment prepare a solution from the following components:
- water (1 l.);
- vinegar (2 tbsp.).
When working with a brush, you need to move it carefully along the pile, without applying much effort.
At the same time, do not allow the carpet to become over-wet. For this After wetting the brush in the solution, shake it off.
Ammonia
To prepare you will need:
- ammonia (2 tsp);
- water (1 l.).
Snow
Snow cleaning - a method proven over the years. For such work, a frosty day is chosen so that the snow is not too wet. It is enough to take out the carpet for this treatment 1 or 2 times throughout the winter.
Procedure:
- Spread the carpet on clean snow.
- Pour snow on top of the entire surface.
- Brush the snow off the carpet.
- Repeat several times until the snow swept away from the carpet is clean.
Carrying out such cleaning is possible if the product is dried after it.
And in cases where the rug is not just dirty, but also affected by mold, additional treatment with household chemicals will be required. Recommended use a brush with rubber bristles.
Removing stains - quickly and effectively!
Due to the characteristics of natural wool, remove stains from carpet It can be difficult, since aggressive drugs cannot be used.
To eliminate them, the following tips will be useful:
- Potato starch has the ability to absorb various substances. It should be sprinkled on the stain.
- Fresh grease stains can be removed with chalk or talcum powder.
- Juice, tea and beer stains can be removed by immediately covering them with salt.
After 15-30 minutes have passed, the carpet is vacuumed. In those cases when a home recipe does not cope with the problem, use household chemicals.
Top 3 household chemicals
For carpet cleaning A whole range of household chemicals are intended. Very often, for cleaning a wool carpet, a powder is chosen that does not lead to excessive moisture in the pile and base.
Among the leaders are the following household chemicals:
- Vanish shampoo for carpet cleaning.
- Help tool.
- "A drop of vox."
Vanish
Before using Vanish, the carpet should be vacuumed or beaten.Next, prepare the solution and begin cleaning.
Stages of work:
- Prepare a foam cleaning solution. For 9 parts water you need 1 part Vanish.
- Beat the foam.
- Using a sponge, apply foam to the carpet, avoiding over-wetting.
- Cleaning is carried out quickly so that the pile does not become too wet.
- Allow time until the pile dries completely.
- Vacuum.
Cost - about 250 rubles per bottle. This product is one of the leaders in the world market of cleaning products and stain removers.
Help
The product is available in containers with a sprayer. Cost – from 130 rubles per 0.5 liter. It has many advantages:
- reasonable price;
- efficiency;
- pleasant aroma;
- good distribution over the surface;
- convenient packaging;
- Suitable for removing stains.
Drop vox
The release form and application procedure are similar to Vanish carpet shampoo. Whipped thick foam acts effectively on the pile, literally pushing out dirt.
The product has the following advantages:
- affordable price;
- pleasant aroma;
- economical consumption.
The downside is that it is insufficiently effective on complex and old stains. Price – from 150 rubles.
Carpet care requirements
In order for the wool carpet to serve for a long time, It is recommended to adhere to these care requirements:
- When a stain appears, it is necessary not to let it eat in, and to take measures to eliminate it as quickly as possible.
- For a fresh stain, simply wiping the lint with a damp cloth may be enough.
- A broom and brush will help collect debris and prevent it from getting deep into the pile.
- For cleaning, it is recommended to use products designed for wool carpets.
- Do not use chlorine or bleach products.
- You can dry the carpet after cleaning only in natural conditions, without exposure to electric heaters, open fire, etc.
- All household chemicals used must be used strictly according to the instructions.
- Before you start cleaning a wool carpet using any method, it is recommended to vacuum it.
- It is not recommended to rub contaminated areas very intensively - the pile may not withstand such influence.
- Do not use hot water, a vacuum cleaner or a steam generator for cleaning.
Useful video
Video recipe for carpet cleaning for those who have small children:
Conclusion
Properly carried out carpet cleaning should exclude waterlogging and any aggressive influence. You can use household chemicals intended for carpets and folk recipes that have been proven over the years.