Area rugs need cleaning just as much, if not more than carpets do. They go through a lot of wear and tear over the years. Not all rugs are made the same, and all require a different method of cleaning. Synthetic rugs are typically made of polypropylene, polyester, olefin or nylon. These are some of the same fibers used to make carpet. Synthetic fibers are not as absorbent as organic fibers are, they are also at little risk for the dye bleeding or the material coming apart from the high PH cleaners so therefore can be easily cleaned in the home. They will dry in a few short hours and won’t ruin your flooring underneath. On the other hand, natural fibers like that of cotton, wool or silk are very different and have to be handled with the utmost care and require special techniques to be cleaned efficiently. Today Carpet Care 2000 will go over the process it takes to properly and effectively clean wool rugs.
Health Benefits of Wool Carpet Area Rugs
Wool rugs are very popular all around the world because of the many benefits they have! Did you know that wool rugs improve the air quality in your home? Wool fibers have scales that trap dirt, dust and other contaminants, reducing the amount of airborne dust particles in the home! This ultimately improves the quality of the air you and your family are breathing! They essentially work as a big air filter, and because of this they require special cleaning.
How to Clean a Wool Area Rug
Because wool can hold up to 30% of its weight in dust and other contaminants, a process called dusting needs to be done first to remove the sand and dirt from the rug before the rest of the cleaning takes place. Failure to perform the dusting first can damage the fibers and foundation of your rug because the dirt acts as sandpaper when it’s moved back and forth. Vacuum cleaners cannot efficiently complete this task, so this is not something you want done in your home as it makes a huge mess. Wool is also known to hold it 30% of its weight in moisture! This can make it difficult to get them completely dry without the proper tools. It takes gallons and gallons of water to properly clean the wool and get all of the contaminants out. Wool rugs are dyed in acid-based dyes that can be compromised easily. Before the washing process begins, we need to perform a test that ensures the dye on the rug won’t bleed and cause any further damage. This is done by adding special chemicals or dye stabilizers to the rug to avoid as much bleeding as possible. After the color is stabilized, we begin washing the rug, then after the rug is washed, we will extract as much water as possible, then allow it to finish drying leaving you with a fresh, clean wool rug that is ready to purify your air for years to come!
Area Rug Cleaning & More in Tracy, Livermore, San Ramon, Dublin, Mountain House, Walnut Creek, Danville & the East Bay of California
Carpet Care 2000 has years of experience dealing with delicate, antique and unique area rugs. We have the knowledge, necessary tools, and caring technicians to care for all of your area rug and carpet care needs. Give us a call if you need more information or have questions about your wool area rugs.
