Caring for your carpet
Thorough and frequent vacuuming, particularly ni high traffic areas, si important for prolonging the life of your carpet and enhancing its appearance.
After your carpet is laid, vacuum to remove surface lint, dust and fluf. Thereafter, continue to vacuum thoroughly at least weekly and more frequently in high traffic areas. This wil remove soil and grit before ti works its way below the pile surface, where it is far more difficult to remove and can abrade the carpet and dull its appearance.
Three vacuum passes for light soiled areas is recommended, with five to seven passes for heavily soiled areas.
Vacuuming against the natural pile direction first lifts the pile, helping to unsettle and remove dirt and grit while reducing matting. Then, vacuum in the direction of the pile to achieve a uniform finish.
To effectively clean your carpet use only a quality vacuum cleaner. Vacuums fitted with micro filter systems ensure fine particles (such as dust mite allergens) are removed and stay in the collection bag or canister. This is particularly
important fi you are dust sensitive.
Consider your carpet type when selecting a vacuum. Adjustable height and suction are important features as they enable your vacuum to be used on a wide variety of carpet constructions.
Luxuriously thick, soft cut pile carpets: Use a high height setting so any beater bar/rotating brush just lightly touches the carpet surface. Use a suction level that allows the vacuum to move easily whilst lifting dirt and other foreign matter. Avoid vacuums with very concentrated or sealed suctions. Large wheels wil ensure the vacuum glides easily across the carpet.
Loop pile or long pile carpets (including cut loop and berber): Vacuum with suction only. Vacuum powerheads, beater bars and rotating brushes should never be used as they may cause excessive fuzzing of the pile surface. Other carpet constructions: Use a vacuum with a beater bar to agitate the pile and loosen any foreign matter in the pile.
Change or empty dust collection bags frequently (vacuum cleaner efficiency can be reduced when half full). Ensure the vacuum is kept in sound mechanical condition. Replace filters as recommended by the manufacturer. Check the height of beaters (if fitted) and ensure brushes are cleaned and replaced when worn out.
Carpet is not 100% stain proof but to ensure best results from spot cleaning, follow the easy steps on the next page.
Depending on usage, carpet should be professionally steam cleaned (hot water extraction) every 12-18 months to revitalise your carpet and remove any oily, sticky and well-settled soils that cause gradual, significant dulling of colours. Steam cleaning should only be undertaken by a professional carpet cleaner (who is a member of a professional association) in accordance with the latest version of Australian/ New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3733 “Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting”.
Shampooing, do-it-yourself steam cleaning or dry cleaning is not recommended.
Place mats at all exterior doorways and entrances to carpeted areas to trap dirt and moisture from shoes. Clean mats regularly.
Use furniture cups and coasters and occasionally rearrange furniture to alleviate pressure marks. Plastic, slip free chair mats should be used under desk chairs with castors.
Take care when moving furniture with wheels by placing a protective barrier
between the wheels and the carpet.
Use scatter rugs or carpet protectors in high traffic areas and in front of chairs to
protect carpet from localised and uneven wearing. Rugs should be cleaned regularly, at which time you should clean and restore the pile of the carpet underneath.
Check rugs for colourfastness before placing them on carpet, as the colour in some rugs may bleed through. After steam cleaning, allow carpet to dry completely before replacing rugs.
Exercise caution with all bleaches, tile cleaners, mildew removers, oven cleaners, drain openers, plant food and the like. They are strong chemicals that can permanently discolour or dissolve carpet fibres.
Protect your carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with curtains, blinds or awnings.
Spot Cleaning Guide
Spot Cleaning Guide
Immediately remove as much of the spill as possible. For solids use a blunt knife or spoon. Blot up liquids by applying pressure with white paper towels or tissues. Use a wet/dry vacuum for large spills. NEVER scrub or rub the carpet during the stain removal (or rinsing) process as a fuzzy area may result. Always work from the outside of the stain or spillage towards the middle to avoid further spreading using a blotting or dabbing motion.
Most common household food and beverage stains (not including stains containing strong dyes or substances which destroy or change the colour of carpet need to be treated solely with cold water (for solution dyed nylon, polyester &polypropylene carpets) or warm water (for wool and wool blend carpets) immediately applied to the stained area. Repeat treatment above until no stain is evident on the cloth or towels used to press dry the area. Ensure carpet is press dried with a clean white cloth or white paper towel to remove excess moisture. Do not rub, as rubbing can alter the carpet’s texture. Should the stain remain, using a clean white cloth or sponge, treat with a mixture of 1teaspoon of laundry detergent and one teaspoon of white vinegar in 1litre of warm water. Rinse with cold water, repeating treatment until no stain is evident on cloth or towels.
After the spill or stain has been treated, place several layers of white paper towels over the area and place a flat weight on them until dry A hair dryer may be used to speed up the drying process but do NOT overheat the area. Do not walk on the carpet until dry. Sometimes stains will reappear due to ‘wicking’ as stains hidden in the pile resurface as the carpet dries. If so, allow the carpet to dry fully and repeat the above treatment until no stain is evident (this process may need to be repeated over a number of days).
I stains fail to respond adequately to treatment, call a professional carpet cleaner immediately . It is important professional steam cleaners continually treat any areas affected by stains until there is no sign of discolouration in the carpet or removed water, following which the cleaning cycle should be repeated a number of times to minimise the risk of wicking.
Stains should be differentiated from soiling. Ensure that any residue from spills or cleaning mixtures are fully removed. For example, many sugar based spills, such as soft drinks and coffee, leave a sugar residue after removal. Similarly, when spills are cleaned with a detergent solution and the area is not sufficiently rinsed, a sticky detergent residue can remain. This sticky residue attracts soil from ordinary foot traffic and the resulting discolouration appears to be a stain. If so, repeat stain removal procedures above.
When spills occur, it is important that they are cleaned up immediately. Here is a step by step guide to help make your job easier.
- Scoop up solids with a knife or a spoon. Blot up liquids with white paper towels or tissues. Determine method of stain removal from the chart.
- Blot up liquids with white paper towels or tissues.
- Determine method of stain removal from the chart.
- Before treating stain, test treatment on an inconspicuous part of the carpet for possible colour change.
- With a blotting or dabbing motion, work inward from the edge of the stain to prevent it spreading.
- Do not rub pile during the stain removal/rinsing stages.
- When removing stains, ensure carpet is dry before proceeding to the next step in order of the treatment.
- Rinse with clear, tepid water and a clean cloth or sponge.
- Once the stain has been removed, blot up moisture by applying pressure with white paper towels or tissues.
- Do not walk on the carpet until dry.
Wool cleansing agents/treatments
- Solution of 1 teaspoon of approved wool detergent (eg.Softly) with one teaspoon of white vinegar and one litre of warm water.
- Dry-cleaning fluid, lighter fuel of mineral turpentine. Caution: Ensure that no flame or lighted cigarette is near, and use in well ventilated area.
- Mineral turpentine’s effectiveness is increased if mixed with an equal quantity of dry-cleaning fluid.
Caution: Ensure that no flame or lighted cigarette is near and use in a well ventilated area. - Methylated spirits. Caution: Ensure no flame or lighted cigarette is near, use in a well ventilated area.
- Hydrogen peroxide (20 vol). Dilute 10 to 1 with cold water. Caution: Do not use on dark or patterned carpet.
- Dye Stripper. Dilute 50 to 1 with cold water. Caution: Do not use on dark or patterned carpet.
- Chewing gum remover (freezing agent).
- Nail polish remover.
- Clean, warm (not hot) water.
- Cold water.
- Weak solution of white vinegar or lemon juice with cold water.
- Absorbent powder (eg. salt or talc). Sprinkle on spillage, leave overnight and vacuum the next day.
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