Tips for wool carpet and rug care.
Wool floor coverings are a great addition to any living space. They add a bit of cosiness and luxury to a home’s interior. One of the positive aspects of wool rugs is that they are made from a natural material. If looked after properly, they can also have a very long lifespan, which it is why it is crucial to know how to care for wool carpets and rugs to get the maximum potential out of them.
How to Care for Wool Carpets and Rugs
Firstly, let’s get properly equipped for the job ahead. Here’s a list of things that will be handy to have around for cleaning wool carpets coverings:
Vacuum.
Gentle laundry detergent or a homemade solution.
Bucket.
Sponge.
White towels or clean cloths.
Now that we are appropriately equipped for the job, let’s get to work. Here’s our guide on how to care for wool carpets and rugs:
Take your carpet/rug 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.
Give the carpet a once over with a vacuum to get rid of dust buried in the fibres.
Get your bucket and fill it with cool water, then add a capful of your gentle laundry detergent and mix it into the water.
Time to get your sponge and dip it into the water. There is no need to go overboard with the moisture, so use enough, but not so much that you soak the rug. Start working it from the corners inwards with your sponge.
Now, rinse out your bucket and fill it with clean water. Use this to rinse out the soapy water from your carpet.
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
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 more than enough.
Do not use an overly powerful hoover on your wool carpets/rugs as it may cause too much shedding. Placing a sock over the end of the vacuum pipe helps deafen the suction power slightly (as well as pick up any lost earrings).
Never use too much water when cleaning your wool carpets/rugs as it can be damaging to the fibres. Use as much as is needed and never more.
Pet hair stuck in-between the wool fibres can easily be removed using a hard brush.
Spots and stains on your rug? Don’t wash the whole thing, 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 take care of this.
Hoover the underside once every one or two months.
