A new carpet will last longer and look better if a routine of regular vacuuming, periodic cleaning and immediate removal of spots and spills is followed.

The following are three sound basic rules for keeping your carpet looking its best.

1. Vacuum regularly - at least once a week and more often in heavy traffic areas.
2. Remove stains and spills immediately.
3. Wet clean as required (but generally not more than once every one or two years)

VACUUMING

Regular vacuuming is required so that soil does not become embedded in the pile, causing accelerated wear by grinding at the base of the tufts. Generally speaking, an electrically-powered vacuum cleaner is much more efficient than a carpet sweeper, which is adequate only for taking up surface dirt, fluff and crumbs in between regular vacuumings. For a long pile shag it is best to fluff up the pile daily with a light-weight rake especially bought for the purpose. A suction-type vacuum should be used for weekly vacuuming.

CLEANING

Wet Shampoo

It is important to use a neutral shampoo on wool carpets - certainly not one that is alkaline. Never use house hold detergents, and don't use shampoos which smell of ammonia. To check proprietary carpet shampoos, leave a bit in a saucer overnight, pour off excess and allow to dry to see if it leaves a sticky residue to which house dust could cling.

Absorbent powder

There are a range of cleaning powders available which are either solvent-saturated or detergent-saturated. After vacuuming, the powder is sprinkled liberally on the carpet, brushed into pile and then vacuumed out although it is virtually impossible to remove all the powder from the pile.

The powder method does not clean as thoroughly as the wet shampoo but it does freshen up a carpet. It also distorts the pile less and, because the carpet is not wetted, the room is ready for re-use sooner.

Aerosol foam shampoo

For light cleaning of small areas, aerosol foam shampoos can be used. It is advisable to test the shampoo first for stickiness as with ordinary carpet shampoos. The foam is usually sprayed sparingly on to the carpet and worked into the pile with a moistened sponge or brush. After the carpet is dry, which takes less time than with wet shampoos, the carpet is vacuumed.

Hot water extraction

In the hot water extraction method, sometimes incorrectly referred to as steam cleaning, the carpet pile is injected with a hot water and shampoo solution under pressure so that the soil is suspended in the water which is extracted almost at once by a high suction wet vacuum system.

This method is particularly useful for very dirty carpets because it gets deep-seated dirt out. It is also useful for removing excess detergent from successive wet shampooings - and together the two methods can restore a very dirty, flattened carpet. Although hot water extraction machines can be rented, it is best to have this type of cleaning done by a professional cleaner because a certain amount of care is needed not to over-wet the carpet and, thus, distort the pile and backing.

Spot and Stain Removal

The most crucial area of carpet maintenance is the removal of spots and spills. The golden rule is to act quickly. Rapid attention could mean the difference between absolutely no damage and a mark that ruins the appearance of a whole carpet.

The approved method is to blot up liquids with white paper tissues or clean absorbent cloths. Scoop up solids with the end of a knife or spoon and then treat the stain according to the following table with one of two cleaning solutions.

For oily or greasy stains: use dry-cleaning solvent (perchloroethylene or methylated spirits) or an aerosol spray of proprietary carpet stain remover for greasy stains.

For water-based stains: use a solution of proprietary carpet shampoo, an aerosol spray of carpet stain remover for non-greasy stains.

The stain removal chart included here advises on methods of treating stains and the order they should be tried. For instance, if clean warm water does not remove all traces of a beverage, try a solution of biological washing powder next.

Always work inwards from the edge of the stain to prevent it spreading. Apply small amounts of cleaning agent at a time so as not to over wet the carpet, blot between applications with paper tissues or dry cloths. Do not rub the stain, rubbing will spread it over a bigger area and distort the pile. Rinse the treated area with clear tepid water, especially if a bleach like sodium hydrosulphite is used, and place a thick wad of white tissues on the treated area weighed down with a heavy object until dry.

(Some carpet manufacturers do not accept responsibility for complaints regarding colour where such a treatment has been used.) However, there are some proprietary stain-repellent treatments which are effective and do not have drawbacks.

Using Rugs:
You might also like to consider using rugs or mats in areas that receive
particularly high wear such as in front of chairs. People have a habit of
shuffling their feet when sitting eating or watching television. This can damage the pile of the carpet causing wear and flattening. This effect (know in the trade as "TV shuffle"), can be reduced using rugs, occasionally repositioning furniture (if practical) and making people take their shoes off! (or you could always watch less T.V)

Your Footwear:
Also remember that rubber soled shoes such as trainers are designed to
grip and therefore pull at the pile in your carpet. If you avoid wearing such
footwear in the house your carpet may retain its looks for longer
.
Stair Carpets:
In most homes stair carpets take the most punishment. It is therefore
recommended that when you fit a stair carpet you leave enough carpet to
allow for a change of tread on each stair every 12 months. This evens out
wear and will prolong the life of your carpet.


We also recommend that you save some spare carpet (if there is any) that can then be used to re-fit areas of particularly high wear (such as half landings or bottom stairs) some time in the future.

So there you go - with a little TLC your can prolong the looks of your new carpet for years to come.