HOW TO CLEAN STAINS

Cleaning and Stain removal guide
When a liquid spillage occurs it should first be blotted up
immediately (never rub) using a clean absorbent cloth. White
only kitchen towel, White tea towels or Terry towelling nappy
type cloths are ideal for this purpose. (something that colour is
not going to come out of and add to the problem.)
After blotting up as much of the liquid as is possible, using these
dry cloths try rinsing the remaining part of the spillage off the
pile using cold or tepid water initially. A trigger spray applicator
bottle is ideal for this purpose. The action should be to spray
water from close to the pile followed by blotting to both dilute
and then absorb the liquid from the carpet pile surface.
(Tip – Always work from the outside of the spillage towards the
centre to avoid spreading it but take care not to over wet the
area.) This method works well for most spillages that contain
very little strong colourant. If it is obvious that the spillage has
not been removed, then carpet cleaning shampoos can be used
by applying and then rinsing off using the same blotting
technique. If the stain is stubborn then extend the time after
applying the shampoo before rinsing off to allow the chemicals
in the shampoo to loosen the spilled materials off the fibre.
Because polypropylene fibres do not absorb liquids the spillage
can only dry onto the surface of the fibre. The trick is to remove
it fully before it dries onto the fibre surface where it then
becomes more difficult to remove and you may have to then
resort to bleaching it off.

If the stain appears to have been fully removed during normal
cleaning then place a dry white absorbent cloth ( terry
towelling) over the still damp area and a sheet of plastic on top
of this (carrier bag or cling film should do to stop the book
getting damp) on top of the plastic place a telephone directory
or flat object with a similar weight to press the absorbent cloth
onto the pile to absorb any materials not rinsed out. You cannot
always see traces of the spillage so it is better to assume it has
not been fully removed.

Because polypropylene fibres do not absorb moisture water can
enter the backing during the spillage and cleaning processes. It
is this liquid that wicks back to the surface during the action of
drying. Any materials not removed in cleaning are deposited
onto the tips of the tufts as a stain when the liquid evaporatesand it is carried to the surface. The use of an absorbent cloth will
reduce this possibility and pull the un-removed part of the
spillage into the cloth thus helping prevent a stain from forming
on the surface. Leave the cloth under light pressure overnight or
until the carpet feels dry. Check after a few hours and if
necessary replace the cloth with another dry one. Do not use
too heavy a weight otherwise a pressure mark can form on the
pile surface and do not walk on this area until it is dry.
More solid spillages should be carefully scraped up using a
plastic spatula or large spoon in the direction of the pile so it
presses the pile down making removal of the solids easier. After
as much of the solids have been removed as is possible by this
method rinse off the remainder and clean as described above.
If a stain forms on your carpet containing a colourant then a
solution of bleach can be used to remove the colour of the stain
off the fibre surface without damaging your carpet. If the stain is
slight or light in colour try a 20% solution of bleach and water.
Spray this solution onto the affected area so that it is moistened
and then leave to dry. If no improvement has been made after 4
hours use a solution of 50% bleach to 50% water and spray onto
the affected area covering it with a clear plastic sheet for 2
hours to 4 hours allowing time for the bleach to react with the
spilled materials. Rinse with water and cover with the absorbent
cloth technique once removed.

Other more complex spillages can be tackled on a DIY basis but
serious consideration at this stage should be given to call in a
professional carpet cleaner.

If you are determined to tackle more complex stains or spillages
yourself then exercise care. Only attempt a very small 10p size
area initially. Remember if you cannot remove it off a small area
you cannot remove it off a larger area! If you have an unused
offcut create the same spillage or stain on that and practise on
this first before attempting to do it on your carpet. When you
are confident you can remove the stain proceed taking the same
level of care and caution. The stain removal chart gives an
indication of the chemicals to use and the procedure for most
stains.

Our recommendations for how to keep
your carpet looking good for longer.
Vacuum your carpet frequently from new
If the carpet is heavily used every day then it is better vacuumed
every day. However for most people vacuuming 3-4 times a
week is sufficient. If the carpet has a cut pile then an upright
vacuum cleaner is better suited to remove soiling and keeping
the pile aligned. The appearance is better maintained if the
carpet is vacuumed leaving the pile in the same direction as it
was manufactured. Don’t forget to vacuum the stairs frequently
using the correct attachments for the upright or cylinder
vacuum following a direction down the stairs to maintain the pile
direction. We find that loop pile carpets are better maintained
with a suction type (cylinder) vacuum cleaner. It is kinder to the
pile surface when new and reduces the possibility of damage to
the loop pile surface such as fuzzing and snagging the loops.

Keep it looking Good
It is during the first few days to two months of normal domestic
use when the traffic the carpet is subjected to affects how the
pile will settle out in usage. It is key to keeping the carpet
looking good that you vacuum (if possible) every day during this
initial period leaving the pile direction aligned the same as it
arrived. Modern carpets have a more upright tuft direction
which allows it to change direction more easily. The vacuum is
the only tool you have to try and maintain this pile direction with
because everything else in normal usage try’s to change this
direction. The carpet will wear just as well if you fail to keep the
pile aligned but for most people it just looks better with the pile
all aligned the same way!

 

The most affected areas
Soiling deposits tend to build up at the points where you enter
the rooms, at the points where you are seated and on stairs
nosings. Concentrating more on these areas during regular
vacuuming will help keep the appearance for longer and also if
these areas soil noticeably in between periodic cleaning, spot
cleaning or wiping with a damp cloth should help improve the
appearance. Most soiling enters the carpet from the kitchen
area or any other smooth floor area such as wood or tiled rooms.
Effectively the carpet acts as a mat and wipes onto the carpet by
direct contact with footwear as well as carrying charged particle
soiling from around and under the foot which is more difficult to
remove. Soiling coming in from outside is best removed by
wiping footwear well or removing outdoor shoes at the door. It
is easier to keep soiling out than to remove it once it is in the
carpet.

When to have it professionally cleaned
If the carpet is never used soiling is present in the atmosphere
which settles onto the pile and this will still affect the carpet
which is why periodic cleaning remains necessary no matter
what the levels of usage are. Soiling from kitchen areas is
generally more sticky and since polypropylene fibres are
oliophilic (hold onto oil based soiling) they require specialist
chemicals and knowledge that a true professional carpet cleaner
will use to remove that type of soiling and to help keep the
carpet in pristine condition. We require the carpet to be cleaned
a minimum of once every 2 years and on some light shades it will
require cleaning more frequently. Stain resistance does not stop
a carpet becoming soiled but it does make it much easier to
remove soiling and staining compared to if it was not a stain
resistant fibre