Maintenance Guide for Wool Carpets
-adapted from the guide by The Wool Bureau Inc.

Do’s for Contract Carpet Maintenance
Do Vacuum traffic lanes daily
Do vacuum properly – several slow passes over area with a strong suction machine
Do not rub!
Do blot up spills
Do test cleaning and spot removal chemicals on an inconspicuous place or on a remnant prior to use
Do use chemicals:
     With a pH range of 5.0 – 8.0
     Which dry to a powder or crystalline residue
     Which contain no bleach or fluorescent brighteners
Do use water temperature of 150 degrees F or less
Do allow carpet to be thoroughly dry before being subject to traffic

Type of Treatment
1. Cold water
2. Detergent solution
3. Ammonia solution
4. Solvent
5. Chill with aerosol freezing agent or ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off gum
6. Vinegar solution
7. Warm water
8. Clear nail polish remover (preferably acetone)
9. Alcohol or methylated spirits mineral turpentine
10. Rust remover
11. Absorbent powder (eg: salt, talc or proprietary absorbent powders)
12. Absorbent cleaner (Host or Capture)


Cleaning Agents for Spot Removal

Detergent Solution
Mix one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid or detergent powder (containing no bleaches or strong alkaline) with a cup of warm water (not hot) water.

Ammonia Solution
Mix one tablespoon of clear household ammonia (3% solution) with ½ cup of water

Vinegar Solution
Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water

Solvent
A dry cleaning solvent (available at grocery, drug and hardware stores) such as Carbona TM, Energine TM, K2R TM. (Chemically 1.1.1. tri-chlorethane preferred).


Spot Removal Chart
(The very first step should be to scoop up or blot excess)

Spot

Order of Treatment

Other Treatments

 

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

 

Alcoholic Beverage

1

2

-

 

Bleach

1

3

-

 

Blood

1

2

-

 

Butter

4

2

-

 

Chewing Gum

5

4

-

 

Chocolate

2

3

6

 

Coffee and Tea

1

2

4

 

Soft Drinks

7

2

-

 

Bream

2

4

-

 

Egg

2

-

-

 

Felt Tip Pen

7

2

8

 

Fruit Juice

1

2

-

 

Furniture Polish

4

2

3

 

Gravy and Sauces

7

2

-

 

Ink (fountain pen)

1

2

-

 

Ink (ballpoint pen)

4

9

2

 

Ketchup

7

2

-

 

Lipstick

4

6

-

 

Mercurochrome

2

3

6

Repeat Step 2

Milk

7

4

2

 

Mustard

2

-

-

 

Oil and Grease

4

2

-

 

Paint (Latex)

2

3

4

 

Paint (Oil)

9

4

2

 

Rust

4

2

10

 

Salad Dressing

4

2

-

 

Shoe Polish

4

2

-

 

Soot

4

2

3

 

Tar

4

-

-

 

Urine (fresh)

1

2

-

 

Urine (old)

2

3

6

 

Vomit

2

-

-

 

Wine

11

1

2

 

Unknown Spot

4

12

2