Shawn is very comfortable with Clean Footprints Cleaning Systems...he knows we clean wool carpets every day achieving beautiful, safe results. Wool is probably  the most beautiful, versatile  and durable of natural fibres and therefore deserves the very best, safe cleaning systems.

Can you clean cat urine from wool carpets?
Does steam cleaning wool carpets damage the fibres?
Do chemicals harm wool carpets?
Will the colours run on wool carpets?
Can I hire a machine to clean wool carpets?

Q. Can you clean cat urine from wool carpets?
A. Clean Footprints specialise in urine removal from all carpets. Special treatments will clean and deodorise but due to the nature of wool, may not always remove the mark urine has left behind.

Q. Does steam cleaning wool carpets damage the fibres?
A. Much damage can be done when steam cleaning wool carpets. Shrinkage of the backing, dimensional change, setting of spills and soiling. Change to the feel and texture of wool can also be injured, rendering the carpet limp and lifeless. Clean Footprints do not steam clean carpets, but choose only the best, safe methods to restore wool carpets back to their former glory.

Q. Do chemicals harm wool carpets?
A. Some chemicals can damage wool carpets especially in untrained hands. Alkaline solutions must be neutralised with acid conditioners and no sticky residues should be left behind on fibres.

Q. Will the colours run on wool carpets?
A. All dyes on wool carpets are acid based and if cleaned with alkaline solutions become vunerable to migration, usually from dark reds into lighter colours. A professional cleaner will know exactly what methods to use to stop this, so employ only specialists to clean expensive wool carpeting.

Q. Can I hire a machine to clean wool carpets?
A. Anyone can hire a machine to clean carpets, but be very carefull. Be prepared for hard work and understand you do so at your own risk.

Further Information

Clean Footprints solutions are recommended by the “Woolsafe” organisation. Professional cleaning of a carpet on a regular basis (average home about every 8 to 12 months) will extend its life expectancy considerably, in addition to keeping it hygienic (dustmites, germs etc) and looking good. Inferior cleaning systems, or even not cleaning it at all, will reduce its life expectancy considerably.

Unqualified cleaners may use unsuitable cleaning procedures, and detergent residue, sticky soaps and or alkaline may be left within the carpet fibres. So once it has been cleaned will accelerate the soiling rate, get dirtier quicker.

Using the proven Clean Footprints cleaning methods, systems and knowhow this will not happen as Clean Footprints solutions degrade from a liquid to a microscopic crystal which the client then vacuums away during there normal vacuuming routine. The alkaline which acts as a boost to the cleaning power is then rinsed with an acidic solution to soften and restore pH to neutral, ‘a neutral fibre is a beautiful fibre’.

Normal phenomena that may occur on carpets:

1. Sprouting Tufts

Often, small tufts will sprout above the carpet’s surface. If you do find one do not worry, simply cut off the sprouting tuft with a pair of normal scissors, this will not in any way affect the wear characteristics of your carpet. DO NOT use a knife, and NEVER attempt to pull the sprouting tuft from your carpet, as this can result in permanent damage.

2. Shedding

All new carpets, especially cut pile constructions, will shed loose fibres, particularly to areas in front of chairs or under tables. Shedding occurs when fibres within the yarn work their way to the surface of the carpet. Do not become alarmed if your vacuum cleaner bag fills with fibre, your carpet is not disintegrating! The shed fibres are expanded by air and therefore appear to be a lot more bulky than they actually are. In fact, fibre loss from the total pile weight is negligible. Shedding has no timetable to its cessation, however, even a prolonged period of shedding will not affect the performance characteristics of the carpet in any way.

3. Pilling

Pilling describes small balls of fibre, which have become anchored to the surface of the carpet, and is often seen in areas where heel abrasion occurs e.g. in front of chairs. Pilling however is not serious and is easily treated by taking a normal pair of scissors and clipping away any pills and excess fibre, this will not in any way affect the wear characteristics of your carpet.  In almost all cases pilling occurs where maintenance has been undertaken with the wrong type of vacuum cleaner.  For cut pile carpets, an ‘upright cleaner with beater bar attachment’ should always be used. For loop construction carpets, always use a ‘suction only’ cleaner.

4. Snags

Snags can occur when a heel or a child’s toy catches the carpet and brings fibres to the surface, this is not serious, as with a sprouting tuft simply cut off with a pair of normal scissors, DO NOT cut with a knife or pull the fibres out as this can result in damage to your carpet.

5. Fuzzing

Fuzzing is associated with loop pile carpets, and occurs when loose fibre on the surface of the carpet, becomes entangled, but still remains attached. Where fuzzing occurs, it is simple to remove by carefully clipping with a pair of scissors. This condition could be caused from overuse, incorrect maintenance, poor quality underlay, or insufficient latex penetration during manufacturer.

6. Indentations

Indentations appear as small dents or compression marks on the surface of the carpet, caused by the concentrated pressure from castors, chair legs or heavy objects. To reduce the effect of indentations, it is advisable to move furniture regularly and make use of aids such as; castor cups on castor grips so minimising the effect of compression marks. Where indentations are found, then the gentle moistening of the affected area by rubbing with an ice cube, or alternatively the use of a water mist spray can help to aid recovery.

7. Carpet Fitted To Stairs

If your carpet is fitted to the stairs, then the carpet should be moved once in the first six months, and once every following year to prevent excessive wear and tracking on stair nosings.

8. Pulled Loops

Pulled loops occur only in looped pile carpet where one or more loops in the continuous pile is pulled through the primary backing of the carpet. This is usually due to some local condition, possibly some sharp object which has caught in a loop in situ and has resulted in a pull. Pulled loops are easily dealt with by trimming the offending end level with the rest of the pile. They should not be left as this could result in further loops being pulled and developing into a ladder.

9. Fading on Wool

Carpets made from wool can and do fade in use. The degree of fade can vary depending on the colour chosen and the local conditions to which the carpet is subjected. Fading can be caused by exposure to ultra violet light which is found in daylight, but is accelerated when sunlight shines directly onto the carpet. This has the effect of lightening or “Bleaching” the colour just as exposure to sunlight will lighten human hair. Wool is after all animal hair.  Protection should be given to carpets exposed to such conditions just as you would protect other furniture or fabrics.

10. Grinning

A complaint When the backing is visible through the rows of pile yarn, particularly in carpets having a low pile density.

11. Fluffing

It is usually apparent in new carpets where a lot of fluff sheds to the surface of the carpet. It is not considered to be detrimental to the wear and tear of the carpet, just vacuum regularly.

12. Wrinkling

Wrinkling, recurring buckles, loss of stability. Wrinkling is a common problem in the carpet industry. There are two primary causes for wrinkling, the most common is improper installation.

Today’s carpets are very stiff when compared to carpeting from years past, presenting a real challenge for installers. It is not uncommon for carpets installed in the colder months to have the greater number of complaints for wrinkling. Allowing the carpet to acclimatise inside within the warmth of the building for twenty four hours will reduce the incidence of wrinkling. It is not always practical to do so, but if possible, it should be done. Even very skilled installers will have to return to restretch carpeting from time to time.

Installation related wrinkling is characterized by looseness around the walls, seams, and sometimes around heavy furniture. The wrinkles will vary in size, but will typically all run in the same direction. The carpet will have a stiff feel, and wrinkles pushed by hand will move as pushed rather than folding under your hand. Carpet that has been in use and wrinkled for an extended period of time may have damage to the latex from flexing of the backing. This can and does weaken/damage the latex.

Carpeting that is wrinkled should be restretched as soon as possible to prevent damage to the latex which can lead to delamination. The use of a power stretcher is an absolute must in all areas. improper use of the power stretcher can also lead to wrinkling.

Most wrinkling problems can be corrected by a thorough restretch. By thorough restretch, we mean removing all furniture from the rooms, taking seams apart where necessary, and stretching the carpet in both directions. Many times inspectors will be called out to inspect carpets for wrinkling where the installer has been out two or three times to correct the problem, but has only removed the existing wrinkles with a knee kicker, or usually failed to properly restretch the carpet. A thorough restretch is a very involved process often taking nearly as much time as the original installation. Anything less will result in a recurring wrinkling problem.

While less common than installation error, latex failure can account for some wrinkling complaints. Latex failure is, of course, related to the manufacturing of the carpet. It is characterized by numerous small wrinkles usually in traffic lanes or congestion areas such as doorways, hallways, etc. The carpet will have a loose rag-like feel in the affected areas and the wrinkles will sometimes be in both directions. This is sometimes referred to as delamination (separation of the primary from secondary backings) or loss of dimensional stability (a precursor to delamination). Delamination or latex failure cannot be corrected, replacement according to the manufacturer’s warranties is indicated.