Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Martin_Bignell on May 25, 2010, 04:55:32 pm

Title: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: Martin_Bignell on May 25, 2010, 04:55:32 pm
Hi All,
Anyone here clean those horrible Laura Ashley rags sorry rugs on a regular basis, they look like a tapestry very low profile.
I have done areas of spot cleaning on them before but they seem to wrinkle if made the slightest bit wet anyone had success.
Cheers, Martin.
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: Bob Allen on May 25, 2010, 05:37:08 pm
Na not me......what about you Clive?
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: Mike Halliday on May 25, 2010, 06:01:42 pm
I do them 4-5 times a year, always clean up well. I treat them as upholstery, they do crinkle but I assume the go back flat as i have never had any complaints
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: Steve Chapman on May 25, 2010, 06:25:53 pm
i have done a fair few and have always crinkled around the edges when wet cleaned.

had a couple that wouldnt lie flat again, so had them back and laid a large sheet of ply board on them for a day, done the trick, customer happy   :)

steve
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: clive ware on May 25, 2010, 06:47:16 pm
I`ve stopped cleaning them cos they go all wavy. I tell people to take them to the dry cleaners.
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: michael wadsworth on May 25, 2010, 08:27:00 pm
Same as Mike, I've done lots of them and never had a call back, but I always warn the customer beforehand. Mike
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: Martin_Bignell on May 25, 2010, 09:34:41 pm
Blimey,
Two schools of thought here, I'm gonna nail this bugger to the floor and clean it with a wet wipe.
Martin.
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: cleaningmaster on May 25, 2010, 09:53:29 pm
Martin,

Those Rugs usually need to be Dry/solvent cleaned. As they are water sensitive.

 Vacuum, Spray with solvent and bonnet
never had any problems

Regard
Daryl
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: will01 on May 25, 2010, 10:24:03 pm
damn hate these rugs....

Also go very dark when presprayed and damp.  Sometimes they actually look worse when just cleaned but never had any call backs as yet (famous last words)

The lack of a stiff backing makes them a nightmare. It's like cleaning a curtain on the floor!!!
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: Eddie_Rhone on May 25, 2010, 11:06:44 pm
Hi

Had a few of these rugs if you have the space to lay them flat after you've cleaned them and they have rippled use a steam iron and iron them flat.
But remember take care.

Regards

Eddie
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: Paul Redden Countryfresh on May 26, 2010, 07:33:12 am
Agree with above, mist m/s agitate, extract with L/M handtool or dry granule it.
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: MAX Carpets on May 26, 2010, 08:01:29 am
I've done a few ..........................SHRINKAGE ALERT!!!!!!
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: MAX Carpets on May 26, 2010, 08:04:01 am
Go with the solvent.
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: John Milnes on May 26, 2010, 10:02:51 pm
These rugs are not a problem to clean.

The reason they go wavey is that sometimes they have a cotton band running under each side along the length. This shrinks and causes distortion and the edges can curl up.

I always inform the custy of this before cleaning. I picked one up today and said the same.

Custy said ...yes, we washed one edge once and it curled up.

In retrospect...there are now wool rugs which are becoming popular which have a cotton banding along the edge. Stay well clear!

I cleaned one of these and warned custy I could not clean the edge. She said can you take those marks out of the banding. I said yes at your own risk. It curled up where I had cleaned it! What if grandma trips over and needs a hip replacement ???
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: Thackley Cleaning Services on May 27, 2010, 11:45:59 am
Hi Guys,

I run a dry cleaning business as well as the carpet / upholstery and I can categorically say that the Laura Ashley rugs can be difficult even to dry clean.

Someone in the above posts mentioned the cotton band running along the backing of the carpet and this is the main problem even in dry cleaning as sometimes the band is glued down to the backing.

Once this has been dry cleaned the band comes lose (because the solvent dissolves the adhesive) and starts to flap around and we had a case where we had to have the cotton band stitched back in place for a customer.

They're not all glued but some are.  However, I wouldnt wet clean them as the care label clearly states dry clean only and if something goes wrong they're not cheap to replace.

I dont know what you guys were charging but we only charge £20 for each rug of this type.
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: Steve Chapman on May 27, 2010, 04:30:42 pm
Yep, the last one i cleaned actually said do not dry clean on it, so i would be careful if anyone starts to go down this route  :o

we tried dry sponge cleaning recently on one and the results were far from satisfactory  :(

At least with wet cleaning if they ripple it can be rectified, it just needs flattening down again. but at least it will have a decent clean.

regards
steve
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: John Milnes on May 27, 2010, 04:52:55 pm
This is the one I have to clean. Custy says it cost £200 and it's 6 ft long.

The brown banding is stiched on. It also feels as though the banding is glued.

I'v told em as always it will probably curl up...but they are happy :)
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: rich hand on May 27, 2010, 07:57:14 pm
I believe they don't flatten out again properly. I cleaned a rug the same as in the above pic and it rippled badly. I had to pin it out and spray it to shrink it evenly. The last one I did I just spot cleaned and rubbed over with MS and a  cloth. Generally I wouldn't bother now, cheap nasty things.
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: will01 on May 27, 2010, 08:06:52 pm
I've a table tennis table folded up in the garage. Don't play anymore but..............
Title: Re: Laura Ashley Rugs
Post by: derek west on May 27, 2010, 08:26:53 pm
will they not bonnet clean?