[clive]

Went to clean a loung carpet for a customer this morning but the reason she wanted it cleaned was that by the patio doors the carpet was turning black. The carpet is a wool and polyprop mix and on closer inspection, the tips of the fibres have turned black. There is a mat made of the same carpet by the patio doors which is almost completely black and about 4 feet going into the room which is turning black. It is not dirt and can not be cleaned.I think it is sun damage but there are two more windows on the same side as the doors but no blacking there.
We decided against cleaning as it would not look any different.
Any Ideas why this should be happening?

Clive

[fletch]

Maybe draught marks?

[John Kelly]

Couple of scenarios.
As mentioned could be draught marks, although this is ulikely with patio doors as they are usually draught proof. Did you test clean it with a suitable product other than your standard detergent?
It could also be either sunlight fading which has degraded the green dye leaving the dark wool showing. Carpets are sometimes made with darker wools with the lighter wools being used for brighter dyes used in clothing etc.
Same thing could be happenning with wear in the doorway, are there lots of kids coming in and out?

[dirtbusters]

it's sun damage , nothing you can do about it.

[AnnaGrant]

We had a similar problem at a developement that we have the  maintenance contract for.

Carpetted areas  that were directly infront of full length windows have bleached from the sun, however when it is hoovered we are getting a very fine black powder from the carpet . This has been ongoing for about a year now, the carpet looks quite bad but as its a communal area the residents wont do anything about it .

Regards

Anna

[clive]

Thanks for your replies. It is definitely not draught marking so it would seem that sun damage is the most likely outcome.

Regards,

Clive