[JS2]

Colleagues

Do you use a 'special' groomer, or technique, for the finishing touch on a newly-cleaned carpet (I'm an HWE'er).  Only I cleaned a 30 year old wool carpet the other day (in generally good condition) and, whilst I reset the pile with a Prochem pile brush (part no. PA3401), there does seem to be a significant amount of patchiness when viewed under electric lighting.  Carpet does feels good however, but the shading characteristic is a bit concerning.  Any advice greatly appreciated.

Regards

Pete (JS2)

[John Kelly]

Any carpet, especially one which is 30 years old will be showing signs of wear. This alone can cause the light to reflect differently creating the shading you mention.
However there is also another kind of shading which is referred to as water marking. The pile of a carpet lies one way, sometimes areas of the pile start to lie the opposite way. This creates shading, again because of the light reflecting differently. Sometimes it even looks as though the carpet is wet hence the term water marking. This usually occurs in narrow hallways on plain carpets but also in other rooms. The carpet industry has spent a lot of money trying to avoid it but without success.

[Chris R]

http://www.cleanprosonline.com/Pile_reversal.html

[Geoff Jewkes]

JS, send me your e mail address. I have a paper with a diagram and explinations that a 5 year old would understand, normally puts customers to rights! Geoff    Fibrefresh@aol.com

[*paul_moss]

Geoff how did you get on with that T/M ? Did o go for it ?

[JS2]

Guys

Thanks for this information.  Geoff, I'll get in touch with you.  I'm glad to say that the sgading effects were nowhere near as bad as those in the download sent by Chris.  When I inspected the carpet a bit of the problem was simply 'in the mind', since the whole floor looked so much better than it's done for the last 27 years !!  Footprints planted in the wool like prints do in snow.  The rinse-out in Prochem's Fibre & Fabric rinse did the who thing a treat.  Regarding the residual shading, well the carpet itself was a sewed up bundle of 27" strips (my Mother did this over 30 years ago when she was in the carpet and upholstery trade).  So by resetting the pile in the lateral direction simply restored appearance.  However I expect for best effect this should have been done at the final stage of treatment, when I actually rest the pile across the widthwise direction (naughty me).

Regards

Pete (JS2)

PS I've not spell checked this article since the wife informs me "MY DINNER'S ON THE TABLE !)