[Clean 'n' Tidy]

Hi all,

I have been asked to clean some wool rugs today, but I am unsure of the cleaning [procedure as I have not done any rugs. Any advide welcome.

cheers
Kim

[mark_roberts]

Test for colour fastness and distortion.

If OK then vac front and back.  Then shake.  If more dust visable then vac some more.

Pre-spray with a woolsafe pre-spray ie. solutions number (what is it Nick?)

Agitate with a rotary or host or similar but go gently.

Rinse with acid rinse with hand hot water 50c or so.

Dry quickly with a blower.

If theres specific stains be very careful using spotters as some will 'bleach' wool ie. Prochems stain pro and this can not be fixed.

If in doubt pass it onto someone else or send them to Franklins in Sheffield.  Or better still take it to Franklins and watch how its done.

Mark

PS. anyone remember the visit to Franklins a few years ago.  Great day out.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Used to work there!

Shaun

[mark_roberts]

Tell us about it.  Ruin any rugs?

[paul@ctcs]

Great idea i picked up from carpex seminar to eliminate wicking on rugs is to turn them upside down to dry

Paul

[Big_Fish]

We usually try to hang rugs to dry as long as they are not too big. How would you turn it upside down? Wet side down, how would it dry? How would you suspend it to allow air circulation?

Am I being thick?

Nicky

[Dynafoam]

I have never had a wicking problem with a rug - it's hard to imagine haw that could occur if it has been properly cleaned.

However I do sometimes dry rugs face-side-down. This is in the summer, outside, and the reason is to prevent UV bleaching of the fibre tips. The rugs are up-ended over Whitney blankets, then suspended by the air-stream of two or more air movers.

(The grippers of the blowers preventing them from floating away).

Nicki,

One cautionary note. heavy rugs, edge-suspended, can distort if they are not gripped at sufficient points. If hung over a bar, especially non-wovens can suffer permanent localised stretching (even de-lamination) at the bend.

[Big_Fish]

Thanks John,

Murray is always checking everything, he's more into the technical stuff! If we hang, it's over a big bar. The rugs are usually dry very quickly with air movers and not being too wet in the first place.

Personally, I find it easier to tidy up and sepetate individual strands in fringes if a rug is hanging.

Have never experienced wicking on a rug.

Nicky

[Clean 'n' Tidy]

Thanks guys for your help and advice.

Kim

[Dave Parry]

Thought wicking on a rug was something else. You live and learn !!!!!!!!!!!

[Dynafoam]

Dave,

I don't know what you mean........................ Or maybe I've just forgoten 

[Alan_Harrison]

Hanging a heavy rug over a bar may cause problems. If the weight of the rug causes the bar to bend even a little, you will find the edges of the rug will stretch and the rug will then not lay flat..

Its easy to overwet a rug. Try really hard not to do it.  Hand knotted rugs are usually at least twice as thick as broadloom fitted carpets. Any water that gets more than a 3 or 4 mm into the pile is hard to remove even with a powerfull vacuum. With the rug hanging, the water will run to the botton so unless you can return every hour or so to extract the wet end it's going to remain wet for a long time. This is where wicking becomes a big problem and any cotton fringes will certainly end yellow.


Al
Rug geek

[woodman]

If you have your own unit or workshop ( I don't anymore) cleaning and drying rugs is quite easy and safe.This is how I went about it;

When you are roaming around the country you will no doubt see where the guys laying cable etc use these large plastic tubes usually grey or yellow.

'Obtain' one of these they are normaly dumped anyway or ask one of the guys to cut you a bit (Idid).

Place a aluminium scaffold bar or similar, inside the tubing  and hang it up.When you put your rug over the tubing it will roll on the bar and lift the rug evenly and because the tubing is quite thick you will not have any bar lines across the rug.Also the plastic tubing is easy to clean.

When drying place your air mover under the bar/rug and aim it up at the rug from below. As it dries from underneath the rug you will not get any wick back as mentioned and the rug will dry rapidly and evenly.Job Done

Roll the rug of the tubing and either tie or bag up ready to go back.