RUGS tend to be neglected by homeowners when it comes to cleaning.
Perhaps it’s because, unlike carpet, many rugs can be taken to the door and given a quick shake.
Either way, here’s how you can help... It’s worth knowing that most rugs are made with wool or wool-rich pile.
These include many Oriental, Persian and Turkish rugs, as well as Chinese and Indian – although the latter can be made from fine animal hair (usually goat).
As a rule, rugs should be hand-cleaned.
Start by vacuuming thoroughly both sides and then pre-treat with one of Prochem’s spray-on traffic lane cleaners, such as B107 Prespray Gold.
Don’t forget to lightly agitate the pre-spray down into the pile to loosen any greasy soils.
Next, using a wet soil extraction machine and hand tool, rinse-extract with B109 Fibre & Fabric Rinse in the tank.
This acidic rinse agent is approved by the “Woolsafe” organisation and gives a better ‘hand and feel’ after the rug has dried.
B124 Odour Fresh can be added to the cleaning solution as wet wool rugs may have a strong animal odour.
Rugs can all be cleaned this way subject to the usual tests: the fibre should be identified and the stability of the dyes should be tested, especially if the rug is woven with many different colours (in which case all the colours should, of course, be tested).
The rug should be cleaned in small sections at a time, working across the width.
Burn test Fibres can be identified using the burn test.
To carry out the burn test, take a small sample of the fibre out of the rug from the back or edge.
Hold the fibre to a flame and then examine the ash and smell the smoke.
If the material is wool, the ash should be dark and crusty, and the smell should be like burning hair.
If the sample is real silk, it should ball to a hard bead which can be crushed to ash between the fingers, and the smell should be of burning hair but not so distinct as wool.
It is important to do this test because if the rug proves to be real silk you should only clean with a dry cleaning solvent such as B140 Dri Pro.
If you do not possess an approved solvent extraction machine, you can pre-spray the solvent to the carpet, work it into the pile and wipe off with terry towels.
Alternatively, on large rugs, use the rotary machine and Prochem’s Soil-Absorb Bonnet to absorb the loosened soil.
After cleaning, the pile should be carefully reset.
Always lay the pile in one direction.
If the pile is not re-set the result may look patchy and the customer will not be satisfied that the rug is clean since patchy shadows look like dirty areas.
Neutralise Rugs often have white cotton fringes.
To clean these, pre-spray and hand scrub with S709 Multi Pro diluted at 250ml per litre of water.
Then extract rinse with B109 Fibre & Fabric Rinse to neutralise.
Finally, remember to advise your customer to allow the rug to dry thoroughly after cleaning.
This is especially important if they intend to roll it up for storage.
Equally, a damp rug should never be replaced on carpet as dye may transfer to the carpet during the drying process.
For this reason it is often more practical to take a rug away for cleaning to a place where it can dry safely on a fl at surface – but check your insurance cover if you intend to do this!
Rug cleaning is good business for carpet cleaners working in the domestic market, as it is an excellent ‘add-on’.
Too many tend to steer clear of rugs thinking that they are problematic.
But follow these recommendations and you should obtain excellent results.