HAND TUFTED AND HANDLOOMED CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
HANDTUFTED
WOOL
DAILY CLEANING - REGULAR VACUUMING
Regular vacuuming of the whole carpet should take place even when the carpet does not look particularly dirty. Areas where heavy foot traffic is directed through such as doorways, entrances and at the edges of the carpet where it joins hard floors require special attention. Proper vacuuming requires 3 to 5 passes at slow speed over the same area.
INTERIM CLEANING METHODS
ABSORBENT POWDERS: in this system the absorbent powder cleaning compound is sprinkled evenly over the surface of the carpet and brushed in using a counter rotating brush. After about 20 minutes the dry compound is vacuumed away using a powerful vacuum cleaner. This system works very well on greasy stains and, being a dry compound, it is safe to use on all types of carpet and tile installations. We do not recommend this system for use in areas prone to wet spillages.
SPILLAGES & STAINS
WET SPILLAGES: should be mopped up immediately. Most spillages respond well to immediate treatment, thereby preventing permanent staining. Please follow RC & D Stain Checklist and Treatment Guide for further information. Do not walk on the carpet until it is completely dry.
HIGH FOAM SHAMPOOS: the high foaming shampoo is brushed over the pile surface using a special applicator with brushing action. The carpet is left to dry thoroughly, and the dry shampoo crystals are vacuumed away. RC & D prefer the use of a machine applicator with counter rotating brushes to lift the pile. Flat rotating bonnet mop or brush applicators can untwist, mat and flatten the pile of the carpet and we do not recommend their use.
PROFESSIONAL CLEANING
HOT WATER EXTRACTION SYSTEMS: In this system, the carpet pile is sprayed with a shampoo solution, which is lightly agitated with a grooming brush for an appropriate time, next the surface is passed over several times with a cleaning tool to thoroughly rinse out the pre-conditioner and soils, using an acetic acid solution, lower the Ph of the fabric to a neutral state. Finally, the surface is dried sufficiently to avoid any possibility of saturation.
BARRIER MATTING: where fitted, should be vacuumed daily and cleaned out regularly in order to prevent build up and transfer of soil or greasy substances to the carpet. For cleaning and maintenance of barrier mattering, please contact the manufacturer of the particular product.
100% VISCOSE & WOOL VISCOSE STIPPLE
VISCOSE - Please note If moisture is applied to viscose fibre, it tends to contract and lacks the natural bounce to the original condition as wool does. For care and maintenance of viscose we recommend 2 methods:
1. Dry cleaning: The recommended form of dry cleaning must be a moisture free process for optimum care. The procedure is to mist onto the carpet a soil release pre-spray which helps to free the soil from the fibres. We recommend this to be a mist only procedure and not a wetting application.
2. HBS Encapsulation Method
Both cleaning methods need to be completed by professionals
100% NYLON SILK & WOOL NYLON SILK STIPPLE
NYLON SILK - Please note If excessive moisture is applied to nylon silk fibre, it tends to contract and lacks the natural bounce to the original condition as wool does hence the amount of moisture used should be minimal and should be totally removed from the Rug / Carpet during the cleaning process and all the pile should be brushed lightly to the same direction whilst drying.
It is recommended to clean the carpets regularly when soiled, recommendation is dry cleaning clean using neutral detergent. Do not agitate/scrub or rub the pile surface, it is also possible to conduct wet cleaning on the carpet providing that the level of moisture is very low, and the drying of the fibres is to be controlled by brushing the pile in the same direction whilst drying.
THINGS TO BE MINDFUL OF
SPROUTING
It is a characteristics of hand tufted carpets where a variety of natural and manmade fibres are tufted together and separately to create high density / quality carpets. Some thinner and slippery tufts / fibres such as viscose, silk and nylon may be bent and hidden in between the tufting lines and only show up once the pile is walked on / stimulated. These phenomena is easily fixed by trimming tuft / thread to the same level of the carpet pile and this will not occur again. If a large amount of sprouting occurs this can be trimmed with a hand shearing tool quickly and efficiently, it is not recommended to pluck the treads out.
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BE GENTLE
You want to be very particular with your scrubbing and grooming so that you do not create any scarring in the field. Using soft brushes during the cleaning rather than stiffer rotary scrubbers is generally a better choice.
*For further information please refer to the downloadable PDF at the bottom of the page.
HANDLOOMED
WOOLEN & VISCOSE PROFESSIONAL CLEANING
HOT WATER EXTRACTION SYSTEMS: In this system, the carpet pile is sprayed with a shampoo solution, which is lightly agitated with a grooming brush for an appropriate time, next the surface is passed over several times with a cleaning tool to thoroughly rinse out the pre conditioner and soils, using an acetic acid solution, lower the Ph of the fabric to a neutral state. Finally, the surface is dried sufficiently to avoid any possibility of saturation.It is important that the cleaning motion is in the same direction as the weave so that no lines are left in the pile and a controlled drying method is used, followed by raking of the pile.
BARRIER MATTING: where fitted, should be vacuumed daily and cleaned out regularly in order to prevent build up and transfer of soil or greasy substances to the carpet.For cleaning and maintenance of barrier mattering, please contact the manufacturer of the particular product.
SPILLAGES & STAINS
WET SPILLAGES: should be mopped up immediately. Most spillages respond well to immediate treatment, thereby preventing permanent staining. Please follow RC & D Stain Checklist and Treatment Guide for further information. Please do not walk on the carpet until it is completely dry.
DAILY CLEANING - REGULAR VACUUMING
The most important maintenance step is proper vacuuming. regular and thorough vacuuming at least once per week and more often in heavy traffic areas will remove soil and dirt particles before they become embedded into the pile of the carpet. Remember you cannot over vacuum and vacuuming should begin the day the carpet is installed. frequent vacuuming is a carpets best friend.
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THINGS TO BE MINDFUL OF…….
If a spill occurs try to attend to it straight away by gently dabbing the spillage/liquid from the rug using a clean white damp sponge. Avoid using chlorine bleach to clean silk; chlorine will damage the silk fiber. Bleach will cause permanent yellowing, colour loss and weakening of the silk. Avoid drying silk in direct sunlight as sunlight for a prolonged period will damage the silk fabric Substances containing alcohol will damage silk fiber. Extremely high temperatures can scorch silk fibers. The scorching or yellowing occurs as the fibers begin to burn. Burned fibers cannot be revived. Do not use an alkaline shampoo or one which contains ingredients such as wax, petroleum, or their derivatives, as these products will leave a residue on your silk and may cause "oil" spots.
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BE GENTLE
You want to be very particular with your scrubbing and grooming so that you do not create any scarring in the field. Using soft brushes during the cleaning (such as window washing brooms) rather than stiffer rotary scrubbers is generally a better choice.
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SPROUTING
Sometimes a thread may come loose. In this case trim the tread to the same level of the carpet pile. It is not recommended to pluck the treads out.
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*For further information please refer to the downloadable PDF below