Choosing a wool carpet to suit your home is a big decision. Will you go bright and bold in colour? Or soft and subtle? Are you carpeting your whole house or just re-covering a specific area? Is your home busy with pets, kids and visitors or would you consider it a light traffic zone? These are all important factors to consider.
So, once you’ve made your final decision, and the carpet has been laid, how do you keep it looking and feeling its best for years to come? We’re glad you asked.
1. Suck it up.
It may seem pretty self-explanatory, but we cannot stress how important it is to vacuum clean your wool carpet regularly – and with the right tools for the job. The best way to avoid soil, grass and dust from permanently damaging your carpet, is to remove it while it is still loose and sitting on top of the surface. In other words, before it has been trodden deep into the carpet by foot traffic moving through your house.
Regular vacuuming with a rotating brush* vacuum – once a day on heavy traffic areas and at least once a week on light traffic areas – will ensure daily dust and dirt is removed before it leaves a permanent mark.
*Note: For some thick loop pile carpets, a suction-only vacuum is preferred as brush vacuums may cause the carpet to become fuzzy.
2. Out damn spot!
Wool naturally absorbs moisture from the indoor environment, which is just one of the many reasons it should be your preferred choice for flooring in your home. That said, there are some forms of moisture you don’t want to be absorbed. Ultimately, the best way to prevent staining after a spillage is to act as quickly as possible. Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or paper towel – the key here is to use something completely colour free with no patterns! It’s crucial that you blot the liquid – never, ever scrub the area as this not only exacerbates the stain but can also damage the carpet.
3. Call in the professionals.
To keep your wool carpet looking its best, invest in a deep clean once every 12 to 18 months. Ideally, you want your carpet returned to its brand-new status before it becomes excessively soiled, so depending on the lifestyle of your household and the frequency at which you vacuum, you may find you need to have your carpet deep cleaned either within a year or much further down the track. When it comes to deep cleaning – leave it to the professionals.
4. It’s only natural.
Thanks to cutting-edge technology, today’s wool carpets don’t ‘wear out’ like the carpets of old. However, you may notice that over the years, your carpet starts to lose its original resiliency and brand-new brightness. This is often due to a high volume of foot traffic throughout your house, especially if you have pets or children.
Removing shoes – or at least wiping them on a doormat – is simple, but can make a big difference. Sporadically placing a rug in heavy traffic areas is also a quick fix. UV rays can affect carpets too. To combat this, install blinds in rooms that receive constant sunlight, or better yet: tint your windows!
5. Get moving!
Furniture can leave stubborn indents and marks on your wool carpet if kept in the same place over several years. To prevent these becoming permanent, move your furniture around from time to time. It doesn’t have to be every month, but pulling out your furniture and moving it to a new spot can be a great way to clean all the nooks and crannies you never see while giving your carpet a rest from couch feet, table legs and heavy television cabinets. It can also be a great way to experiment with a new look in your lounge or bedroom, after all, you know what they say – a change is as good as a holiday!
We believe wool carpet is the unsurpassed leader in sustainable, ethical and comfortable flooring. When you choose wool, you can breathe easy knowing you’ve made the healthiest choice for your home, and with these simple care techniques your carpets will last for years to come.
