Cleaning Wool

    Wool is a natural fiber that comes from the fleece of sheep or lambs. It is found in higher-end carpet in homes or commercial properties, and can be in tufted or woven construction. Wool is a very strong and durable fiber but has some limitations in cleaning. You must control your moisture, pH and drying time to avoid problems such as bleeding, browning, wicking and shrinkage (woven carpets).



PROCEDURE

Quick Guide PROCEDURE

Identify fiber using the burn test.

Pre-vacuum to remove dry soil.

Pre-spot difficult to remove stains prior to cleaning.

Pre-condition the carpet with Zone Perfect boosted with Citrus Solv.

Extract with End Zone.

Neutralize with Fab Set, if necessary.

Protect with Maxim.

Groom carpet

Dry with air movers.



PRODUCTS NEEDED

End Zone

Zone Perfect

Citrus Solv

Maxim

Fab Set

Air King

Bridgepoint Spotting Kit

Grandi Groomer



STEP 1:

Use the burn test to properly identify the fiber. If found to be a synthetic fiber, refer to the Bridgepoint Fast Track Cleaning Guide for that fiber. If found to be wool, continue with this procedure.



STEP 2:

Thoroughly vacuum the carpet to remove as much dry soil as possible. Wool can hide large quantities of soil. The carpet will be more soiled than it appears. Several slow passes with a quality vacuum cleaner will make your cleaning more efficient and produce better final results.



STEP 3:

Determine which spots may need extra attention and remove them prior to cleaning, using your Bridgepoint Spotting Kit. Refer to spotting brochure for specific spots and stains.



STEP 4:

Pre-condition the carpet with Zone Perfect and agitate with a soft Grandi Groomer. Zone Perfect is a powerful prespray with a mild pH that is suitable for wool and 5th generation nylon carpets. Adding Citrus Solv to your Zone Perfect will give a tremendous cleaning boost without raising your pH or damaging the fiber.



STEP 5:

Extract – This step is the "rinse cycle" where you wash the dirt away that was loosened in the preconditioning phase. Use End Zone in the chemical injection system of the truck-mount or in the tank of your portable machine. End Zone is a mild but powerful emulsifier that will aid in cleaning and is suitable for wool and other delicate carpet fibers.



STEP 6:

If you used an alkaline product in your rinse, spray a light mist of Fab-Set. This will neutralize any remaining alkaline residue that may be left after cleaning and prepare the carpet for Bridgepoint protector.



STEP 7:

Protect the carpet using Bridgepoint Maxim or Teflon Advanced for Wool.



STEP 8:

Groom or set the pile where needed. It is important to groom wool carpet so you do not leave permanent jet streaks or wand marks after cleaning. This will leave a nice finished look and will promote drying. Clean a small section of carpet. Set the pile while it is still damp and warm to avoid permanent wand patterns.



STEP 9:

Take all steps necessary to dry the carpet quickly. This includes extra vacuum only strokes, using ceiling fans and/or HVAC and the use of an air mover.



HELPFUL HINT

Wool is not that difficult to clean if you follow the steps above. Follow the three main principles of cleaning by controlling moisture, pH and dry time and you will most likely never have a problem.



CAUTION

Avoid over aggressive measures when cleaning. Wool is a staple fiber and can have a fuzzing problem if you get carried away with agitation. A vacuum brush that digs too deep into the pile, a carpet brush with stiff bristles and scrubbing to remove a spot or stain are all possible sources of aggressive agitation that can leave a wool carpet with pile distortion or a fuzzy appearance. Avoid excessive pressure; 300 to 400 psi should be the maximum pressure for cleaning wool in most cases.



CONCLUSION

Some cleaners are concerned about the pH of products used to clean wool carpet. Some oft repeated guide lines about the pH of products used to clean wool are not entirely accurate.



What is much more important than the pH of the products used for a few minutes to clean wool, is the pH of the fibers after the cleaning has been completed, and the pH of the wool fibers for weeks or months until the next cleaning. The combination of Zone Perfect followed by End Zone leaves the wool fiber in the perfect slightly acid state.



Wool is an expensive fiber. Properly maintained, it can last many years and be a great value.



Your residential clients with wool carpets, either wall to wall or area rugs, know the value of wool. They are willing to pay the cost to maintain their investment. They will expect a high level of personal service. Learning to properly clean wool carpet and how to market to these discriminating clients will open doors to a lucrative income.



Wool does not burn easily. It will not emit toxic fumes if it does ignite. For these reasons, fire regulations often require the use of wool carpet near exits of high occupancy buildings. Do not over-look these potential clients for your service.

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I could post about this stuff all damn day.

who wants to read a board full of information....not me...not unless I have a problem

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