Wool Rug Cleaning HELP

I was asked to clean a wool rug for a client and was going to clean it with just hot water and my wand, but I don't want to mess it up. 

My question is: How do you clean oriental rugs, that are wool, and make them look good without damaging them? 

Yeah I here you. I don't have the time to do a course between now and Monday which is a problem. Can anyone give me cleaning advice as to how to do it? 

You're probably right. I've all ready cleaned many wool rugs in the past without complication but jon don told me that it was crazy to do it without training. It's a $400 job...

Wool's weaknesses are that it: * It stains easily * It is weak to alkaline solutions * It is expensive to use in carpeting ..

Wool fibers respond well to shampoo systems as do all of the natural fibers. Dyes used in wool are generally colorfast when cleaned this way and they dry brighter.

Carpets made of wool will easily shrink if over wet. Particularly the woven backed carpets. The wool fibers are stretched during the weaving process and when wet they want to return to their original length. This shrinkage is noticeable in the length and the width of the carpet backing rather than in the relatively short pile. In Axminster carpets the shrinkage in the weft yarns is not correctable by re-stretching.

Edited by John L - 18/July/2008 at 7:42pm

Very good advice there John L if he was just to clean a wool rug.
The overlooked part is the (ORIENTAL) part. Few if any that i have come across are just a plain one colour rug.
Normally they are multi coloured.
Having done several carpet cleaning courses and also the Woolsafe international training course, i was erring on the side of caution for an inexperienced operator.
$400 may sound good to grab and run, but if you have to pay your insurance excise and the down time you could have, if you dont know what your doing, dont do it.
That is my advice and of course my opinion only for what it's worth.
Mick

 "if you dont know what your doing, dont do it."  Great advice MickOz...

 

Forgot to mention caution should be taken when cleaning multi-colored dyed wools, because dyes are not as stable in wool/oriental fibers.

 

 

Edited by John L - 18/July/2008 at 8:01pm

Guys I understand the caution part !!! :) I have cleaned several rugs but I was just looking for someone who is experienced to the point where they can suggest the cleaning solution and procedure of doing this correctly. So far I have been told not to do it. If you go to a training course they don't just say " don't do it" they tell you how to do it.