Wilton carpet is a dense
100% imported lamb’s wool loop pile of the highest grade (Wilton) Wilton
patented their first loom in 1741; their carpets are always machine woven and
are very hard wearing. This type of premium carpet is mostly used in prestige European
automobiles; Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lotus, Lexus and Rolls
Royce, and high-end German automobiles such as Audi, BMW, Daimler AG,
Mercedes-Benz, and earlier Porsche models.
Cleaning of wool carpets is
not such a difficult task. It can be done with a little bit of extra care
regarding cleaning solutions, heat, avoiding over wetting, etc. Excessive
agitation and heat should be avoided, but generally wool fibres may be cleaned
with most cleaning methods. Wool should be cleaned with pH neutral detergents
and dried quickly.
These carpets should be
maintained and cared for with regular vacuuming and cleaning. A vacuum with a
rotating beater bar is beneficial in agitating the carpet, which helps in
better removal of soil stuck on the surface. The advantage of a vacuum with a
rotating beater or bar is that it facilitates removal of embedded soil and
thereby prevents matting and packing. As an alternative use a medium-stiff
upholstery brush
Unlike carpets made of
synthetic fibres, soil can be vacuumed from wool carpets very easily. I would
recommend vacuuming at least two or three times a week to remove excess fuzz
that accumulates on the (new) surface. This fuzzing is perfectly normal and in
no way shortens the life of your carpet, it is merely the result of loose
fibres created during the weaving process.
Pilling - a condition of the
carpet face in which fibres from different tufts become entangled with one
another, forming hard masses of fibres and tangled tufts and may be caused by
excessive heavy foot traffic or using powder cleaners or deodorizers that
"clump" fibres together. If the beater bar of your vacuum slows down
noticeably on the rug, raise the height, constant heavy beating with these bars
can also cause pilling.
Cleaning
The advantage of foam
(Woolite® Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam) over liquid is the minimum amount of
moisture, very important for cleaning absorbent and moisture sensitive
materials. Use foam cleaner, which should be given dwell time and then gentle
agitation with a medium stiff bristled brush to get the product into the
materials surface, the low moisture content of foam can then be easily rinsed
and the surface dried.
Dust
- can soil carpets in various ways, it will discolour the fibres
making them appear dull and grey, dust brought into the vehicle from outside
often contains grit, which will abrade the fibres and cause wear marks,
especially in the footwell close to the pedals. Using a vacuum with an
agitator attachment regularly will avoid these problems
Spills and stains - whenever
a spill occurs it is important to blot as much of the liquid us as possible
using a dry clean cloth or tissue. Never rub the pile as this will cause
distortion and possibly alter the appearance of the carpet. It is very
important to do this immediately after the spill occur, failure to remove the
spill quickly could lead to the stain becoming permanent and it may not be able
to be removed at a later date, even with professional assistance.
Carpet
shampoo - if incorrectly applied, can leave sticky soap residues in the
fibres which can result in the soiling reappearing quite rapidly. The advantage
of foam over liquid is the minimum amount of moisture so it will not over wet
the fibres, very important for cleaning absorbent and moisture sensitive
natural wool carpets.
Normal cleaning-
brush loose dirt/dust with a medium stiff brush (use only on dry carpets,
otherwise the fibres will tear), lightly spray surface with a carpet cleaner
(Scotchgard™ Fabric & Upholstery Cleaner) and let the foam remain in place
for 5-10 minutes and then remove residue.
Autoglym Interior
Shampoo/Cleaner easily cleans through dirt and oils on hard to clean panels
like door handles or seats, and effectively removes stains from carpets without
any fear of bleaching, leaving soapy residue, or lingering scent behind. The
name suggests shampoo, but this product is an actual cleaner.
Heavily soiled-
brush loose dirt/dust with a medium stiff brush, use a citrus-based pre-cleaner
P21S® Total Auto Wash 10:1 distilled hot water, or Woolite® Heavy Traffic
Carpet Foam, allow the solution remain in place for 5-10 minutes to enable
cleaners to react, and then use a carpet extractor or high suction vacuum
After surfaces are clean and
dried, use a rubber bristle brush to go over the carpet material to raise the
fibres and apply a stain guard (303 High Tech Fabric Guard or Scotchgard™
Protector) improves the fibres resistance to oil and water-based stains, as
well as soiling from everyday use.
Steam
- this method is most effective but use caution by not using too
much detergent or water, do not over-wet natural wool As always test the
product on a small area to check for residue or a sticky feel. Do not use if a
residue exists, or if in doubt about a product. Finally, do not use laundry
detergents to clean as they often contain chemical brighteners.
Drying
Always thoroughly dry
carpets to avoid mildew and/or mould formation. To speed the drying process,
leave the doors or the sunroof open, but make sure you shut off the interior
lights by placing something in the door jamb that keeps the buttons retracted,
or disconnecting the battery. Use of a carpet extractor is better than heat as
this may cause the mats or carpet to become stiff. If an extractor is not
available use cotton terry towels to pat dry
Protection
Scotchgard™ Protector
-fluorocarbon chemicals (polymer latex) developed by 3M are mostly inert so by
applying it to fabric they provide an effective protective treatment by
surrounding each individual fibre with an invisible shield.
It can be safely used for
the finest wool or nylon fabrics; Scotchgard™ Protector improves the fibres
resistance to oil and water-based stains, as well as soiling from everyday use
I
would like to think that these articles become an asset to anyone who is new to
detailing and to professionals alike, as well as industry experts who seek to
advance their knowledge.
I hope the above article was
informative. By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ as well as
the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand how the chemicals
we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you
would share this article as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.
Questions and/ or constructive
comments are always appreciated.
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