Natural Fibre Cleaning Information

 

CREATING A CARPET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM 

 

It's vital you understand the importance of proper carpet maintenance, then you are ready to create a comprehensive maintenance program for your natural fibre carpet. 

 

Step 1: Make preventive maintenance a priority 

 

Preventing soil from entering the environment is easier and less expensive than removing it from the carpet. Here are five simple but important steps in a preventive maintenance program: 

 

Keep outside areas clean 

Outside maintenance helps minimize immediate sources of soil. The cleaner you keep sidewalks, parking lots, garages and other areas around the perimeter of your building, the less dirt that will be tracked inside. During winter months, remove as much snow and ice as possible rather than treating it with chemicals or sand. 

 

Use soil barriers 

Walk-off mats, grates and removable elevator carpets help collect soil before it can be tracked throughout the building. Be sure soil barriers are large enough to allow for at least five steps across. Vacuum daily, clean frequently and change often for best results. 

 

Protect desk areas 

Chair pads under desk chairs prevent casters from crushing carpet and grinding in soil. 

 

Specify eating, drinking and smoking areas 

By restricting these activities to limited areas, you can help confine certain difficult kinds of soil. 

 

Step 2: Manage soil with regular vacuuming 

 

Vacuuming is the most important dry soil management procedure. Effective vacuuming removes dry soil so that it cannot spread to other carpeted areas. The level of effective vacuuming has two components: frequency and equipment type. 

 

Vacuuming frequency                         

 

• Heavy to moderate traffic areas (entrances, elevator lobbies, reception areas, busy corridors, cafeterias, vending machine areas, employee lounges) should be vacuumed daily. 

 

• Light traffic areas (offices, conference rooms) should be vacuumed at least two to three times per week. 

 

Equipment type 

 

• Powerhead upright vacuums are very effective machines for thoroughly cleaning heavy- to moderate traffic areas. This vacuum uses two motors to clean. One motor drives a beater-brush bar that knocks dirt loose, while the second motor provides suction that pulls dirt into the vacuum bag. 

 

• Barrel vacuums can be very effective machines depending upon their design. For the most part, they should only be used in light-traffic areas. They are generally less powerful than upright vacuums, but easier to maneuver around furniture. 

 

• Carpet sweepers may be used to remove larger particle-sized surface dirt and small litter in high-visibility areas during the business day. However, they are not an effective cleaning method and should not take the place of thorough vacuuming. 

 

Step 3: Spot Cleaning:      

 

• Scuff or mud marks, once dry, can be removed by gentle brushing and vacuuming of the affected areas. 

 

Solids and semi solids:  

• All excess material should be gently scraped off with a spatula, knife or spoon and then proceed with the following steps where required. 

 

Liquids:                              

• Soak up all excess liquids as soon as possible using white paper towels or tissues, however a sponge or blotting paper may be used as an alternative.  

 

Step 3.1: Soak up as much free liquid as possible then discard the paper towel or tissue between applications or if a sponge is used, rinse it out regularly in clean water between applications.  

Don’t scrub the fabrics as this only damages the fibres unnecessarily and won’t improve the cleaning process. Sometimes it may be more advantageous to leave some paper towels over the spill area with moderate weight (e.g. books) on top to assist in soaking up liquid that has settled into the lower areas of the fabrics. 

 

Step 3.2: Having removed all excess liquid, any remaining moisture can be left to dry out.  

If the spill contains materials that may leave a colour mark (e.g. tea, coffee, cordial etc.) add small amounts of clean warm water to the spill area & repeat the cleaning procedure as detailed in Step 3.1 

A small amount of household detergent mixed with the warm water may also assist the operation. 

 

USE MINIMAL AMOUNTS OF WATER AND OR DETERGENT ONLY. 

 

Step 3.3: HOST dry cleaning powder is highly recommended to treat stubborn stains. Available in a handy DIY cleaning pack from our stores.  

You could also try a reputable brand of Stain / Spot remover to assist cleaning the stain. 

Some of the removers contain a Bleaching agent, which could discolour the carpet, so it is advisable to read the instructions and contents before use. 

                                          

 

STAINPROTECTION APPLIED PRIOR TO INSTALLING WILL FURTHER ASSIST THESE METHODS 

 

Professional Cleaning: 

• Not recommended for our natural fibre carpets is Steam or Wet Extraction cleaning. 

• In case of a very large soiled area we suggest you contact a specialist Carpet Dry Cleaner. 

 

Sydney and Nationwide: 

Carpet Care Services - Freecall 1800 626 564 

Ph: 02 9420 1715       Fax: 02 9420 9629 

 

Host Cleaning Service – Freecall 1300 130 390 

OR  A.C.T.  Ph: 03 9866 8151  

Melbourne: Chem Dry 03 9723 7304 

 

Caution: 

• In order to promote a quick clean up, people have experimented with a range of chemicals such as Methylated Spirits, Mineral Turps, Nail Polish Remover, Hydrogen Peroxide Solution or Dry Cleaning Fluids.  

• Great caution should be exercised, both for personal safety and with respect to the carpet.  

• Always test a small patch of the carpet first for possible discolouring or colour changes.