Tips to Getting the Most From Your Carpets

DON'T - Rub the stain
DON'T - Pull at loose tufts of carpet
DON'T - Over wet the carpet if attempting to remove stains
DON'T - Use bleach on carpets unless they’re 100% polypropylene

How to remove WINE STAINS from carpet:

• Don’t let the stain settle. Act as fast as possible. It may be after midnight - do it now - you'll be glad you did !!!!
• Using a white cloth, blot, DON'T RUB the stain. The more you can soak up, the less you’ll have to remove.
• After you have blotted, pour a bit of cold water directly onto the wine stain – this will dilute the remains of the stain.
• Keep on blotting until no more of the stain comes out. Remember, no rubbing!

And if that doesn’t work… try this:

• Blot as much of the stain as possible – use paper towels or a clean cloth.
• Pour two cups of warm water into a small bowl. Then mix one tablespoon of white vinegar and one tablespoon of a dishwashing liquid together.
• Dip a clean sponge into the bowl and apply the solution directly onto the wine stain - blotting only - DON'T  RUB !
• Continue blotting until the stain has lifted.
• Make a baking soda paste by mixing a three-to-one ratio of water to baking soda
• Apply to the stain. Once the paste is dry, vacuum the stain.

DON'T - Rub the stain
DON'T - Pull at loose tufts of carpet
DON'T - Over wet the carpet if attempting to remove stains
DON'T - Use bleach on carpets unless they’re 100% polypropylene

As soon as you notice the wax stain, it’s important to take action. The longer it sits on the carpet, the harder the stain will be to remove.

• Fill a plastic bag with ice. Lay this directly onto the stain and let it freeze the wax for a few minutes.
• Remove the plastic bag and start to scrape the wax off the carpet using a blunt knife.
• Lay a clean cloth or a brown paper bag directly over the affected area of the carpet.
• Using a warm iron, slowly press the iron on top of the paper bag or cloth. The material should start to absorb the wax and lift it off the carpet.
• Repeat this until the wax disappears.

• Remove any excess by blotting the stain with a paper or cotton towel.
• Blot until the liquid no longer transfers onto the cloth.
• Pour a small amount of water onto the stained area. Keep on blotting up the liquid.
• If the stain still remains, sponge white vinegar diluted 1:1 with water onto the stain.
  TOP TIP: Test the vinegar in a hidden spot first, as it can bleach your carpet.
•  Leave to sit for 5-10 minutes.
• Rinse and blot up the liquid with a clean white cloth.

• Blot up as much of the excess spill as possible using a clean cloth or paper towel.
• Apply a spot remover to the cloth and blot. Repeat until there's no more stain transfers to the cloth.
• Repeat the blotting with clean water to remove any residues.
• Remove any excess water with a cloth. Brush with a soft brush if needed and allow to dry.
• Groom the carpet with a soft brush to align the pile.If needed repeat the process.

• Blot with a clean cloth and cold water.
• Remove as much of the stain as possible.
• Blot washing up liquid onto the stain with a clean cloth.
• Use small, circular motions to remove the stain.
• Remove any excess water with a cloth. Brush with a soft brush if needs be.
  Allow to dry.
• Repeat if necessary!

DON'T - Rub the stain
DON'T - Pull at loose tufts of carpet
DON'T - Over wet the carpet if attempting to remove stains
DON'T - Use bleach on carpets unless they’re 100% polypropylene

• Apply white or mineral spirit to a clean cloth and place over the stain. Test on an inconspicuous area of the carpet first to prevent permanent damage.
• Leave for two minutes, then blot. Repeat until the stain no longer transfers to the cloth. 
• Apply a spot of remover to a cloth and blot. Repeat until no more of the stain transfers to the cloth.
• Repeat the blotting with clean water to remove any residue.
• Dry the area with a white cloth or paper towel.
• Groom the cut pile carpet with a soft brush to align the pile. If all else fails, it will require professional cleaning.

DON'T - Rub the stain
DON'T - Pull at loose tufts of carpet
DON'T - Over wet the carpet if attempting to remove stains
DON'T - Use bleach on carpets unless they’re 100% polypropylene

• Firstly, give the mud time to dry...
• Vacuum the muddy area thoroughly.
• Apply a carpet shampoo to a white cloth and blot. Repeat until no more stain transfers to the cloth.
• Apply a spot remover to a cloth and blot. Repeat until the stain no longer transfers to the cloth.
• Repeat the blotting with clean water to remove any residue.
• Dry the treated area with a white cloth or paper towel.
• Groom the cut pile carpet with a soft brush to align the pile. If all else fails, find an approved carpet cleaner.

Why choose carpet?
Carpet is good for making a room more cosy and insulating your floors.
It's a good choice if you tend to walk around barefoot. 

Most buying decissions are based on budget, but also - 

• The look and feel you're after.
• The way your carpet is made will affect how it looks – from plush, to tight and dense – and how it feels underfoot.
• Think about whether you want a soft pile you can sink your toes into or something flatter and more stable.
• Ease of cleaning - if you have five kids and two dogs, white dense carpet is not the one to choose.
• Colour is the main deciding factor in today's market - carpets are usually bought to match the new colour scheme rather than a top quality carpet that will last for 30 years or more. 

What is Man-Made Carpet?

Man-made carpets pretty much as the name suggests  - they are carpets that have been made using synthetic, man-made fibres. While not necessarily traditional, synthetic carpeting has gained a lot of popularity over the years as the quality of fibres has improved. There are generally three varieties of synthetic fibre used;

• Polypropylene
• Polyamide (Nylon).
• Polyester.

Each have slightly different properties – for example, nylon is the most popular option, while polypropylene is more stain resistant.

Why Choose Man-Made Carpet?

Stain-resistance: Synthetic fibres are perhaps best known for their stain resistance, which makes them the best choice for busy households with kids, pets and husbands who don’t take off their shoes when they come in the door! In fact, polypropylene is almost impossible to stain with water-based materials.

 No fading: If you have to clean your carpet, a man-made carpet can be cleaned with a mix of warm water and bleach without any risk of fading or damaging the colour at all. This is because the fibres have been heat set during production, and so won’t be damaged by the bleach.

Comfort: You might think that wool carpets would be softer – but you would be wrong. If you’ve ever stroked a sheep, goat or alpaca, then you know just how soft man-made carpeting can be. It feels very comfortable underfoot, even with no shoes or socks. They also look as comfy as they feel!

Cheaper: Man-made carpeting is cheaper to produce, and so it’s much cheaper to buy as well. Man-made carpets can start from as little as £7.99 per square metre – though these tend to be cheaper options, with high-quality carpets coming in around £15-£25 per square metre.

Just like with woollen carpets, there are some downsides to choosing a man-made carpet as well, including:

Oil sensitivity: We mentioned earlier that synthetic fibres are almost impossible to stain with water-based substances. But they are a bit weaker when it comes to oils, Oily and greasy stains can pose a problem, and often need thorough cleaning to remove.

Flatten easier: As a general rule, man-made carpets will flatten much faster than those made from natural fibres. While this has been improved by modern heat setting techniques, you will still see them wear and flatten much faster.

And if you can’t choose between the two? You could always opt for a blended carpet instead. These are a mix of wool and synthetic fibres, and usually come in an 80%-20% mix. This gives you all the luxurious feel of wool underfoot (and that insulation), but with the stain-resistant properties of man-made fibres.

Why Choose Wool Carpet?
There are lots of reasons people prefer wool carpets over synthetics, including:

Insulation: Since wool is designed to keep animals warm, it’s no surprise that wool is a great insulator. Wool carpets keep your home warmer, and could actually reduce your heating bill in the winter (as well as stopping you from getting cold toes first thing in the morning). It’s also fire-resistant. Which means sparks from an open fire won’t post much of a rise.

Easy to clean: Wool has a great response to cleaning. They have an inbuilt resistance to soiling and dirt thanks to their natural oils. They can also be stain guarded, which means they can be resistant to more stubborn stains as well.

Resilient: Wool carpets are very resilient to a high volume footprint, and will take a lot longer to sink, flatten and wear down, making them perfect for high traffic areas of the home. They are the hardest-wearing type of carpet you can find.

There are some negatives to wool carpets as well, like:

• More expensive: Wool carpeting is a more expensive option than man-made ones, so covering multiple rooms could rack up a slightly larger bill. For a good wool carpet you can generally expect to pay anywhere between £15 and £50 per square metre – though check with your retailer for exact prices.
• Prone to stains: While normal, everyday dirt and debris isn’t an issue for wool, they can be prone to staining if things are left to soak in. So if you don’t get the carpet stain guarded, you could end up with some stubborn stains to work out.

DO

• Vacuum regularly
• Use furniture cups
• Rotate furniture regularly
• Keep pets’ nails trimmed
• Put doormats and rugs by doors

DON'T

• Rub a stain - always blot it
• Pull at loose tufts of carpet
• Allow it to be subject to direct sunlight
• Over wet the carpet if attempting to remove stains
• Use bleach on carpets unless they’re 100% polypropylene