Cleaning Berber wool rugs is more difficult than you might think. To begin with, few Berber rugs are made of wool. Most are constructed of nylon or olefin fibers. And since each fiber has its own quirks when it comes to sound cleaning practices, your first step is to identify what type of carpet you’re dealing with. Once this is done, you can move on to determining the best possible cleaning method.
Genuine wool Berber rug
If you are lucky enough to have genuine Berber wool rugs, then you need to take the extra precautions that wool cleaning demands. Wool is largely advertised as the fiber of all fibers, and almost all other carpet fibers are compared to it. It’s soft, durable, and naturally repels dirt and other contaminants. It is also very absorbent of water, and it is a natural fiber, which can present problems in the cleaning process.
Berber wool carpet cleaning
For starters, wool won’t hold up well to excessive agitation, and you should never clean it in water temperatures over 150 degrees. Remember how that wool sweater shrunk from XL to something your 5-year-old could fit in when you accidentally washed it in hot water? The same principle applies here, and the last thing you want is for your rug to separate from the wall while it dries because you used too hot water. The other thing to remember when cleaning Berber wool rugs is to avoid using excessive moisture. Wool is famous for its ability to absorb and retain water, making wool rugs very difficult to dry if they have been too saturated. This can lead to a number of other problems, including the development of unpleasant odors, and further shrinkage of the carpet.
Berber Olefin Carpet Cleaning
At this point, you might think that you are lucky your Berber carpet or best vacuum for wool loop carpet is made of olefin, as opposed to wool when it comes to cleaning. Think again. Unlike wool, olefin fibers absorb almost no moisture. This absorbent property is what makes them a “stain-proof” carpet fiber. That glass of wine you spilled the other night didn’t stain your carpet because the olefin fibers just flaked off the grape juice and let it drip onto the carpet pad. This is great for everyday use but can present a problem when you call in a professional for deep cleaning.
Hot water extraction, or steam cleaning, generally wets the entire carpet, including the pad underneath, for the most thorough cleaning. With olefin, however, that means all those stains that never happened are now going to wander with the moisture and magically appear on the surface. Multiple aspirations are generally enough to get rid of these stains that appear out of nowhere, although there are a number of other steps your carpet cleaner can employ in the cleaning phase that can help reduce this effect. Ask ahead of time if your carpet cleaning contractor has worked with Berber olefin rugs before, and make sure they take steps to reduce the chances of this staining occurring in the first place.
Berber Nylon Carpet Cleaning
The nylon Berber rug is the easiest of the three to clean. You don’t need to take as many precautions here, but keep in mind that Berber is by definition a very thick carpet. Like wool, nylon absorbs a lot of moisture and takes a long time to dry. That is the case, it is not a bad idea to choose a “dry” carpet cleaning method by having your nylon Berber carpet professionally cleaned. It will save you the effort of installing fans around your carpet, and the worry you will surely feel when you realize that it is taking a long time for your carpet to dry.
Final thoughts
If you are cleaning a Berber wool carpet, or a synthetic carpet, remember that regular vacuuming is your best tool to keep these sturdy, durable and attractive carpets clean in the first place. Lastly, be sure to buy a vacuum without a beater bar. If you don’t, you’ll disrupt the intricate weave of the carpet, and you’ll be investing in new wall-to-wall carpeting before you know it.
