How To Clean A Wool Carpet- Everything You Need To Know

Are you considering upgrading to a new wool carpet and want to ensure your new investment keeps looking its best for as long as possible? We got you.

You’ll be glad to know that wool carpets have some inherent properties, like being naturally stain and soil-resistant, which makes them easy to clean. Spills are part of life; that's why we created this guide so you’ll know how to clean a wool carpet by yourself. We break it down into six of the toughest stains with quick video tutorials that you can easily follow.

How to keep wool carpets looking great at home

General maintenance and everyday cleaning of wool carpets

All Bremworth wool carpets are made using 100% NZ-grown wool, making them naturally durable, stain-resistant and easy to clean. But, for your Bremworth wool carpet to remain looking great, you should ensure it’s maintained and cleaned regularly.

How do I keep my wool carpet looking good?

We highly recommend that you dry vacuum at least once a week with a non-rotating suction head. Vacuum more frequently in areas with high usage. By doing this, soil or dirt won't become embedded in the pile or grind against the tufts' bases, wearing them out more quickly.

How to spot clean wool carpet

In short, the best way to spot-clean a wool carpet is to start by scraping up any solids or blotting up excess liquid with paper towels. Then, apply room temperature water to the spill and press with paper towels until there's no transfer of the spill to the towel.

Avoid rubbing the wet carpet, as it can damage the pile.

Keep reading to get more detailed information on removing specific stains off carpets.

Caring for Different Types Of Wool Carpets

Care for your wool also differs from carpet to carpet. There are two types of wool carpets; Loop Pile and Cut Pile. Here are the best vacuuming techniques for each.

1. Loop Pile Carpets

The best way to regularly vacuum loop pile carpets is to use a straightforward vacuum head. Use the crevice tool for corners, which is the long, skinny-shaped vacuum head.


To keep your carpet looking its best, avoid using turbo or spinning head attachments as these can cause frizzing, and like with all carpets, avoid excessive force.

2. Cut Pile Carpets


We recommend using a simple suction head (avoid excessive pressure, which could flatten the carpet) and occasionally grooming with your turbo or rotating brush head. Be mindful of excessive force, or excessively using a rotating brush vacuum head can compromise the tailored appearance of your cut pile carpet.

Now that we've gone over those general wool carpet cleaning and vacuuming tips, let's dive deeper into how to clean six of the toughest stains and spills off wool carpets.

 

How to Clean 6 Common Stains and Spills Off Wool Carpets

Before we look at each type of stain or spill, let's run through a few general Do's and Don’ts that apply to all of them:


Do
  • “Contain the stain" and immediately blot any liquids with paper towels.
  • Quickly scoop up any solids; avoid pushing them deeper into the carpet pile.
Don't
  • Never rub a wet spill on a wool carpet. Instead, you want to absorb it with plain white paper towels using a gentle blotting/dabbing action! Rubbing can drive the liquid deep into the pile and into the backing, making it much harder to remove

Now that we have covered removal tips for general stains and spills let's delve a little deeper. We have a series of short videos showing you how to clean six of the toughest stains and spills from wool carpets.

Cleaning solid dirt off carpets by yourself

Solid spills on wool carpets require more finesse than other messes. When you encounter one, start by removing anything that has settled on the surface and then tackle any liquid component present before addressing the saturation of the carpet.

Below we've outlined how to clean three of the most common solid spills off a carpet.

1. How to clean baby food off a wool carpet

Step 1: Discard any large pieces of food
Step 2: Pour a small amount of water on the spill
Step 3: Soak up excess water with dry paper towels
Step 4: Use downward pressure to soak - do not rub!
Step 5: Relax!

2. How to clean pet dirt off wool carpets

Wool is naturally pet-friendly and is soft enough for your furry friend's paws. The following cleaning tips can be used for most pet-related spills like poo, vomit, and urine.

Step 1: Carefully scoop or contain as much as you can.
Step 2: Pour a small amount of water on the spill
Step 3: Apply light pressure using dry paper towels until most of the spill is uplifted.
Step 4: Discard and repeat until the spill has disappeared.
Step 5: Soak up excess water with dry paper towels, and remember, do not rub!

3. How to clean soil off wool carpets

Step 1: Gently pick up and discard any large pieces of soil
Step 2: Vacuum up the rest of the surface soil, hovering just above the spill.
Step 3: Vacuum with a suction-only (brushless head) - It’s important to use a strong suction-only vacuum because vacuum heads with rotating brushes (powerheads) may tear at the fibres of your carpet, especially loop pile carpet because they are firm and non-adjustable in height. It's preferred not to use static brushes either, as this can also do damage.

Regularly vacuuming with powerheads can cause irreparable damage to your carpet, so it's preferred that you avoid them as well. You can occasionally use vacuum heads with softer spinning brushes to remove fluffing on the carpet’s surface. You can also use universal heads but make sure to retract the brushes completely when using them to avoid damaging the fibres.

Step 4: Relax and re-pot your plant!

Cleaning liquids off wool carpets

Liquid spills are a little tougher to clean than solid spills, but don't worry; we've got some tips that can help you. Soft drinks, juices and wine are three of the most common liquids that can end up on your wool carpet, so here's how to tackle those.

1. How to clean soft drinks off a wool carpet

Step 1: Clean up the spill immediately by gently blotting the spill with plain paper towels, removing as much as you can. Watch the below video to see how that's done.
Step 2: Pour a small amount of water on the spill
Step 3: Remove surface water with dry paper towels
Step 4: Soak up excess water with more paper towels - use downward pressure, but do not rub!
Step 5: All done!

2. How to clean orange juice off a wool carpet

Because orange juice is acidic, many people tend to clean it off with vinegar, but this is ineffective because vinegar is also acidic. So, the best way to tackle orange juice spills on a wool carpet is to go through the steps below.

Step 1: Clean up the spill immediately by gently blotting the spill with plain paper towels, removing as much as possible.
Step 2: Pour a small amount of water on the spill
Step 3: Remove surface water with dry paper towels
Step 4: Soak up excess water with more paper towels - use downward pressure, but do not rub!
Step 5: All done!

3. How to clean wine off a wool carpet

The most dreaded spill of all time! A wool carpet and merlot are like a recipe for disaster but don't worry. By following these steps quickly and correctly, your carpet can return to its former glory.

Step 1: Clean up the spill immediately by gently blotting the spill with plain paper towels, removing as much as you can.
Step 2: When the carpet starts to feel dry under the paper towels, pour a small amount of room temperature water or Bremworth's Carpet Stain Remover on the spill and blot it again with a paper towel.
Step 3: Next, make the cleaning solution - mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water
Step 4: Dampen a white cloth with the vinegar solution and gently dab it on the spill until it has disappeared. Use two separate towels, one to apply the liquid, while you blot away the stain using another dry towel.
Step 5: Pour yourself another glass of wine and relax!

How to clean stains off wool carpets

We use high-quality NZ wool at Bremworth because the fibre is naturally durable and stain-resistant. All our wool is 100% NZ-grown and certified by the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP).

There are two types of stains that can end up on your wool carpets- liquid and oily/greasy/dry stains. Here's what you can do to clean them off.

How to clean liquid stains off wool carpets

Step 1: If you're dealing with liquid stains on your carpet, we recommend using our effective Wet Stain Remover that you can buy from most supermarkets across NZ. However, before applying it, make sure you firmly blot up the stain first.

If you don't have our remover on hand, no worries! Simply dilute the affected area with room temperature water and gently blot using clean, dry paper towels. Avoid rubbing the stain to prevent permanent damage.

Step 2: Repeat this process until the stain disappears. Don't worry about damaging the wool pile with water - just be mindful not to over-wet the carpet, which can cause watermarks or damage to the backing.

How to clean oily/greasy/dry stains off wool carpets

Most oily, greasy or dry stains can be removed, even after a period of time. We produce a top-selling stain remover for dry stains that’s very effective on oily/greasy spills.

However, certain stains may have a chemical reaction with the fibre and can cause irreversible damage. So, the best thing to do is to visit our Stain Guide here and cross-reference the type of treatment with the relevant stain.

 

Steam cleaning a wool carpet

If you've exhausted all options and that stubborn stain is still clinging on, it's time to bring in the experts. Contact our friendly team of carpet experts for more help so we can direct you to the best next steps and even come out and have a look at your Bremworth carpet if it needs professional care.

 

Further Care And Maintenance For Your Wool Carpet

At Bremworth, we have a variety of wool carpets on offer, and it's important to know the unique advantages and features of each type to ensure you take proper care of them.

For example, when placing heavy items on soft flooring like a wool carpet, impressions may be left where the furniture has sat. Regular vacuuming can help improve these when you move the furniture to a new location, and it can take a little while for it to disappear.

To learn how to properly care for your wool carpet, visit our carpet general maintenance guide here. We hope this ultimate guide to cleaning wool carpets has been helpful. We have various free tools and guides available if you want more help in your carpet-buying journey.

You could also pop into any of our stockists located across the country for in-person advice and help. Book a complimentary consultation with one of our carpet experts.