Serene bedroom with a soft Bliss Tuscan carpet

Carpet Care Guide

Carpet Cleaning & Maintenance

Look after it properly and your new carpet will stay soft, bright and beautiful for years. Here’s everything our fitters wish every customer knew.

The golden rule

The key to good maintenance is keeping loose dirt and dust from working their way into the pile — where they act abrasively on the fibres and discolour your carpet.

Macro view of carpet fibres — 2–3×
vacuums a week
Grit = wear

Everyday habits

Small habits, years of extra life

Most wear happens before a carpet ever looks dirty. These four habits do the heavy lifting.

Hallway and staircase fitted with a warm Woodland carpet

Hallways & stairs

Stop the dirt at the door, and the rest of the house follows.

Vacuum regularly

At least 2–3 times a week, so loose grit never gets the chance to settle into the pile.

Lay a large doormat

A generous mat stops dirt from outside being spread around the house.

Shoes off at the door

Removing shoes at the front door lessens the impact of everyday wear and tear.

Think about light shades

Where possible, avoid laying light-coloured carpets next to external entrances.

Vacuum cleaning

The right vacuum for your pile

Not every carpet wants the same treatment. Pick your pile type to see how to clean it without damaging the fibres.

From day one: man-made and wool carpets should be vacuumed regularly as soon as they are laid.

Close-up of a looped Henley carpet weave

How to vacuum

Loop Pile

Loop pile carpets should be vacuumed with a cylinder cleaner, using the suction head only.

Use

Cylinder vacuum cleaner
Suction head only

Avoid

Beater heads and brushes — they can catch and lift the fibres
Over time this can give the carpet a bobbled or felted appearance

Stain removal

Spills happen. Here’s what to do.

In a busy household with a young family, pets or plenty of visitors, spills and stains can happen at any time. The good news is that carpets can be cleaned easily by following these guidelines.

Scroll through the five steps

Step 1 of 5

Act straight away

Tackle spillages and stains immediately — don’t leave them until later or allow them to dry.

The longer a spill sits, the deeper it travels into the fibres.

Woman relaxing on a sofa over a grey Gobi carpet

Bright bedroom with a Bliss Silk Shadow carpet

Loft bedroom with a Carefree Ultra Husky carpet

Warm living room with a leather sofa on a Woodland carpet

Modern lounge with a grey Provence Classic carpet

1
Act straight away
Tackle spillages and stains immediately — don’t leave them until later or allow them to dry.
The longer a spill sits, the deeper it travels into the fibres.
2
Blot, don’t rub
Blot away all the liquid with kitchen towel or a clean, white, dry cloth. Try not to rub vigorously or over-soak the carpet.
Rubbing pushes the stain down and can distort the pile.
3
Lift semi-solids
Semi-solid substances should be gently removed with a plastic spatula before you do anything else.
4
Work from the outside in
Always work from the outside of the stain inwards to minimise it spreading.
5
Rinse-blot & repeat
To clean off any remaining stain, blot with a clean cloth dampened with warm water. Repeat if required.
Patience wins — several light passes beat one heavy soak.

Easy-clean & bleach-cleanable carpets

One part bleach to ten parts warm water.

For easy-clean or bleach-cleanable polypropylene carpets, a diluted bleach solution can be used on stubborn stains. Take care not to over-soak the carpet, and repeat if required.

Bleach · Warm water

Never use bleach on wool carpets.

Not sure what your carpet is made from? Give us a ring before you try it — we keep a record of what we’ve fitted.

01603 40 20 30

Calm bedroom with a Provence Deluxe carpet

Professional cleaning

Every couple
of years.

Even with the best routine, we recommend having your carpets professionally cleaned every couple of years to lift deep-down dirt and bring the pile back to life.

Ask us for advice Time for a new carpet?