Wool carpets contaminated with industrial oils require a carefully controlled process.
Wool is an absorbent protein fibre with a natural outer cuticle that can be damaged by excessive alkalinity, heat, agitation, or aggressive chemistry. Industrial oils penetrate and bind to the fibre surface, dulling the appearance and creating persistent greasy lanes. The cleaning approach must therefore prioritise fibre safety while providing enough emulsification power to lift oily residues.
Important Note
Cleaning Wool Carpets
When cleaning wool carpets, you must use extra care, as elevated levels of alkalinity and over-wetting can easily damage the wool fibres. Always use a WoolSafe-certified product when cleaning wool carpets to prevent unnecessary damage.
Prespray
Dilute 1:32 (30mL/1Lt)
A wool-safe, mildly alkaline prespray engineered for delicate fibres. It provides controlled emulsification of oils and organic residues without compromising wool’s natural protective scales. Performance Plus relies on gentle surfactants rather than harsh alkalinity, making it ideal where oil removal must be balanced against fibre sensitivity.
Performance Plus lifts oily soils through safe surfactant action rather than aggressive pH. The product is intentionally designed to avoid fibre stress, so dwell time and gentle agitation are essential for maximum effectiveness.
Acid Rinse
Dilute 1:100 (10ml/Lt)
An acid rinse designed for wool and other sensitive fibres. It neutralises prespray residues, stabilises the wool fibre structure, prevents damage from alkalinity, and assists in closing the cuticle after cleaning. Rinse Pro ensures a soft hand feel, controlled drying, and reduces the risk of browning or colour shift.
Rinse Pro restores wool’s natural pH balance, ensuring that oils, residues, and prespray components are fully neutralised and flushed away. Acid rinsing also reduces wick-back potential, a key consideration for absorbent wool fibres.
Process
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Pre-Vacuum
Thoroughly vacuum the carpet to remove embedded particulates. Wool holds dry soil more readily than synthetic fibres, so this step is critical for effective oil release.
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Prespray
Apply Performance Plus evenly across the surface.
Use light, controlled agitation. Avoid aggressive brushing or mechanical scrubbing, which can distort pile or open the fibre cuticle.
Allow sufficient dwell time, keeping the carpet damp but never overwet. -
Rinse and Extract
Extract using warm water only, not hot, to protect the fibre.
Use Rinse Pro at the recommended dilution and perform slow, even wand passes.
Avoid over-wetting wool. Use extra vacuum passes on heavily soiled areas to remove emulsified oils without leaving moisture in the base of the pile. -
Dry and Groom
Accelerate drying carefully with airflow and ventilation.
Groom the pile to restore fibre alignment and prevent compression marks.
Fast drying reduces the risk of browning, microbial growth, or oil wick-back.
Further Notes
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Agitation Control
Wool requires lighter agitation than nylon or polypropylene. Use a soft brush, pad, or CRB with wool brushes only. Avoid aggressive mechanical action.
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Temperature Restrictions
Keep solution temperatures in a moderate range. Excessive heat can cause felting, shrinkage, or dye instability.
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Spotting
For isolated oily spots that remain post-cleaning, use wool-safe spotting agents only. Avoid high-alkaline or solvent-heavy products unless specifically labelled safe for wool.
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pH Management
Never exceed wool’s safe pH window. Performance Plus and Rinse Pro are designed for this exact purpose, ensuring the entire system remains fibre-safe from prespray through to extraction.
Where To Buy
Performance Plus
The ultimate wool safe, multi-task prespray detergent.
The ultimate wool safe, multi-task prespray detergent.
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