Berber Carpets in our homes, like other household items, need regular maintenance and cleaning. Being on the floor, they easily collect dirt from spills, food remnants, grease stains, footsteps, and pet activities. Let's explore how to properly maintain and optimize the cleanliness of our Berber carpets.
The best way to clean a Berber carpet?
- Vacuuming and Dust Removal
- Removing Surface Stains
- Using Ammonia and Baking Soda
- Washing a Moroccan Carpets with Water
- Drying and Storing Carpet
Warning:
Cleaning a Berber carpet may seem straightforward, but improper cleaning can damage it. It's recommended to hire a professional carpet cleaning service, like ours, to ensure safe and effective cleaning that protects and extends your carpet's lifespan.
-
Vacuuming and Dust Removal:
For routine maintenance, vacuuming a couple of times a week is sufficient. Use caution to avoid damaging a Berber carpet fibers by not using maximum vacuum power. Move the vacuum nozzle in the direction of the carpet's pile to prevent damage, especially to delicate wool fibers.
Avoid shaking a wool Berber carpets to remove dust and accumulated dirt, as this can cause damage. It's advisable to flip the carpet once a year, leaving it upside down for a few weeks. This helps gravity remove dust from knots. After vacuuming, the carpet will regain shine and softness.
-
Removing Surface Stains:
Easily remove superficial stains from footsteps, mud, and general dirt with a damp cloth. Use another damp cloth with soap or neutral detergent to completely eliminate any remaining dirt or stains. Avoid excessive rubbing to prevent damage to the affected area. Repeat if the stain persists and finish by drying the carpet with a dry cloth to remove excess moisture.
Stains from footsteps and spills, such as coffee or tea, can be easily removed this way.
-
Using Ammonia and Baking Soda:
A common practice is using a mixture of 100 grams of baking soda and 100 grams of common salt. Sprinkle it on the dirtiest parts of the Berber carpet, let it sit for at least an hour, then vacuum to leave the carpet completely clean and free of dust and dirt.
Ammonia is an effective disinfectant for removing most carpet stains. Dilute 100ml of ammonia in a liter of warm water, add a bit of detergent, spray the prepared solution on stains, and gently brush the affected areas to clean stains.
Warnings: Ammonia is highly toxic, so use masks to avoid inhaling its fumes and wear rubber gloves while cleaning the carpet. The workspace should be well-ventilated.
Centauro advises against using ammonia for cleaning a Berber carpets, especially those with delicate wool and silk fibers. Colors may fade, and fibers may weaken, resulting in the carpet losing its monetary value.
For any doubts on stain removal, contact our experts at Centauro.
-
Washing a Moroccan Carpets with Water:
Depending on the type, composition, and dimensions of the carpet (or rug), water can be used for complete or partial washing, eliminating superficial stains and dirt. When dealing with non-ancient and dry stains, water can be used, but for older and dry stains, there's a risk of the carpet's fiber dyes mixing, making recovery more expensive.
Avoid wetting carpets with silk threads, as these delicate fibers can be irreversibly damaged.
-
Drying and Storing Carpets:
After washing your Berber carpet or a section of it, let it dry completely before placing it back in its original location. If you're not using the carpet for a while, store it in a well-ventilated, well-lit area to prevent damage from moths that can harm the fabric.
-
Final Tips:
All the methods and practices described above are for daily maintenance of Berber carpets, aiming to keep them clean and free from pathogens and parasites, prolonging their lifespan and value.
At Enchanting Rugs, we recommend professional cleaning every two years. In our centers, we use traditional methods, machinery, and specific cleaning and sanitizing products for each type of Moroccan rugs, ensuring 100% cleanliness and disinfection.