Carpet Repair and Maintenance

Abrasion

Pet paws, claws, rubber soled shoes and heels can be abrasive on carpets, particularly where use is constantly concentrated to small areas (for example, in front of armchairs). Move furniture occasionally to avoid any distortion to the carpet pile.

Burns

Burns occur when a cigarette butt or flame comes in contact with the carpet. If the burn is small, the burnt fibres of the carpet can be cut out with scissors. If the burn is large, you'll need to replace the place with a new piece of carpet. You can do this yourself with a bit of know-how, or have an installer do it.

Colour Change

The carpet may change colour over time for a variety of reasons, usually due to pile flattening, gradual soiling and slight fading of the dyes used to colour the fibres. A good professional cleaning will usually restore the carpet's appearance.

Draught Marking

Carpets may show increased soiling around the edges of a room, under doors and near air ducts. This is called draught marking, soil filtration or fogging and is caused by the pile fibres filtering out dirt particles from the air blowing under skirting boards or doors, or from ducts.

Fading

Most textiles will fade very gradually over time due to natural light. To reduce fading of carpets in rooms with strong exposure to the sun, (for example, south facing rooms with patio windows), judicious use of curtains or sun blinds is recommended.

Fibre Loss

Many newly installed carpets, particularly those with a cut or velour pile, tend to lose fibre when first installed. This effect, called shedding or fluffing, is caused by the way the yarn is spun and the carpet is made and does not mean there is a defect. It is no reason for alarm, but a natural phenomenon, which will stop eventually. The short fibres given off represent a very small fraction of the pile. Simply vacuum the carpet a little more gently for the first few weeks and empty the dust bag or receptacle regularly.

Flattening

All cut pile fabrics of any fibre type will flatten to some extent in traffic lanes although regular vacuuming will help to alleviate this. This flattening is a normal reaction to localised traffic and is not detrimental to the wear of the carpet.

Indentations

The feet of heavy furniture will create indentations on any carpet. To help reduce marking, regularly move the position of furniture and other heavy objects where possible. To help lift the pile back up, use a coin to 'gently' tease the pile upright. Alternatively, sprinkle your carpet with some club soda, place a towel over the area, then iron it. Do this a couple of times and you will see your carpet begin to re-fluff.

Pilling

Pilling can sometimes occur on loop pile and wool blend carpets. The expression is used to describe the little balls of fibres that collect on the carpet surface, and is similar to the type of pilling that can occur on a jumper. Carefully remove these pills with scissors - the durability of the carpet will not be affected.

Shading (Pile Reversal)

Pile reversal, also known as shading, or – wrongly – water marking, is the effect whereby areas of velour or velvet carpet appear to become lighter or darker in colour than the surrounding area. This is an optical effect created as a result of the pile surface laying in varying directions, and the light refraction on the surface of the pile creating a 'shaded' appearance. It is caused by traffic patterns or unevenness in the floor, but is not a carpet defect. Loop pile and many hard-twist carpets are not affected by this. Shading is not detrimental to the wear of the carpet.

Sprouting

Occasionally tufts may appear above the pile surface of the carpet. Do NOT pull them out; simply cut them level with the surrounding tufts using small, sharp scissors.

Static Electricity

When the atmosphere is dry, static electricity can build up in a carpet. This may be rectified by keeping the humidity high with a humidifier or indoor plants in water trays. You can also spray the surface of the carpet with an anti static agent.