Bleaching Wool Carpet

Washing rugs in standard issue chlorine bleach is the time honored traditional way to remove stains discolorations and colorants from fabrics.

Bleaching wool carpet.

This is especially true of polypropylene carpet. White or natural color wools can yellow for a number of reasons ranging from age to the environment it s stored in. I recently took in a stray rug that had a pretty significant bleach stain. So if you have found it absolutely necessary to use bleach for removing a stain from your carpet there are some steps you need to.

If your wool has yellowed naturally or because of a bleach stain don t fear. First of all use bleach only if necessary and only if it s the last option left. It is possible to change the color of a wool rug including an oriental style rug one process known as an antique wash lightens the colors. Hydrogen peroxide is the preferred bleaching agent for white wool and the safer bleaching agent for cotton.

Bleaching a carpet eliminates or reduces its current color but the result is generally some shade of a beige tan or buff. Sodium hypochlorite chlorox is sometimes used on cotton but never on wool or silk. Loses color when exposed to light. Also keep bleach away from very bright colored carpets and rugs because it can cause drastic fading and bleaching of the colors.

Scoured wool fiber has a natural cream color due to naturally occurring pigments within the fiber. While it is most commonly associated with sweaters socks and other knits wool also serves to create eye catching hard wearing carpets. You can bring it back. The stain was intimidating but the rug was really nice so i was determined.

Bleach can damage the carpet backing and sub floor when carrying out spot removal not all the cleaning solution will remain on the carpet s surface some will soak down to the backing. Wool is a natural material made from the fleece of lambs sheep and goats. Once lightened floor coverings can be easily dyed any color including white. When wool fiber is dyed the dyer takes into account the base color of the fiber and applies dyestuffs to achieve the desired shade occasionally the wool will contain a natural pigmentation which is light fugitive i e.

Hypochlorite can damage cotton and will destroy wool and silk. Depending on how intense the treatment is the rug. Bleaching wool using hydrogen peroxide please read the directions carefully before starting.