Bleaching Wool Carpet

Scoured wool fiber has a natural cream color due to naturally occurring pigments within the fiber.

Bleaching wool carpet.

Washing rugs in standard issue chlorine bleach is the time honored traditional way to remove stains discolorations and colorants from fabrics. Using bleach to clean a carpet has its limitations. Hypochlorite can damage cotton and will destroy wool and silk. Also keep bleach away from very bright colored carpets and rugs because it can cause drastic fading and bleaching of the colors.

You can bring it back. Sodium hypochlorite chlorox is sometimes used on cotton but never on wool or silk. Hydrogen peroxide is the preferred bleaching agent for white wool and the safer bleaching agent for cotton. 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.

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. Do not use bleach on wool carpet and since bleach makes the carpet lighter it should never be used on any carpet rich in color as the color may fade away. 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. This is especially true of polypropylene carpet.

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. Once lightened floor coverings can be easily dyed any color including white. White or natural color wools can yellow for a number of reasons ranging from age to the environment it s stored in.

Depending on how intense the treatment is the rug. While it is most commonly associated with sweaters socks and other knits wool also serves to create eye catching hard wearing carpets. First of all use bleach only if necessary and only if it s the last option left. Bleaching wool using hydrogen peroxide please read the directions carefully before starting.

The stain was intimidating but the rug was really nice so i was determined. If your wool has yellowed naturally or because of a bleach stain don t fear. Loses color when exposed to light.