This wool carpet guide is your complete, no-nonsense, real-life handbook:

1. Routine Care for Wool Carpets

Vacuuming (the single most important thing)

Wool is a natural fibre, so it traps fine dust and grit more easily than man-made carpets. This is actually a positive — it improves indoor air quality — BUT it means regular vacuuming is essential.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Vacuum at least twice a week
• Daily is ideal for busy homes
• For loop-pile wool carpets:

  ➜ Use suction only

  ➜ Avoid beater bars (they can fuzz the loops)

• For cut-pile wool carpets:

  ➜ A rotating brush is fine, but keep it gentle

Regular hoovering helps the pile stay upright and prevents grit from wearing the fibres down prematurely.

Shedding (completely normal)

Wool carpets shed lightly for the first few months.

This isn’t the carpet wearing out — it’s simply loose fibres from the manufacturing process.

Vacuuming more frequently during this period helps the carpet settle.

Furniture marks

Wool is softer than man-made fibres, so dents under sofas, beds and tables are common.

To reduce them:

• Move furniture occasionally
• Place felt pads under heavy items
• Gently tease the pile with your fingers
• Or place a warm (not wet) cloth over the dent to encourage the pile to spring back

Given time, wool recovers beautifully.

2. Wool Carpet Spill Guide (Real-Life, Not Instagram-Life)

Wool needs gentler treatment than man-made carpets. No harsh chemicals, no high heat, and definitely no bleach.

The golden rules:

• Blot — never rub
• Use cold water first
• Only use wool-safe cleaners
• Test everything in an unseen area

Below is accurate industry advice based on real wool-fibre behaviour.

MUD

(You’ll see a lot of this if you live anywhere rural… and Hawkhurst definitely counts.)

1. Let the mud fully dry.
2. Vacuum thoroughly — don’t scrub.
3. Dab with warm water only.
4. If needed: a small amount of WOOL-SAFE detergent.

Avoid vinegar — it’s too acidic for wool.

WINE (red, white, mulled, all disasters equally welcome)

Wool absorbs liquids quickly, so speed is your friend.

1. Blot immediately with a white cloth.
2. Dab with cold water only.
3. If needed, use a wool-safe detergent diluted properly.
4. Blot until colour transfers out.
5. Rinse by dabbing with clean cold water.

No vinegar. No heat.

JUICE / CORDIAL / FIZZY DRINKS

1. Blot.
2. Dab with cold water.
3. If needed: wool-safe detergent.
4. Rinse and blot dry.

BLOOD

1. Use cold water — warm sets it instantly.
2. Cold water + a little wool-safe detergent.
3. Dab gently.
4. Repeat until clear.

VOMIT (parenthood’s least glamorous moment)

1. Remove solids carefully.
2. Dab with cold water + wool-safe detergent.
3. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda lightly.

   (This neutralises odours and acidic residue.)

4. Leave 10 minutes.
5. Vacuum thoroughly.

EXCREMENT (dogs, toddlers, husbands…)

1. Remove solids.
2. Dab with cold water + wool-safe detergent.
3. Avoid disinfectants unless labelled 100% safe for wool.
4. Rinse and blot dry.

3. What NOT to Use on Wool Carpets

Wool is strong, but chemicals can permanently damage it.

Avoid:

•  Bleach
•  Vinegar
•  High-alkaline cleaners
•  Steam cleaners (they can shrink wool)
•  Carpet cleaners not marked “wool-safe”
•  Scrubbing brushes
•  Overwetting

When in doubt — ask us first.

4. Deep Cleaning Wool Carpets

Carpet-cleaning machines

DIY machines can overwet wool and cause:

• shrinkage
• browning
• cellulosic staining
• longer drying times

Unless you are confident and use a wool-approved solution, we recommend avoiding DIY machines.

Professional cleaning

A professional clean every 18–36 months is ideal.

They:

• use wool-safe solutions
• extract more dirt safely
• avoid overwetting
• help restore the pile

Worth every penny for looking after luxury fibres.

5. Prevention Tips for Wool Carpets

• Use doormats indoors + outdoors
• Keep shoes off where possible
• Trim pets’ claws (they can snag loops)
• Move furniture occasionally
• Vacuum regularly
• Treat spills quickly
• Avoid heavy sunlight on one specific spot — wool fades naturally over time

6. FAQs (Including the Pole Marks Section)

“Why does my wool carpet have light/dark bands after fitting?”

This is usually shading, pile reflection, or pole marks. All totally normal.

Pole Marks Explained (Roll Marks)

Pole marks appear when carpet has been stored tightly rolled around a cardboard or plastic tube. The weight of the roll compresses parts of the pile, creating visible lines or lighter/darker bands.

They are:

•  normal
•  temporary
•  not a manufacturing fault
•  more noticeable on wool (because the pile is natural and reacts more strongly to compression)

How long do they last?

• Man-made carpets: 1–4 weeks
• Wool carpets: 4–12 weeks (wool takes longer to relax)

How to help them disappear:

• Vacuum twice weekly
• Lightly brush with your hand
• Allow normal foot traffic
• Give the carpet time to acclimatise
• Avoid scrubbing, steaming, or heat

A simple explanation:

Your carpet has spent months rolled up tightly in a warehouse and on a delivery truck. Once it gets to your warm, lived-in home, it just needs a bit of time to “wake up.”

“Why does wool look patchy in different lights?”

It’s shading — pile direction changes how wool reflects light. Very common.

“Can wool carpets shrink?”

Yes, with overwetting or incorrect cleaning.

That’s why we recommend professional wool-safe cleaning.

“Do wool carpets stain easily?”

Wool is naturally stain resistant due to lanolin, but it absorbs liquids faster than man-made fibres — so speed and cold water matter.

“Can I put a rug on top?”

Yes — just move it occasionally to prevent uneven fading.

7. When to Contact Us

Reach out anytime if:

• A stain won’t lift
• You’re unsure what to use
• Something looks unusual
• You want a professional cleaning referral
• You’re considering updating the flooring in another room

We’re always here to help — whether you bought your carpet yesterday or ten years ago.

8. Final Thoughts

Wool carpets are one of the best flooring investments you can make. With proper care, they last decades, look beautiful, and age gracefully — much like a good oak table or a well-loved leather sofa.

A little maintenance goes a long way, and with this guide, you’re well equipped to keep your wool carpet looking incredible for years to come.