The rug is cream in colour and quite grey due to dirt. Ive dry vacuumed the front and rear several times to get rid of the dry dirt,

There is a lot of what I would call 'wool hair effect' on the surface, I am a little scared to put the cimex on it (with shampoo brushes) as I feel there is a chance the rug will go grey or create much worst 'wool hair effect' on the surface.

I'm literally stood over the rug now wondering what to do, cimex or HWE, what do you guys think?

Many thanks

Paul

Paul-
If you have both systems avaiable, simply cimex with brushes first if you feel it needs HWE follow up you'll be okay that way to. I would cimex first because if its that dirty you will want to agitate some of the dirt out before you hwe anyway, that way you won't have to overwet when and if you follow up with HWE. If it was put in a pit I venture to say a cimex would be used first also.

With the level of dry soil you're describing VAC VAC VAC. Go slowly with north-south east-west passes throughout the worst areas. Really take your time. A pile lifter would be helpful here.

Then mix up Releasit Encap-Clean DS at 6 oz per gallon. Use the soft brushes, or as a last resort use FiberPlus pads. Scrub with care - avoid over scrubbing.

You WILL see fuzz. Just be careful. A measure of fuzzing is NORMAL with wool. Wool is a staple fiber. It comes from a sheep. And sheep can only grow hair that is a couple of inches in length. So they spin the yarn from short strands of hair. These hairs will always naturally work themselves loose, it's simply the nature of wool. By comparison, synthetic fiber is extruded in LONG strands, and that's why there is very little fuzz. Don't worry about shedding some staple fiber with wool, it is nothing to be alarmed about.







Rick Gelinas

I would like to also add that you can vacuum the back of the rug the exact same way rick suggested for the top. Do it very slowly. Do this after you have done the top. You will be amazed. I was taught in one carpet cleaning class that if we could hang our rugs up and beat them from front and behind that it is better than vacuuming. But I am not into that type of workout.

If you do not feel comfortable doing a job do not do it
no confidence leads to mistakes or worst. Farm it out of you have to.

David makes a good point. If you dont feel comfortable doing don't.

Now to answer the question you asked. 1st of all is this a single colored wool rug? If so you should have no problems at all using your Cimex on it.

Second. If you do feel you need to HWE make sure you HWE with a wool safe pre spray and dont allow heat over 185.

3rd my best suggestion would be to make a relationship with the rug plant in town. Most will work a deal with you that they will give you a percentage and all youy have to do is bring it to them. Then the liability is on them and they do this every day so are much better versed at doing these jobs. also they have all the right equipment to give your customer the best results.

With all that being said I had a customer last week that had a really cool wool rug in her kitchen. Told her I could cimex it but that in all reality I would be better off taking it to the rug shop. She said just Cimex it and then if that dosnt work take it in. Cimexed it and she was completly thrilled.

You can use both HWE and Cimex on the rug. I would suggest using the Cimex first though. You will be more likely to have some color migration with HWE.

We use the Cimex / Releasit Encap-Clean DS combo in our rug plant constantly. We have the brushes for rugs but we prefer using the pads. I know it goes against everything everyone says about the Cimex and rugs but we have been doing it this way for years and never had a problem.

Make sure to vacuum the back of the rug, flipping it over every once in a while to sweep the dirt up, then vacuum the front, then flip it back over to continue vacuuming the back until no more dirt comes out of the rug. Then clean it with the Cimex.

Kevin Pearson