[Geoff Jewkes]

Hi everyone, A customer of mine has asked me if I would clean 3 Turkish rugs, quite large, vegetable dyes. Although i`ve been in the job for 5 years i`ve never cleaned this type of rug!!!! Done plenty of chinese and never encountered any problems. Any advice on cleaning these please??? I haven`t seen them yet as they`ve been in his basement for years and he needs to dig them out!!!! Any advice would be great. Many thanks guys........... Geoff 

[the red carpet]

i did one that was aparently from turky according to customer,
i cleaned in my normall way pre spray, extract with ultimate master.   No problems

I did notice a lot of dye coming out on two of the colours red and black, i could see it going up the wand.

But as it didnt appear to be migrating, or dramatically fading.

After pointing out to customer carried on as usual

[mark_lane]

Hi Fibrefresh
Do the burn test first for fibre definition,then test for dye bleed with the cleaning chemicals that you are going to use.
       cheers mark

[woodman]

The most popular Turkish rugs are kilims which these probably are.

Most Turkish rug manufacturers do not recommend HWE or any submersible form of cleaning as it can remove the oils from the wool and dyes (as mentioned above) and leave the rug brittle lessening its life.

A low moisture surface clean is recommended after a hefty bout of vacuuming front and back.

I have cleaned many,many kilims and others in this manner and it is always the safest and best form of cleaning for these IMO.

Good Luck

[Geoff Jewkes]

Thanks for your advice, I think the best thing to do is warn the customer, clean as dry as possible and use a turbo dryer, perhaps see if he`s happy to sign a disclaimer. Seen so many customers lift there turkish rug off the lounge carpet prior to cleaning only to find the dye on the  :ocarpet through moisture in the atmosphere!!!!

[mark_lane]

Hi Red
Woolsafe chemicals would have been the way to go,it sounds like  high alkalinity  of the cleaning chemical you used had loosend the dyes, an acidic rinse  would have proberbly stablelised them ,always test first, you were lucky you didn't end up owning that one.
                                cheers mark

[woodman]

Fibre fresh

OR

Tell your customer they are hypersensitive and need a specialist clean and add that depending on size they will cost Between £1.80 & £2 .50 a sq ft to clean.

(these are expensive items you are taking all the risks)

OR

You could send them to me and I'll clean them for you at trade price,wrap them up and send them back and you add on your mark up.You could even come along and see them being cleaned with no risks to your self or your customer.

Good Luck either way

[BRSL]

Ive never done it my self, but a lot of poeple suggest the rug be turned upside down and walked on for a few days before cleaning to release the soil then vac well and low moisture clean  :

(wouldent want too walk on it for a few days myself my legs would ach some  )

James

[Geoff Jewkes]

Thanks woodman, cleaning a load of fitted carpets at the house on thursday so will have a proper look and get sizes, i`m blind to these at the moment!!! Depends on cost and if they`re worth doing although he`s not short of a bob or two!!!!

[Geoff Jewkes]

James my wife is always pacing up and down perhaps she can do the job for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!