[ian loughlin]

My friend has laid down some wood flooring in his lounge, and has kept the axminster carpet to put in another room.

He wants me to clean it before it is relaid. I dont think this is a good idea, because it is not tacked down i am worried it might shrink?

What should i do?..... and what should i not do.?

OH yeah its also coverd in dog hair.

the carpet is not too large, and can be cleaned in my garden.

[Jim_77]

Who's the expert, you or him?

Cleaning the carpet after it has been laid not only makes more sense due to the fact that it will (hopefully) be secured around the edges, but there's also the risk of the carpet getting dirty between you cleaning it and it being refitted.

Tell your mate to get it fitted properly by someone who knows how to fit axminster carpet.

The dog hair isn't a problem.  First of all go over the carpet very thoroughly with a groomer, in several directions, to loosen it up a bit.  Then vacuum with a good strong upright vacuum cleaner, first across the pile and then facing the same direction as the pile points.

That should get rid of quite a bit, the rest will come up with a rotary and bonnet which you should use between prespray and extraction. If you still have hairs remaining after extraction, give it another quick groom and whizz the bonnet over it again.  The remaining hairballs should come up once the carpet is completely dry.

[Jim_77]

Oh and don't rip yourself off, this will take a bit longer than you average "quick whip over" carpet clean.  You're saving your mate a lot of money, don't be shy in charging him!

[mark shannon]

As Jim says make sure carpet fitted by a pro.

DIY fitting on an AXMINSTER not a good idea.

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

Why not clean it before its fitted if it's what your MATE wants if it's a smaller room that it's going to be fitted in and you do shrink it so what But i don't know why you should shrink it if cleaned properly or have you had problems with axminsters before??  If you are having to transport it make sure you charge accordingly.

CHEERS TONY

[Jim_77]

Tony,

If the carpet is cleaned loose and shrunk, the pattern will be out of geometric alignment and will therefore need significant stretching when refitted.  Why cause a problem and then have to struggle to rectify it when the problem could have been avoided in the first place?

You've still got the risk of soiling during refitting too.  Honestly, the carpet cleaner should be the last one in the room!

[Ken Wainwright]

The readapted carpet will be smaller than the original, so should be cheaper to clean.

Yes, unfitted the carpet will shrink if cleaned. It may even shrink if not cleaned from atmospheric moisture. (This tends to be more of a problem with wiltons rather than Axminsters)

It would be a great opportunity whilst the carpet is lifted to lay it out on the patio and back dust it.

If he insists on cleaning before fitting, allow it to be fully dried and AIRED before rolling up, otherwise mildew could be a problem. A wet carpet also has the potential to fade considerably if dried in the sunshine.

The other alternative is to clean before it's lifted, but again make sure it's aired before rolling up. Still backdust if you can.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

NEVER shrunk an axminster yet i don't see its a problem IF THAT IS WHAT HIS MATE WANTS he just tells him what could happen then does what the customer (MATE) wants.
AS for resoiling what a load of B**LS new carpets are fitted every day resoiling is or should not be an issue.

CHEERS TONY

[ian loughlin]

Jobs for mates are never simple, are they..!!

My friend just wants to try and sell the carpet, rather than throw it away, as it's not very old.

Thanks guys for the info.