Carpet shampoo

[Dave]

Having used one of Homebase's Rug Doctors and been very impressed with the cleansing of the carpet. Is there any way I can raise the pile of a wool carpet to its original state?

Dave

[The Medway Handyman]

It does depend on the type of weave, but in general if the Rug Doctor power brush didn't do the job nothing will. Only suggestion I can offer is to do it again - no guarantee it will work.

[DIY]

I don't understand what you mean. Do you mean that the Rug Doctor machine cleaned the carpet but didn't raise the pile to its original state therefore you are looking for a machine that will do both?

[George]

Hoovering might,once its completely dried.

[Dave]

I went over it 3 times.

To you and other posters to this question, the carpet was laid about 10 years ago and is quite an expensive Axminster carpet. Over the years the pile has gone a bit like a woolen sweater that has been washed the wrong. It has gone flat.

I am not looking for a machine that will bring the pile back vertical, but a method that I can use.

Dave

[Brian Sharrock]

It doesn't quite answer your question, because it specifies a machine; - but, the Carpet Cleaner (shampooer) Vax Rapide XL does precisely that. The machine which shampoo's the carpet and vacuums the solution off, then permits rinsing with clean water -and sucking that off leaves the carpet clean, dry and with the pile upright!

It achieves this by having two contra-rotating powered roller brush-bars. The two bars have the effect of 'up-righting' the carpet.

We've tried it on a stair carpet -about six years old- the carpet had been definitely flattened over the years. After the machine had done its bit, the pile was as new!

[Dave]

Many thanks for that. I'll take a look after the weekend.

Dave

[Brian Sharrock]

Make sure you "look" at the correct model ;

'Vax' has a bewildering range of models; all with only minor variations on the naming;- Rapde; Rapide Super; Rapide XL etc. etc. But there are a large number of variations in the 'fit'; some require the cleaning solution to be pre-mixed; some have only one brush-bar

The model we bought has a pair of contra-rotating brush bars - each bar has two spiral brushes which screw the brushes into the middle >>>>>

[Dave]

Thanks for that Brian. I will go out to the shops and take a look mid week. Your post is now being printed.

Dave

[The Medway Handyman]

What I meant by this post is that both soil extraction cleaning & the addition of a power brush - which is what the Rug Doctor does - should have raised the pile. Wool is a naturally resillient material, which is much better than synthetics when it comes to shape retention.

If the Rug Doctor with its power brush didn't raise the pile I'm at a bit of a loss - after being into carpet cleaning for 30+ years.

I can only think that previous cleaning has left a residue or that there is still heavy soiling in the pile. If I were still cleaning carpet I would go over it again with an acidic fibre & fabric rinse.

[Dave]

I'll try that. Thanks

Dave+