Everyday Care
A good programme of regular cleaning and maintenance extends the life and original appearance of your carpet.
Vacuum Frequently
Regular vacuuming lifts the pile, removes dust, and keeps your carpet looking even. For all Westex wool carpets, use an upright vacuum with a powered brush head, adjustable height and suction, strong airflow to reach the backing, and a sealed filter system.
Keep your vacuum well maintained and free from blockages, and check for any sharp or damaged parts that could harm the carpet.
Vacuum high-traffic areas daily and the whole carpet at least twice a week. For deeper cleaning, vacuum slowly with and against the pile. Always follow the manufacturer’s maintenance and filter guidelines.
Routine spot cleaning
Address small marks promptly using recommended methods. Avoid strong or untested products. We recommend cleaning products that are recognised by James or WoolSafe®.
Scheduled Professional Cleaning
Have your wool carpet professionally dry or wet extraction cleaned every 12–18 months (or at least every two years), and always before dirt becomes visible. Wool needs specialist care—avoid excessive rubbing, high heat, bleach, and alkaline products. Only use neutral cleaners with a pH between 5 and 8, and ensure carpets are dried quickly after wet cleaning to prevent yellowing.
Never wait until carpets are heavily soiled, as this shortens their lifespan and increases cleaning costs. Avoid household cleaners or washing-up liquid, as these can cause rapid re-soiling, colour bleeding, and backing damage.
Tips for decreasing soiling
Mats, furniture rotation and good airflow help maintain appearance in busy spaces.
We recommended that doormats are laid at every entrance to the house, as these hold lots of the coarse dirt and will minimise soiling of your carpet. A doormat should be large enough to remove a generous amount of dirt from the outside which may be on the soles of your shoes. A doormat should be beaten out and cleaned at regular intervals, thus keeping the ability to take dirt in.
Carpet soiling may be caused by draughts, at the edge of the carpet near walls, skirting boards, doorways and ventilation systems, heavy soiling can often appear as dark grey streaks. This streaking is formed by dust particles carried in the air and held by the carpet fibres that act like a filter.