How to Clean a Berber Carpet Safely

Own a Berber carpet? Trust us you’re in for a task in order to clean it efficiently and safely.

But don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. In our blog, we answer A to Z all the questions you may have when cleaning a Berber Carpet.

• What is a Berber Carpet?
• How can I quickly clean stains from my Berber carpet?
• What is the best way I can clean my Berber Carpet?
• What can I do to keep my Berber carpet looking as good as new?
• & lastly how can I protect my Berber carpet from further damage?

Let’s begin

What is Berber Carpet?

You know how we learned about different types of carpets in our previous blogs and mentioned the materials they are made of? Well unlike many other carpet types, berber isn’t a material, it’s a style of carpet.

So it’s important to know that methods and products that work for some materials may not work on Berber.

Furthermore what’s worse is that people hold the common misconception that carpet material can be both described as looped or even lighter colors, when in actuality lighter color carpeting is just colour and not a type of carpeting material.

So if you’re not sure about what carpet you have, it’s always best to get it identified by a professional.

Quick Cleaning Tips For Cleaning Stains From Berber Carpet

When it comes to stains, there are various kinds, and these different kinds have different ways for cleaning.

If you have a water-soluble stain on your Berber carpet, make sure to delicately scrub the stained area before you go ahead and vacuum thoroughly. Note: Ensure that you do not use too much water or over-wet the fabric.

For any other types of stain, make a solution with one-part white vinegar and five-parts water, gently apply this on the stained area by blotting with a clean white cloth and then finish up by drying the carpet completely.

Best Way to Clean Your Berber Carpet Safely

Plain Water- This is by far the safest method to clean your Berber carpet. To do this, get a white cloth wet and then blot the dirty area on the carpet to further avoid getting the stain into the fibres, then again lightly dampen the area and finally dry.
Make sure you avoid scrubbing the carpet at all costs as this will only further damage the material, leading to fuzziness and snagging. To do this the most efficient way is to blot inward from the most outer part of the stain.

Vinegar and Water Solution- As we saw earlier, when water isn’t enough, this solution can help eliminate bacteria and loosen the stain on your Berber carpet.

In case you don’t have a spill that needs to be cleaned up right away, you can begin by testing your mixture on a small unused area of the carpet. This practice can go a really long way in times when you need to use the cleaning material.

For a medium sized stain, a few tablespoons of cleaner is more than enough as it is important to keep the Berber carpet as dry as possible. This is because the loops in the Berber carpet are prone to mould growth due to liquid getting trapped in the fibres.

If a stain is recent and hasn’t seeped through your carpet yet, immediately sprinkling baking soda will do the trick. This helps because the baking soda clumps together to form balls that absorb the liquid. Once this happens you can vacuum. This step needs to be repeated until the baking soda is not absorbing any more liquids.

No matter what cleaning method you use, vacuuming after cleaning up any area on your carpet is crucial. This is because sucking out any remaining moisture is necessary. Don’t forget to use slow and steady movements excluding the beater as too much pulling can damage your carpet

Warnings:

Don’t use too many chemicals when cleaning your Berber carpet. Although different cleaners might feel like the best move when one is not working, it can not only be dangerous but also fatal not only to your carpet but also to health.

Remember, never to mix vinegar and alcohol as it produces chlorine gas.

Keeping Your Berber Carpet in Great Condition

Some stains are super stubborn unlike regular spills, which is why they require more professional methods.

The first best option is steam cleaning the Berber carpet. This is because it helps in removing any embedded debris with the use of small amounts of hot water. Also, as we read earlier water is bad for Berber carpets so what makes the steam cleaning method ideal is how the vacuums used in it suck it out instantly which stops it from damaging your carpet.

Another great option is dry cleaning the Berber carpet. This is perfect because this method doesn’t involve the use of moisture at all, although a vacuum is needed.
Note: if you use Berber in high traffic areas, always use this method as opposed to steam cleaning.

Protecting Your Berber Carpet

Berber carpet is usually used in high traffic areas, so it is designed for maximum stain protection. Although that does not mean food and drink cannot destroy Berber. Moisture bought into the house by your shoes or even pet paws can cause damage to it.

Here are a few preventive measures you can take to protect your Berber carpet

Use entry mats so that you do not track dirt, dust or debris from outside with your shoes or if you have pets.

In case of high risk activities for carpeting such as babysitting and parties, cover your Berber carpets with blankets for added protection..

Berber is resistant to most stains but an exception is oil-based stains such as spilling of any cooked food, as this can definitely damage your Berber carpet in a short time.

If All Else Fails, Hire a Professional

Our professionals at My Fair Cleaning have the tools, equipment and knowledge required to get even the toughest stains out of your Berber carpet.

Remember, the Berber carpet is a family heirloom and maintaining and cleaning it effectively will keep it looking good for years and help you pass it down to further generations!

Ali November 20, 2021 Carpet Cleaning