Cleaning and animals
Most families have a pet or pets of some sort. Along with pets come a unique set of likely problems.
Pets & Rugs, an introduction
For safety sake, we assume ALL pets have accidents.
Urine is usually considered the worst pet accident of all.
Urine often contains remnants of pet food (including dyes/colourings), vitamins (such as beta-carotine), and waste chemicals from the pet itself (ammonia, mercaptans, amines, and skatole gasses). All of these can damage different rugs and carpets in different ways.
Obviously, the best
Urine
All pets have accidents. Unfortunately, urine is usually considered the worst pet accident of all.
Urine often contains remnants of pet food (including dyes/colourings), vitamins (such as beta-carotine), and waste chemicals from the pet itself (ammonia, mercaptans, amines, and skatole gasses). All of these can damage different rugs and carpets in different ways.
Obviously, the best
Vomit, Hairballs, and related accidents
Using several rugs as examples of the many different matters of concern... a newer Karastan type rug or imported oriental may be heavily soiled and be structurally stable. A fairly aggressive commercial vacuum can be used to beat dirt out of the rug before the rug is wet down and washed. An older piece may require small structural repairs or stabilization, or it may be necessary to secure the item within two layers of nylon screen attached to non-stressing frame before any dust removal or washing can be considered. Similarly, an older American oriental or arts and crafts axminister or wilton rug may have its original mill labels. Most of these tended to be cloth or paper with a printed design and information. Many of these valuable labels will disintegrate or tear during washing. A screen will be carefully quilted over and around the label to preserve the label and prevent the entire label or sections from being rinsed away during washing.
Odors
Using several rugs as examples of the many different matters of concern... a newer Karastan type rug or imported oriental may be heavily soiled and be structurally stable. A fairly aggressive commercial vacuum can be used to beat dirt out of the rug before the rug is wet down and washed. An older piece may require small structural repairs or stabilization, or it may be necessary to secure the item within two layers of nylon screen attached to non-stressing frame before any dust removal or washing can be considered. Similarly, an older American oriental or arts and crafts axminister or wilton rug may have its original mill labels. Most of these tended to be cloth or paper with a printed design and information. Many of these valuable labels will disintegrate or tear during washing. A screen will be carefully quilted over and around the label to preserve the label and prevent the entire label or sections from being rinsed away during washing.
