Maintenance & Cleaning Please Note: Both Coir and Sisal Mattings are relatively easy to maintain. The hard, natural vegetable fibres do not attract dust, and bacteria cannot penetrate the fibres. Sand and fine dirt do not damage Coir and Sisal Mattings as they do pile floor coverings; the soil filters through the weave, rather than sitting on the surface. Both Coir and Sisal are tough natural fibres which are less vulnerable to abrasion, if regularly vacuumed. Fibre Characteristics Coir Mattings are made from selected handspun Coir yarns extracted from the tough fibrous husks which surround the coconut. Sisal Mattings are made of yarns spun from the Sisal fibres extracted from the long spike-shaped leaves of the tropical Sisal plant. As with other yarns made of natural vegetable fibres, both Coir and Sisal have variations in size and shade and have a tendency to return to their original colour after exposure to sunlight. Slight weaving and shade irregularities are characteristics of Coir and Sisal Mattings. Shade difference between areas of matting exposed/unexposed to sunlight may be apparent (underneath furniture, behind picture hangings, etc.). Fading due to direct exposure to sunlight is even, resembling the tones of unfinished wood. Vacuuming Regular, frequent vacuuming is the most important thing that can be done to prolong the life and beauty of Coir and Sisal Mattings. The keys to effective vacuuming are using the proper equipment and techniques. The equipment should have both strong suction and a brushing action. These can be found in both upright models and canister types with power nozzles. In both styles, it is important to have "all brush" roller-bars, rather than "beater bars". Equally as important as the equipment is the vacuuming technique. Because of the unevenness of the surface, it is important to make several passes over each area from different directions - some North-South, some East-West. Extra vacuum strokes should be made in high traffic areas. Although the need may not always be visible, frequent and regular vacuuming will increase the matting life by preventing soil build-up. Low Humidity Locations Locations in very dry climates, humidity-lowered rooms, near heat outlets, or in heavy traffic areas can cause Coir and Sisal Mattings to become unusually dry. In these circumstances a light, even application of clean water, periodically, on clean, vacuumed mattings can strengthen the fibres and prolong durability. A plant mister or spray bottle should give appropriate light sprinkling. Under no circumstances should mattings be saturated or undesirable changes could result. Spot Cleaning Immediate attention to spills is most important for spot removal from Coir and Sisal Mattings, as it is with most floor coverings. The spilled substance should be removed as quickly as possible by blotting up with clean, undyed paper towels or cloths, or scraped with a dull knife or nail file. Two methods are recommended for the following common substances. Method A: (for beer, blood, butter, chocolate, coffee, cola, cream, general dirt, eggs, excreta, fruit, greasy food, ice cream, lipstick, liquor, water-based paint, urine, vomit).
With some stains, it may be necessary to experiment on a very small area with water, carpet cleaner, or solvent to determine what will dissolve the substance. Avoid spreading the stain by using too much water, cleaner or solvent. With undyed, absorbent material remove as much of the loosened soil as possible. Repeat if necessary. When the above recommended processes do not remove the stain, contact your Elte salesperson who can suggest a number of good professional cleaners. These professionals have a wider range of materials and processes available to remove the soiling of your coir and sisal. It is possible for stains such as oil to accumulate in the underlay, which could work through the matting. In this circumstance, several cleanings may be necessary to remove the oil. If the underlay becomes wet, it should be dried immediately since dissolved dyes in the underlay can stain the matting. Overall Cleaning Both Coir and Sisal Mattings are hygroscopic. That is, they absorb moisture and give off moisture, depending on the relative humidity in their immediate environment. But saturation of the fibers with water can cause undesirable, dimensional changes. Therefore, it is NOT recommend that cleaning be done with a hot water extraction ("steam cleaning"), wet shampooing or any other method that involves water saturation of the matting. A safe effective cleaning process is the HOST Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System. Moist organic, sponge-like particles are liberally sprinkled onto the dry matting by hand. They are immediately brushed through matting fibres by a specially designed HOST machine. As with vacuuming, the most effective cleaning is achieved when brushing is done in both North-South, East-West directions. The cleaner should be allowed to sit until all moisture has evaporated - from 20 minutes to a few hours, depending on the general humidity of the area. Then it should be vacuumed up, using regular procedures. At this time a second brushing of the matting with just the HOST machine (no cleaner), followed by a second vacuuming will enhance the look of the fibres. If the matting is still soiled in locations of heavy traffic or spillage, the entire process should be repeated to complete the restoration. No water marks are visible with this process, allowing effective spot cleaning to be done. For the name of a local HOST professional cleaner call 1-800-558-9439. Curled Rug Corners Foot traffic, furniture movement, or rolling wheels can sometimes cause curling of area rug corners. A strong double-faced tape in corners can prevent this. Some choose to attach thin weights to rug corners (such as a flat metal triangle encased in canvas or thin tile etc.). Severely curled corners can be flattened by thoroughly dampening clean rug corner with water and placing a weight on the corner overnight. Responsibility for cleaning and maintenance lies with those performing this work. We urge those performing maintenance to carefully review information prior to any cleaning or maintenance. No warranty is expressed or implied. |
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