CASE STUDIES KING OF THE CASTLE


We hear from Andrew James, Proprietor of Pomegranate Floor North Wales, who tells us how he used the Host Dry Extraction cleaning system to clean and restore the eye-catching carpets of Denbighshire’s Bodelwyddan Castle.


Bodelwyddan Castle is a museum in Denbighshire, Wales, which is more than 500 years old and has been restored to the height of its Victorian splendour, when it was a family home to the Baronets of Bodelwyddan. The Castle, as well as being reputedly one of the most haunted premises in North Wales, boasts nine historic rooms with collections from the National Portrait Gallery, V&A and Royal Academy of Arts.


It’s not just the pictures on the walls that attract visitor’s attention though – the carpeted areas in these rooms are also a great feature with beautiful designs and colours. Keeping these valuable assets clean and in prime condition is a problem faced by many public access buildings across the UK, especially when carpets need to be in constant use and always looking their best. Another important consideration for the Bodelwyddan Castle Trust curators was the need for specialist cleaning of their carpets as the use of water would raise the humidity to unacceptable levels and potentially damage the valuable paintings and furniture on display.


The answer for Bodelwyddan was to call in the services of Andrew Jones, Proprietor of Pomegranate Floor North Wales who, using the Host Dry Extraction cleaning system, was able to ensure that the custom-made Axminster carpets were not only thoroughly cleaned and restored but that they were ready for use again immediately after cleaning.


Andrew said: “The carpets at Bodelwyddan are all bespoke, custom- made Axminster, mostly 27", hand sewn together, bordered and they requiring specialist cleaning. Water or moisture in these carpets would be a disaster; also moisture is highly monitored throughout the building to protect the portraits, which are irreplaceable. Much of the furniture items, which needed to be moved


around for the clean, are also highly valuable antique pieces.


“The Host process is a unique, all-in- one system that gets carpets clean and back in use immediately. Using the Host Freestyle machine to thoroughly vacuum and pile lift the carpet, it also removes dry soil from top to bottom of the carpet fibres. Host Sponges – a non-abrasive, organic fibre moistened with water that contains safe to use cleaning agent and detergent – are then applied and brushed through the carpet by the Freestyle. This brushing action breaks up and traps any remaining sticky soil. Finally, the powerful vacuum removes the soiled cleaner. The great advantage is that carpets are ready to be used again immediately with no mess and no drying time needed.”


Morrigan Mason, Deputy Director of Bodelwyddan Castle, who commissioned the cleaning programme, added: “The carpets at Bodelwyddan Castle are a real feature. They have more than 60,000 pairs of feet walking over them every year and people like to see their amazing


24 | Tomorrow’s Cleaning Floorcare Supplement


colours and design, created from carefully researched archival patterns.


“The organic dry cleaning solution Andrew Jones provided was ideal. The process was quick and there was no use of water or harsh chemicals, which meant the collections were safe. The effect of the clean has been impressive and the carpets have a new brightness to them.”


Woolsafe and Greenseal approved, the Host System deep cleans carpet and reduces dust mites and mould, leaving it fresh, clean, dry and ready to use. Carpets do not re-soil as quickly because there is no sticky residue to grab and hold fresh soil. Because the Host Carpet Cleaning system does not contribute to re-soiling, regular, frequent vacuuming keeps the carpet cleaner for longer. The Host sponges absorb soil and so no soil is left in the solution at the base of the carpet – so soil cannot wick back to the carpet surface and appear as a spot some time later.


www.pomegranatefloornorthwales.com www.hostvonschrader.co.uk


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