This is why polypropylene is better than wool. This carpet, in a house in St Neots, was in a really bad way and the client was considering scrapping it and getting a new one.

But polypropylene carpets are very resilient and clean up spectacularly well.

I could have made a wool carpet look much better but when a natural fibre like wool is stained you are limited as to how clean you can get it. As I say to my clients- carpet and upholstery cleaning is NOT carpet and upholstery repair.

Most carpets are either 100% polypropylene or 80% wool and 20% polypropylene. I would always recommend 100% polypropylene especially if you have children or pets.

I have cleaned a lot of 80-20 wool carpets and I have had great success in doing so. But, while most trodden in dirt and dust can be removed, most stains cannot.

On the other hand I have rescued loads of trashed polypropylene carpets and made them look like new.