Carpet cleaning in New Westminster heritage homes: runners, wool and old stairs
New Westminster has one of the oldest housing stocks in the region. Queen’s Park, Sapperton and Brow of the Hill are full of houses from the early 1900s, many with a wool runner on a steep, narrow staircase, old broadloom upstairs and a rug or two on fir floors. They’re lovely to work in, and they need a careful clean. Here’s what we check and how we do it.
What we check first
The fibre. Older carpet and runners are often wool, sometimes a wool blend. Wool cleans beautifully, but it doesn’t like high heat or a high-pH cleaner. We check the fibre and test a hidden spot before anything else.
The dyes. Older runners with strong reds and blues can bleed. A quick colour test tells us whether to adjust the method.
The edges and fixings. Runners held with rods or tacks, and old binding on the edges, need a gentle hand at the wand.
The floors around it. Fir floors and painted risers stay dry. We protect them as we go.
How we clean it
- A walkthrough together, so we agree on what’s being cleaned.
- Pre-treatment on the traffic path up the middle of the runner and on any spots.
- A wool-safe clean at the right temperature for wool and wool blends, or hot water extraction for synthetic broadloom.
- Thorough extraction, so the stairs are only damp, then grooming so the pile dries evenly.
The truck-mounted unit stays on the street and the hose comes in. New West’s heritage streets usually have room to park close, and the hose reaches the top floor.
What it costs
Carpet is $90 an area before the current promo, plus GST. An area is a room up to 150 sq ft, a hallway or a set of stairs. The minimum is $210, which covers up to 3 areas.
| Home | What’s cleaned | List price |
|---|---|---|
| Stair runner and upstairs hall | Stairs, hallway | $210 (minimum) |
| Upstairs of a Queen’s Park house | 3 bedrooms, hallway, stair runner | $450 |
| Whole house with a rug | 3 bedrooms, hallway, stairs, living room, one large wool rug | $630 |
The current promo comes off jobs above the minimum. For more, see what carpet cleaning costs in New Westminster.
Drying on old stairs
Most carpet is dry in 3 to 6 hours. Wool takes a little longer than synthetics. Keep the heat on, open a window at the top of the stairs, and walk carefully in clean socks until the runner is dry. A damp runner on old stairs can be slippery.
Looking after a heritage runner
- Vacuum along the pile, not across it, and skip the beater bar on loop pile.
- Blot spills with a white towel and cool water. Don’t rub.
- Have it cleaned every 12 to 18 months, more often with pets.
- Ultra Protection ($30 an area) helps a light runner shrug off spills.
Book it
Count your rooms, hallways and stairs and book carpet cleaning in New Westminster online to see your total. We work weekdays, 8:30 to 4, from Queen’s Park and Sapperton to the Quay and Queensborough.
Common questions
Can you clean a runner without removing it? Yes. We clean it in place.
Will it shrink? Not with a wool-safe clean and proper extraction. Shrinkage comes from too much water and heat, which is why the method matters.
Do you clean antique rugs? Tell us first. Some need specialist off-site washing, and we’ll say so honestly.
Ready to book? See carpet cleaning in New Westminster, or call (604) 802-8500.