Wool punishes shortcuts. Go too alkaline and you get shrinkage, dye bleed and a rug that pulls off the tack strip; over-wet the jute backing and you get browning. HydraMaster WOOLMASTER is a preconditioner designed around those two constraints rather than adapted to them. It runs at a concentrate pH of 8.0 to 8.5, essentially neutral, and it is one of the very few professional products with validated dilutions for a pump-up sprayer, an in-line injection sprayer and a rug wash pit. That is what makes it worth a 4 x 1 gallon case: the same drum covers your on-location wool work and your in-plant washing.
Built for
- In-plant rug washing. A published wash-pit dilution of 6 to 12 oz per gallon means you are not stocking a separate plant detergent alongside your prespray.
- Wool wall-to-wall cleaned on location. The jobs where a pH 9.5-plus prespray is a genuine risk.
- Oriental, wool and natural-fiber area rugs. Including cotton-fiber rugs and other investment textiles.
- Natural-fiber upholstery and fine fabric. Where a conventional carpet prespray is simply too aggressive.
Why it is different from a de-tuned carpet prespray
Most products sold as wool-safe are ordinary carpet presprays with the pH knocked down, or legacy shampoo formulas. WOOLMASTER was formulated from the beginning for rugs and fabric, combining specialized encapsulation surfactants, detergents and conditioning agents that target the soils rugs actually collect. Polymers are the single largest component class in the formula. It is also, unusually for a professional concentrate, not classified as hazardous under GHS at all: no pictogram, no signal word, NFPA 1-0-0, not DOT regulated. That makes it a low-risk product to hand to a newer technician.
Mixing and use
- Pump-up or electric sprayer: 6 oz per gallon of hot water for normal soil, 8 oz per gallon for heavy soil.
- In-line injection sprayer: 1 part WOOLMASTER to 2 parts water in a 5-quart container.
- Rug wash pit: 6 to 12 oz per gallon depending on soil level.
- Rinse: HydraMaster RinseOut, 2 oz per 5 gallons on a portable or 32 oz per 5 gallons on a truckmount at flow meter 2 to 3. Cotton fringe may need HydraBoost CT.
Before you wet anything, pre-inspect for fiber type, construction, dye stability and shrinkage potential, check for urine and prior water damage, and remove dry soil first. HydraMaster's label instruction is explicit: test every rug for dye bleeding potential. Give wool at least ten minutes of dwell and keep the backing from getting soaked.
Specifications
- pH: 8.0 plus or minus 0.5 as supplied, printed on the label as ready-to-use pH 8.0 to 8.5.
- Dilution: 1:16 to 1:24 typical; 6 to 12 oz per gallon in a wash pit.
- Appearance: clear liquid, mild pleasant fragrance, specific gravity 1.04, non-flammable.
- Fibers: wool and Oriental rugs, carpet and fabric, natural and cotton fiber, investment textiles.
- Not GHS classified. NFPA 1-0-0. Not a DOT hazardous material. Keep away from strong acids.
- Pack: case of 4 x 1 gallon, part number 950-242-B.
Frequently asked questions
Is WOOLMASTER WoolSafe approved?
No, it does not appear in the WoolSafe approved-products directory. HydraMaster's own position is that it meets and exceeds the safe standards for cleaning wool fibers and fabrics, which is a manufacturer statement rather than a third-party certification. If your franchise agreement or client specification requires the WoolSafe mark, this is not the product for that job.
What is the actual pH?
8.0 plus or minus 0.5 as supplied, printed on the label as ready-to-use pH 8.0 to 8.5. Some listings elsewhere show a pH of 11.5 to 12.0 for this product; that figure is an error carried over from a HydraMaster tile-and-grout document and is not correct for WOOLMASTER.
Can I use it in a rug wash pit?
Yes, and that is one of the main reasons to buy it. HydraMaster publishes a wash-pit dilution of 6 to 12 oz per gallon depending on soil, alongside sprayer dilutions of 6 to 8 oz per gallon and an in-line ratio of 1 part product to 2 parts water.
Is it safe on silk and viscose or rayon?
HydraMaster does not name silk or viscose either way. The label covers wool and Oriental rugs, carpet and fabric, natural and cotton fiber, and investment textiles. Treat silk and viscose as untested, and always pre-test.
Will it cause browning or dye bleed?
No bleed-resistance claim is made, and the label requires you to test every rug for dye bleeding potential before you start. Browning on wool is driven mainly by over-wetting the jute backing, which is a technique issue rather than a chemistry issue.
What should I rinse with?
HydraMaster RinseOut, at 2 oz per 5 gallons on a portable or 32 oz per 5 gallons on a truckmount running flow meter 2 to 3. Cotton fringes may need HydraBoost CT.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized dealer for HydraMaster. We stock the professional line year round, our US-based team knows these products from the field rather than from a catalog, and we are happy to help you confirm dilution, fiber compatibility or the right pack size for your rug work before you order.
