Carpet is a soft, warm, and comfortable flooring option. It comes in different forms, looks, and fibers. Nowadays, carpet fibers can either use natural or synthetic materials. Let’s go over the major carpet fibers along with their pluses and minuses and how best to clean them:
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Nylon
A high majority of carpeting in the US uses Nylon. In fact, it’s about 65%. A key advantage that nylon carpets have is their resiliency. They tend to quickly return to form even after being stressed. In addition, nylon carpets are durable and have high performance. Lastly, while nylon carpet does camouflage dirt well, it is fairly easy to clean. Thus, the carpet looks good before, during, and after cleanings. It also responds well to professional carpet cleaning.
One of the challenges with nylon carpets is that they are often acid dyed for their coloring, which can make them susceptible to issues with bleaching, fading and stains from acidic substances like urine and spilt drinks. A professional carpet cleaner near you can help to safely remove stains from nylon carpet and provide great care for your flooring.
Polypropylene
The demand for polypropylene carpet fiber is growing and it’s becoming one of the most popular types of fibers. This type of carpet is pre-dyed. In other words, the material is colored before it forms into carpet. Thus, it is more resistant to stains associated with dyes. It’s also made from oil based chemicals, which makes it very susceptible to oil stains. So you should avoid having it in the dining room or hallways leading to the garage. Also, this material is more susceptible to being crushed or impacted by heat. For instance, if you take furniture across it, you could cause some harm to the flooring.
Unlike nylon, polypropylene is very resistant to water. This makes it very hard to clean. Cleaning the carpet can be tricky and will require a professional carpet cleaner near you to get them out.
Polyester
Over the years, polyester’s popularity has varied. The beauty of this fiber is that it has brilliant color choices at a relatively low price. Polyester carpets offer excellent stain and fade resistance, and it’s quick drying so it’s easy to clean. Therefore, it is widely selected throughout history.
Unfortunately, polyester carpet has challenges too. It’s susceptible to crushing, pilling and shedding. It stacks up poorly against the durability compared to other fibers. Oil based stains can really wreak havoc on this carpet fiber but it responds well to professional carpet cleaning and can even be enhanced by stain removal treatments.
Wool
Wool is the high end, and favorite carpet option for most families within the Bay Area. This is mostly based on it’s natural origin, softness and warmth. However, it’s price makes it available to a select few. Many synthetic fibers have attempted to replicate wool’s properties but have been unsuccessful.
Wool is very expensive and requires maintenance, particularly mothproofing. It has a tendency to wear down as well as being slightly more prone to stains, so it’s ideal if wool carpet cleaning is conducted by professionals. Because wool can hold a lot of moisture it’s also prone to shrinking, as well as mold and mildew which can cause odors, so odor removal may also be necessary for wool carpets.
With this guide to carpet fibers, you can choose the right carpet for your home, and the most effective cleaning technique for your carpet choice. Dublin Carpet has been a family owned business over the course of several decades but we strive on providing both traditional and cutting-edge flooring for all your needs. Please contact us today if you have any questions or would like to check out some of these innovative trends.