While most people don’t spend a long time thinking about carpet, we sure do here at Hydra Clean Northwest. In fact, there are several different types of carpet, including material and piles, that you can choose for your home.
The different types of carpet available can also make a difference when it comes to maintenance and cleaning. Below, we’ll discuss the different types of carpet and what you need to know about care.
What is Carpet?
Carpet is a floor covering that is made from thick fibers. It’s cut to fit specific dimensions of a room, and it can be located anywhere in a house that the homeowner desires.
Carpet is also an alternative flooring to tile and wood. It provides softness underfoot that doesn’t compare to other types of flooring.
Whether you have carpet for the softness or the aesthetic appeal, there is a lot more to carpet than what meets the eye.
What is Carpet Made From?
Today’s carpet is almost entirely made from synthetic fiber. Up to 90% of the carpet on the market is made from this material.
The rest of the carpets available are made from natural fibers. These fibers include options such as wool, which is the most common.
When it comes to synthetic fibers, you’ll find that the most popular options include nylon, polypropylene, and polyester.
Nylon is the Most Popular Carpet Material
A large majority of carpet is crafted from nylon, making it one of the most popular carpet materials available today. But what makes nylon so popular as a carpet material?
Nylon works perfect for carpet for several reasons. First, it’s a durable fabric that can withstand foot traffic.
It’s also popular for its appearance as well as soil and stain resistance. It’s also easy to clean, especially when you opt for a professional carpet cleaning services.
The Popularity of Polypropylene
Next up is polypropylene, one of the other popular synthetic carpet fibers available today.
Polypropylene isn’t new when it comes to carpeting. It was introduced in the late 1950s from Italy, and it’s experienced incredibly fast growth over the last several decades. Over 30% of carpet fibers used in the industry is polypropylene.
This type of fiber is also naturally stain resistant. However, it is not quite as durable and resilient as nylon.
Don’t Forget About Polyester
Many of us are quite familiar with polyester as it is used in clothing ranging from socks to shirts. However, it’s also another synthetic fiber option for carpeting.
Polyester is the third most common fabric type for carpet materials. It is a bulky material but it is a top choice for color clarity, coming in a range of options to complement your decor.
Meanwhile, polyester carpet is also stain resistant and easy to clean.
What About Wool?
Yes, you can still find carpet made from wool. The catch is that it’s quite expensive as it’s a natural fiber typically coming from places such as England or New Zealand. This fiber is natural and comes in earthy tones, but it’s easily dyed and can be custom made to nearly any color to match your decor. Wool is also dense and comfortable with the pile height holding up well over time.
As an alternative to wool carpeting, wool rugs are a popular compromise. They are still on the expensive side but you can enjoy the luxury of wool without covering your entire house, which is easier on the wallet.
However, even with wool rugs, you’ll need to be mindful of maintenance and proper cleaning as needed. We offer area rug cleaning that provides all the benefits that come along with an entire home carpet cleaning.
Manmade vs Natural Carpet Fibers: What’s Best?
If you are thinking about getting new carpet and you are wondering about manmade vs natural fibers, you’ll want to keep the following information in mind.
- Synthetic carpet fibers perform best and high foot traffic areas, with the exception of acrylic which doesn’t do as well
- Man-made carpet fibers also are excellent for holding up against crushing, tearing, and even chemical applications for cleaning
- If you are worried about mildew or rot, synthetic carpet fibers are a top choice
Meanwhile, wool still stands as a top contender for stain resistant fabrics. Wool can absorb moisture but the fabric typically expels water and stains. This happens from a membrane that covers the wool’s fibers.
Wool carpet also resists static, which can occur when you drag your feet across the carpet and touch a surface or even another person.
Different Types of Carpet Piles
Now that you know about the different types of carpet fibers, let’s talk about piles.
Carpet pile refers to the fabric loops in the carpeting, which is the surface of the carpet. Pile height is how tall the fiber is, such as shag carpet. Shag carpeting is a very well-known and popular high pile type of carpet.
Meanwhile, a low pile or no-pile example is an outdoor rug that you’d place on a porch or patio.
Both high pile and low pile can be great choices for your home. If you are wondering what type of pile would work best for your home, consider the following advice:
Choose High Pile When . . .
- You’d like your carpet to provide warmth and comfort
- You want your carpet to maintain a full and luxurious appearance even over time
- You enjoy the appearance of full and fluffy carpet
Choose Low Pile When . . .
- You or your family suffer from allergies
- You want your carpet to be easy to clean
- You are looking for carpet that is suitable for a playroom or dining room
Cleaning and Maintaining Your Carpet
Once you know what type of carpet you have or what you plan to get, you’ll need to consider how to care for it.
Keeping care of your carpet is good for aesthetic purposes, but it can also help improve the health of your family.
Easy Ways to Maintain Carpet of All Materials
Luckily, there are easy ways to help maintain the appearance and beauty of your carpet between professional cleanings.
- Ask friends and family to remove shoes before entering your home. This will lessen the amount of dirt and mud tracked into the house.
- If you have pets, be sure to wipe their paws if they are muddy.
- There is no set schedule on how often you should vacuum your carpet, and it’s a personal preference. If you have allergies, you may need to vacuum more than someone who doesn’t have allergies.
- You can clean and remove stains with store-bought as well as DIY solutions. Baking soda can work magic on many types of stains, including pet stains and odors.
- When you vacuum, slightly overlap the area that you previously vacuum as you go. This ensures that you are picking up as much dirt as possible along the way.
Why Does Professional Carpet Cleaning Matter?
Getting your carpet professionally cleaned ensures a deeper and cleaner carpet. Carpet is notorious for housing dust, allergens, and even insects within. When you do a quick sweep of a vacuum, it’s nearly impossible to clean the carpet at the same level as a professional cleaner.
No matter the material of your carpet, it’s important to have professional carpet cleaning done bi-annually.
Carpet Cleaning Removes Stubborn Stains
While you can certainly remove stains of the DIY approach, some are too stubborn to get rid of on your own. This is why you should contact a professional carpet cleaning company to remove stains that will not come off your carpet.
Carpet Cleaning Can Remove Unseen Insects
Like it or not, there are probably insects dwelling within your carpet. From bed bugs to dust mites and carpet beetles, there are plenty of critters running around that will go undetected while living in your carpet.
Carpet cleaning provides incredible suction that isn’t matched to store bought vacuums. You can help to get rid of these bugs by using a professional cleaner to get the job done for you.
Carpet Cleaning Alleviates Allergies
Unfortunately, dirty carpet attracts more dirt. From dust to pollen, your carpet fibers can be hosting allergens that make you cough and sneeze.
Regular vacuuming will help, but carpet cleaning can further help alleviate allergies. Not to mention, some diseases can stick around in carpets such as Salmonella.
Carpet Cleaning Removes Mold and Mildew
Don’t forget that damp and dirty carpet can also be a host to mold and mildew. Without proper attention to your carpet, it can literally make you sick by way of mold growth.
Cleaning for Different Types of Carpets
Here at Hydra Clean Northwest, we’re vastly experienced at cleaning carpets at all pile heights and materials. Whether you’re facing stubborn stains or you’re concerned about allergies, don’t delay in contacting us to schedule your carpet cleaning now.