Are carpet fibers really different and how?

Construction & Fiber Types

Have you ever wondered what carpet fiber is best? Maybe you have had varying experiences with different carpets and wondered why.  As you probably know, not all carpets are created equal, so we put together few things to consider if you’re looking for new carpet or just wondering about yours.

Don’t make the mistake of choosing carpeting or judging your carpet on just the price or color. Understanding the nature of each fiber and it’s construction will help you pick the best carpet for your particular situation or help you understand the performance of your existing carpet.

Construction types:

Plush or cut-pile carpet has straight yarn ends that face upward. Saxony plush, one of the most popular varieties, has short tufts that are densely packed. Plush or cut-pile is a very popular choice and has a soft feel under your feet however it doesn’t tend to wear as well as berber or loop carpet so  it’s best in low traffic areas

Berber or loop carpet tends to be highly durable, easy to clean, and resistant to stains since they’re often made of olefin.  Great for high traffic areas, these carpets also don’t tend to show footprints or vacuuming patterns in comparison to other construction types. The biggest drawback of berber or loop carpet is that it tends to be less soft and padded than cut-pile carpet. Also, the loops can get snagged which results in tufts turning into puff and sometimes pulled rows. A pulled row is where a line of loops comes out and results in a vacancy where you now see the backing where the missing row is.  If you have berber carpet and have a pulled row, we may be able to fix it for you.  J2 Cleaning Las Vega offers repair and stretching of most carpeting types.

Saxony plush pile is made of individual strands that stand straight up to create a lush & fuzzy surface. The drawback to this style is that those vertical strands are easily crushed and therefore susceptible to showing wear. Saxony plush also shows vacuums patterns and foot impressions on its surface.  It shows carpet cleaning patterns left by the extraction wand as well.  This is why we at J2 Cleaning Las Vegas always post groom the carpets to “fluff up” the layed down pattern and also separate the fibers to help speed drying.

Textured cut-pile is very popular and is made of individual yarns which are twisted into spirals and then heated with steam to set the twist into the fibers memory. The spiral strands do not reflect light as much as straight strands, so it’s not as noticeable when spirals are crushed from foot traffic. This pile is suitable for moderate to higher traffic areas.

Fiber Types:

Wool is a natural fiber and generally is considered to be of the highest quality. It costs two to three times the price of synthetics, but it’s very comfortable, durable, and natural in appearance. It is resistant to soil, but when soiled may be particularly hard to clean. Drawbacks to this fiber are sensitivity to cleaning products; wool safe products must be used. Wool is susceptible to permanent staining and you should be aware that wool is one of the fiber types that will fade in direct sunlight over time.

Nylon is the most common carpet material. It’s the strongest fiber, making it an excellent choice for heavy-traffic areas. It’s also the most durable of the synthetics, easy to clean and maintain. Nylon is soil and mildew resistant, resilient and non-allergenic. However, some nylon may pill and is prone to static electricity.  

Olefin is a low cost, easy-care synthetic material that’s often used as an indoor/outdoor carpet. It is usually pre-treated to resist fading and is the most stain and chemical resistant carpet offered. The stain resistance and low price point of this fiber come with the trade-off of a shorter life lifespan as it crushes and wears much faster than wool or nylon.

Polyesters are synthetic fibers with a softer feel. A bit less durable and less costly than nylon, polyesters offer good stain repellency with decent wear characteristics compared to olefin.  Drawbacks to polyester fibers are damage by heat, sunlight, and they have a tendency to get fuzzy and “pill” with wear.

Acrylics resemble wool more than other fibers and resist fading.  Sometimes called art wool, these fibers have springiness to them and a luxurious feel. They are less expensive than nylon, fade resistant, and less susceptible to staining than wool.  The drawbacks to having acrylic fibers are that they tend to become fuzzy with wear and will “pill” like a polyester fiber.  These days you can purchase acrylic wool blends designed to make wool more affordable and share some of the favorable characteristics of acrylic.

Sisal carpet is made from a natural fiber derived from an agave plant that’s stronger and more durable than other natural fibers. Sisal carpets and area rugs are highly durable, earthy and rough-textured like jute. Desirable characteristics are natural stain resistance, anti static properties, doesn’t trap allergens, it’s great for traffic areas since it doesn’t compress, and it absorbs sound better than other carpet fibers.  Drawbacks are that it’s not water resistant at all, it’s harder to repair if damaged, and has a rough feel to it.  Avoid installing in areas that get wet or areas subjected to very high humidity.

Thank you for reading

We hope you found this information helpful and we hope that you choose J2 Cleaning of Las Vegas when it comes time to clean and maintain your carpet and other areas of your home.  We are professionals in carpet cleaning, tile cleaning, grout cleaning, stone polishing, upholstery cleaning, & more. Our crews are direct employees and have the experience, training, and motivation to keep your flooring, no matter what type, looking its best possible condition. �