The Carpet Guide

When you want a new carpet, create a set of expectations for yourself to make your spending worth it. Before buying ask yourself:

How long you want to use the same carpet? Different materials offer a different level of performance depending on the foot traffic in your home. If you're making a short-term investment, polyester fibre is your best bet. If you need something longer-lasting, try nylon.

What is your budget? A smart carpet budget will need to account for all three pieces of the carpet puzzle: carpet, pad and installation.

Carpet Fibers:

Carpet fibres can either natural materials, like wool, or synthetic materials, such as nylon, polyester olefin and acrylic. Each material brings out unique traits for carpets.

• Nylon: It is the most commonly used carpet material. The fibres are strong, making it an excellent option for heavy-traffic areas. Arguably, the most durable of the synthetics is very easy to clean and maintain. However, some nylon may be prone to static.

• Olefin (polypropylene): It was originally made for outdoor carpeting and basements due to its resistance to moisture, mildew, water damage and static. Nowadays it is more widely used due to its durability and wool-like look and feel. 

• Polyester: It is not as durable as nylon, but it is resistant to stains. There is a wide selection of textures and colours to choose from. While it's susceptible to shedding, it's non-allergenic, sheds moisture and very easy to clean.

• Triexta: It is a newer member of the family noted mainly for its durability and stain resistance. It's a good carpet option for families with children or pets.

• Acrylic: It is the closest to wool that you can get. Acrylic is manufactured primarily for commercial use. It offers soil resistance, excellent cleanability and resistance to static, moths and mildew. There is a wide variety of colours to choose from and is less likely to fade in sunlight as compared to polyester or nylon.

Padding:

Although not visible, the padding or the cushioning layer is critical to in the process carpet installation. The padding cushions the foot, insulates from cold and noise and help in increasing the life of the carpet. However, thicker doesn’t always mean better. A less cushiony floor may be preferable to those whose steps may be a bit unstable at times. 

Care for your carpet:

Proper care will definitely increase the life of every carpet. Take time to vacuum your carpet often, rearrange your furniture regularly to avoid continuous use of certain areas and close the curtains during peak daylight hours to avoid direct exposure to sunlight. If you have carpets in your workplace be sure to get your carpets cleaned regularly with Affordable Carpet Cleaning in Christies Beach or your city.

For homes, it is recommended that you hire professionals to get the cleaning done twice a year. Check out the best Residential Carpet Cleaning in Christies Beach or a city near you to get the best deal even if you clean the carpet yourself in between.