Dirt and stains happen. It’s unavoidable, so the most important thing to consider when choosing a carpet is the use it will get. Do you have three dogs and two cats running over it? Children dripping paint on it? Is it a guest bedroom no one really goes in? Or a hallway leading to every room in the house from the main entrance? Most carpets are easy to clean, provided they are right for your lifestyle and receive the right upkeep.
Natural Fibres
Wool carpets have a natural stain resistance due to the oils in the fibres. This prevents spills and stains setting in as quickly making wool carpets easy to clean if you get to it quickly! The issue with wool is it is a natural fibre and will absorb spills making set-in stains difficult to clean. Another plus is the natural variety in shading in the yarn helps to disguise any set-in stains, wear or pet hair in your carpet. There is a little more upkeep involved in wool carpets, we recommend you have them professionally cleaned once a year. A good quality wool carpet with regular cleaning will give your great results for decades!
Wool carpets are perfect for homes with heavy use that you want to stand the test of time, suitable for daily life as long as you vacuum regularly, have them professionally cleaned once a year and are quick to lift any stains off the fibres. It may not be as easy to remove stains but they will show less imperfections.
Man Made Fibres
Man made carpets (such as nylon, polypropylene and polyamide) have the edge when it comes to removing tough stains. Unlike wool carpets, they are bleach cleanable (PLEASE don’t bleach your carpet, use a solution!) allowing you to chemically remove set-in stains without affecting the colour or texture. The coating on the man-made fibres makes them highly resistant to water based stains and therefor easier to clean. The downside to man made carpets is because they are dyed they don’t hide daily dirt build up and pet hair as well and are less durable than wool carpets. Over time the pile may flatten and begin to look worn quicker than natural fibres.
Man made carpets are great for busy households where life happens, they will not look as new as long as wool carpets but if you keep on top of vacuuming and home stain removal they are still an excellent choice.
A note on Pile
Getting the right material is the first step but pile is also important. The density of a pile is how much material per square yard – the higher density pile, the longer it takes for the stain to draw down the fibres making your carpet easier to clean.
**Tip** take a carpet sample and fold it back on itself – the easier you can see the backing the less easy to clean the carpet!
If you need any further advice on choosing a carpet to suit your home get in touch and one of our experienced Interior consultants will be happy to advise.
