If you’ve ever asked questions like: ‘what type of carpet is stain resistant?’ or ‘how often you should have your carpet cleaned?’ then this post is for you. Carpet is great for so many reasons – like reducing noise, preventing slips and comfort underfoot. But you may think of carpet as something that is difficult to clean and maintain. I asked a local carpet vendor 6 questions about carpet and how to select and care for it – here is what he said.
Product above is Stanton Belladonna – photo from Carpet One
Best fiber content for durability and comfort?
“Nylon is the most durable fiber for carpet. It can be very soft and there are different brands of nylon fiber and some are more soft than others. Wool is also very durable but more expensive. Usually with wool carpets they will not be as plush as a nylon so not as comfortable. The higher end woven polypropylene carpets can be soft and durable and offer a lot of color and pattern as well.”
Takeaways: Nylon is great for durability, comfort and price. Wool is durable, but can be pricey.
How often should carpets be professionally cleaned?
“We do recommend a professional cleaning every 18 months and a lot of carpet warranties will require this and want to see documentation if a claim is filed.”
Takeaways: Get your carpet cleaned every 18 months!!
What fibers to steer clear from if you want easy maintenance?
“Although they can be very pretty, sisal can be difficult to clean. Also viscose fiber carpet looks attractive and has a silky appearance but it is not durable or cleanable. If it is blended with wool however it can be a little more practical.”
Takeaways: Stay away from sisal and viscose if you want to be able to clean your carpet easily.
How often do you recommend replacing carpet?
“Carpet is like anything else, the better you take care of it the longer it will last. Regular cleaning, vacuuming and not wearing shoes on it can help it look newer for longer. Also it depends on how active the household is. The more people, kids and pets can place more wear on the carpet. There are some vacuums on the market that are actually so strong they can damage carpet. There are a lot of higher end carpets that do not recommend using vacuums that have a beater bar so keep that in mind. On average people replace their carpet every 8 to 12 years.”
Takeaways: On average, carpet is replaced every 8 to 12 years, but this timeframe depends on your family/lifestyle.
What are your top carpet brands?
“Our top brands would be….and in no particular order…Stanton, Karastan, Nourison, Shaw, Couristan, Prestige Mills, Rosecore and Antrim.”
Have you seen any recent trends?
“In the last several years we have noticed a shift that when it comes to area rugs, customers don’t want to invest in that high dollar rug that they will keep for decades and pass on to kids and grandkids. Customers like to change their décor every couple years so we seem to sell the less expensive area rugs than say 10-15 years ago.”
All of these questions about carpet were answered by Darin Swink at Carpet One by Henry in Greensboro! He is our (and so many other Greensboro homeowners’) go-to contact for carpeting and custom rugs. We call him for most of our residential projects (and by we, I mean my work – Barbour Spangle Design). You can find out more about Carpet One by Henry here or follow them on instagram here.
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