8 Different Types of Carpets: A Quick Guide

Carpet is the most popular flooring option in homes and apartments worldwide. It's soft, versatile, and comes in several colors and styles. That versatility can be overwhelming for many homeowners, who often find themselves confronted with too many great choices and unsure of which to choose.

Here, we'll look at eight of the most popular types of carpet, the unique factors setting them apart, and why Steam Smart Pro is the best carpet cleaning service in Foothills, AZ, to keep your carpets in peak condition.

Nylon

Nylon is one of the most common types of carpets in homes, and for good reason. It's comfortable to stand on and resistant to most stains and mold and mildew growth. If you clean it properly and regularly, it can last for 15 years without the color fading.

All those positives make nylon carpets one of the most sought-after, and thus most expensive. Though it's often cheaper than wool, nylon is traditionally the most pricey of the synthetic fiber carpet floors. However, as noted above, that high price tag gets homeowners a carpet that stands the test of time. 

Cotton

Cotton carpets have two distinct highlights; their softness and easy cleaning. Cotton makes for a plush carpet that feels good on the feet and provides long-term comfort, and washing out any dirt requires minimal effort. However, cotton is a natural fiber, so cotton carpets are often among the most expensive.

Another downside of cotton is that, despite how easy it is to clean, it absorbs stains quickly. These stains are difficult to wash out once they settle in. Because of this, carpet floors are best in rooms that don't see a lot of dirt, food, or beverages.

Wool

Wool makes for one of the most durable types of carpets and will resist stains and dirt for years if you splurge for a higher-end floor. Unfortunately, wool carpets don't have much stain resistance when you shop cheaply, but no matter your budget, you'll receive one of the softest flooring options available.

The big downside of wool flooring is how it reacts to mold. Unfortunately, mold is attracted to natural fibers like wool, so you'll need to keep an eye out for mold and mildew growth. Additionally, wool floors lose their color quicker than other materials if in direct sunlight. 

These carpets are best in low-moisture areas with minimal sunlight, where they can avoid those two potential drawbacks.

Polyester

Depending on the material, some types of carpets can trigger allergies in sensitive sufferers. However, polyester carpets are a solid solution to that common issue. Polyester is a synthetic fiber made from hypoallergenic, recycled materials, so it is an excellent fit for people with allergies and is environmentally friendly.

Polyester also holds a special place in homeowners' hearts for its natural resistance to color fading, making it a good fit in rooms with large windows that receive a lot of light. However, it will hold stains more forcefully than other types of carpets, especially oil stains.

Triexta

Triexta is a relatively new carpet but a favorite among environmentally-conscious homeowners. It's a synthetic, fully renewable fiber like nylon and polyester, with several of the same benefits.

Triexta carpets are soft, long-lasting, and resist stains better than most natural fibers. However, triexta carpets contain three times more fibers than similar alternatives, making them a dense flooring option that's difficult to clean without professional help.

If you're struggling to wash dirt or stains out of your flooring, a carpet cleaning service in Foothills, AZ, from Steam Smart Pro is the solution you need. Our flooring experts make short work of the toughest stains, no matter what carpet material you have in your home.

Cut Pile

Cut pile is a type of tufted carpet made of the tops of carpet fibers that are sheered off and twisted into tufts. Loop pile carpets are the common alternative to cut pile. With these, the manufacturer connects the top of the fiber to the bottom to form a small loop.

Cut pile carpets come in several materials, but their build gives every variety a natural softness and makes them easy to clean. However, cut pile carpets attract stains more than other types of carpets, and vacuum trails tend to linger because of the floor's natural plush quality.

Olefin

Olefin carpets are one of the strongest and most durable, but you wouldn't know it by standing on them. Though olefin isn't as soft as other synthetic fibers, it has a plush feel and minimizes foot soreness in addition to lasting years without color fading.

Unfortunately, olefin flooring does hold onto oil stains more than most other carpets and can often collect dirt. However, you can wash most of that dirt away with a standard vacuum or steam cleaning service from Steam Smart Pro.

Acrylic 

Some people call acrylic carpet "synthetic wool" because it has several of the same advantages and disadvantages despite not being a natural fiber. Like wool, acrylic is a plush fiber, and the two even look similar. It's also highly stain-resistant, and since it's a synthetic material, it has better resistance to mold and mildew than wool.

However, despite acrylic's natural stain and mold resistance, it's not a durable carpet overall. Because of this, the color will likely fade within a few years when you install it in a high-traffic area. However, regular steam cleaning services will remove every dirt molecule hidden in the acrylic fibers and help maintain the color for longer.

Professional Carpet Cleaning Services in Foothills, AZ

No matter what types of carpets you have in your home, keeping them stain and dirt free will be a challenge without world-class cleaning supplies and carpet expertise. Luckily, you don't have to be a cleaning expert to give your carpets a spotless shine; you just need to call the professionals at Steam Smart Pro.

 Call Steam Smart Pro today at (520) 502-7683 to schedule a steam cleaning service, or click here if you want to know the reasons why DIY carpet cleaner may do harm instead of help.

Author Bio:

Eric Bullard

The owner of Steam Smart Pro in Tucson, AZ, brings over 20 years of invaluable experience in the field of carpet, tile, and air duct cleaning. With a strong dedication to quality and a deep understanding of effective cleaning techniques, Eric consistently delivers outstanding results to his satisfied residential and commercial clients.