Carpet and Rugs Cleaning —Important aspect of carpeting

The look and feel of a carpet will depend on the type of fiber used, the density of the tufts, and the degree of twist in each strand. Having been woven or tufted, carpets are finished in one of the following three ways:

1. Loop Pile: In this type individual strands of yarn are pulled through the carpet backing twice to create a small loop. Loop pile carpets would be a Berber, Cable or Sisal. Loop pile carpets are a good choice for high traffic areas.

2. Cut Pile Carpet: In this type the loop is cut at the top, leaving tufts of yarn that stand straight up. Examples of cut pile carpet include; Velvet or Plush, Saxony carpet, Frieze carpet, Shag Pile and textured. A cut pile carpet is generally more durable than a looped pile carpet.

3. Cut & Loop Pile: Different types and cuts of pile are combined to allow for a variety of textures, sculptured effects and color combinations. Good for hiding footprints.

Fibers used to make carpet are nylon, polyester, olefin or polypropylene, wool, acrylic, cotton and rayon. Each fiber has its own set of characteristics that set it apart from the others. Olefin is a very low cost easy care material that is often used in indoor/outdoor carpeting. However Olefin is known for its toughness and properties such as being stain, dirt, fade and mold-resistant as well as fast-drying, it is soft fibers which crushes and wear easily giving it a shorter life than other fibers.

Nylon is the most popular because of its durability. It resists mildew, staining and soiling; it is generally recommended for all traffic areas. Polyesters are softer but a bit less durable and more inexpensive than nylon. They can be damaged by heat and sunlight. Acrylic carpeting is very similar to wool and is sometimes called man-made wool. It resists moisture, fading, mildew, crushing and staining but is not recommended for high traffic areas in the home. They are more expensive than nylon. Wool has the most pleasant and natural texture, and is also the most expensive carpet material.

Carpets come in many shapes and sizes. There are Wall-to-wall carpets, carpet tiles, area rugs, scatter rugs, and carpet runners. Wall-to-wall carpets cover an entire floor of a room. Carpet tiles allow for easier replacement of sections as they are needed, like in traffic patterns where the carpet wears fastest but they should be professionally installed. Area rugs are a very popular way to add some style to any room. You can also move around an area rug. The only drawback to area rugs is that they shift around under high-traffic and their edges may cause you to trip. Smaller than area rugs, scatter rugs are mainly used to protect high-traffic areas, such as an entrance way or the kitchen sinks. Runners are laid in hallways. Professional carpet cleaners give you the perfect cleaning for all your carpets and rugs.

Your carpeting is an important and costly aspect of your home, and cleaning is an important aspect of carpeting. Regular carpet cleaning and maintenance is mandatory to keep your investment look better and last longer. The type of carpeting though, somewhat determines if this is a do-it-yourself project or if you need to call professionals to handle the carpeting cleaning. In order to preserve your carpet or rug, it is recommended that you professionally clean it at least once a year and if there are stains or pets in the vicinity, then maybe every 6 months. Rug cleaning is an art and it all depends on what type of rug you have and its composition. One thing in common for rugs cleaning is that unlike carpets you cannot beat the rug to clean them. You need to know that your investment in your rug is being maintained and looked after in the best way possible. Professional rug cleaning increases the life of your rugs and improves air quality, reducing allergies and illness.