It is often hard for consumers to know how to choose a carpet for their home.
Some many people don't know anything about carpet fiber materials.
Here is a simplified list of different carpet fibers.
Listed are the most popular benefits and disadvantages of each carpet fiber type.
Nylon: Nylon is also known as a synthetic polymer, it is a petroleum based product, so it's cost depends on the cost of oil.
Nylon is the most popular carpet fiber sold.
Benefits: Nylon is the best rated synthetic fiber.
Nylon is number one for durability.
It can stand up under extreme wear and tear.
6TH generation nylons are the best, with the best warranties against fading or staining.
Disadvantages: If oil costs are high, nylon is high.
Some people can have allergies to petroleum products.
There are some cheaper nylons that are not as stain resistant.
Olefin: Olefin is a synthetic fiber made from polyolefin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene.
It is bulkier in construction but contains less weight than other carpet fibers.
Benefits: Olefin resists fading and mildew.
It is great for high moisture areas and places that are likely to get lots of stains, or for areas that other carpets fade in.
Like rooms that get lots of sunlight.
It can be cleaned with really powerful cleaners, without the carpet getting damaged.
Olefin is also fire resistant.
Best room choices for Olefin are rooms that tend to have lots of moisture, next to the pool, a baby's room, or basement.
Disadvantages: It is not as durable as 6th generation nylons, but it is a carpet for people who need a less expensive option.
The most popular Olefin carpets are Berber, because they don't mat down as quickly as Plush carpets made of Olefin.
Pet Polyester: PET is made from recycled products like plastic bottles.
It is one of the only eco friendly carpet products on the market.
Benefits: It is a lower cost product.
It is known to be strong, stable and stain resistant.
It is good for rooms with moderate traffic.
It also has fire resistant properties.
A fact most people don't know is that PET POLYESTER is used as an electricity insulator.
Disadvantages: It crushes and mat's down easily.
Acrylic: Acrylic is a synthetic fiber material.
It was first created by Dupont.
Benefits: Resists Moisture and stains.
It washes easily.
Many people say it feels like wool, without the cost of wool.
Acrylic carpet is a good choice for sunny rooms.
Sunlight exposure will not fade acrylic carpets color.
It also has the benefit of not attracting static electricity.
Disadvantages: Some acrylic fibers are resistant to dyeing.
Sometimes with extreme wear Acrylic carpet can begin to look a little fuzzy.
Wool: Wool is a fiber obtained from sheep, goats, alpaca, camels and rabbits.
Benefits: Wool absorbs moisture.
Wool can absorb moisture up to one third its weight.
Wool is also sound absorbent.
Wool is the best quality fiber in the carpet industry but it is also the most expensive.
It is softer than most fibers.
It is stain resistant, fade resistant and crush resistant.
It holds up against wear and tear.
Wool is fire resistant.
It will not melt or drip.
It also resists dirt by forcing dirt up towards the top of the carpets, instead of taking it in to the core like other fibers do.
Wool resists static electricity.
Disadvantages: The only downfall is that it does have to be cared for carefully.
Some cleaners can permanently damage and discolor wool.