Carpet Care & Maintenance

Wool Carpet

To keep your wool carpet looking beautiful you should vacuum regularly and thoroughly. An upright or canister vacuum with a rotating beater bar/brush is the best type for cut pile carpet. A suction-only vacuum should be used for shag and loop pile carpets to prevent excessive fuzzing and fraying.

Spills should be removed immediately. The best method to remove spills is to blot up liquids with a white, absorbent cloth. Solids should be scooped up with the end of a knife or spoon. Always keep a wool carpet spot removal kit such as Woolclean® for a quick response to spills and accidents. Follow the directions on the bottle. Recommended cleaners are available in our showroom.

Nylon Carpet

The best way to care for your nylon carpet is to vacuum regularly. For cut pile carpet, a vacuum cleaner with a rotating beater bar/brush which agitates the carpet pile and loosens dirt is recommended. For shag and looped carpet a suction-only vacuum is recommended to prevent, fraying, excessive fuzzing and damaging of the loops. The most common methods of cleaning nylon carpet are dry powder and steam cleaning.

Please note that many do-it-yourself products in aerosol cans can cause rapid re-soiling due to excessive residues. For spot removal on nylon carpets we recommend a non-residue cleaner such as Nylac®. Follow the directions on the bottle. 

Shag

Shag carpets have loose, long and less dense fibers. Because of these long, loose fibers they can hide a lot of dust and dirt. When selecting a vacuum cleaner it is important that it has a powerful HEPA filter. It’s also imperative to have a vacuum with large wheels to maneuver around the long fibers of the rug. Swivel heads don’t necessarily work well. For this reason a tough and sturdy vacuum is also recommended.

Berber

Berber Carpets are best known for their loop pile construction. Because of these loops dirt and debris sit on top of the carpet instead of sinking into the carpet. This leads to frequent cleanings. It is very important to pick a vacuum cleaner that will have significant suction power. Berber carpets are also susceptible to loops getting pulled and snapped. Finding a vacuum that allows you to control the spinning brush will aid in avoiding snagging and unraveling your Berber carpet.

Frieze

A frieze carpet is a tightly twisted carpet with Fiber lengths between a plush and a shag carpet. The Tightly twisted fibers add to its durability. To avoid shredding your frieze carpet the proper vacuum cleaner would have a rotating brush that can be turned on and off.

Plush

Plush carpeting is identified by its smooth, dense cut pile fibers. These carpets require a vacuum cleaner with a lot of maneuverability. The perfect vacuum would be lightweight with large wheels. It is also crucial to have a vacuum with adjustable brush height settings. The settings should be set so the vacuum can easily glide the top of the carpet.

Soft

Soft carpets require gentler cleaning action to avoid unnecessary wear to the carpet. Many vacuums have overly aggressive action, this could damage the carpet. There are 5 characteristics of a vacuum cleaner that would be appropriate to use with a soft carpet. These attributes include an adjustable height brush roll, light weight, large wheel size; adjustable motor speed and optional brush roll control.

Carpet Fibers & Materials Explained

From synthetic to seagrass, carpet fibers run the spectrum. Proper carpet maintenance means not only knowing your carpet type, but its material as well. Learn more about how to keep your carpet looking its best and lasting longer.

Synthetic Fibers

Synthetic carpets consist of Nylons, Polyesters and Olefins. Synthetic fibers are extremely durable so you can use a vacuum with aggressive cleaning power without worrying. Beyond that depending on the type of carpeting would determine the best vacuum for your home.

Natural Fibers

The most popular Natural Fiber is Wool carpeting. Wool carpeting is very durable and long lasting but it must be vacuumed with care. If a revolving brush is to be used on wool the bristles must be flexible and forgiving. This will ensure the fibers will not fuzz the yarns and prematurely wear the carpet.

Other Carpet Materials

Other materials used in carpeting are sisal, seagrass, jute, mountain grass, bamboo, coir, cotton, viscose, tinsel, silk and leather. These types of fibers usually require specialty brushes that are very soft to not damage the fiber. Make sure your vacuum cleaner has a specialty brush made specifically for your type of fiber.

Looking for tips on what carpet to choose?

You’ll want to check out our latest blog about carpet warranties. How do carpet warranties work and what do they cover? These are common questions our Portland customers ask us. 

Have questions about the differences between wool and synthetic carpet? If so, you’re not alone! 

Wool carpet has been used for centuries, but synthetic carpet materials have gained popularity in recent decades. Are you considering new carpet for your home remodel? To determine the right carpet for your unique needs and budget, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of both synthetic and wool carpeting.