The Beginner’s Guide To Synthetic Carpet Fiber
Have you thought about synthetic carpet before?
Do you really know what it is?
Will it go well in your bedroom?
These are the questions that need to be answered.
So let’s get to it.
Those Questions About Synthetic Carpet
You say ‘yes synthetic carpet’, then look blank…
Do you really know what synthetic carpet is and the different grades there are out there?
Well, we are going to look into this a bit further so you know if this carpet is indeed any good for your bedroom.
Synthetic Nylon Carpet
Did you know that the fibre nylon was actually introduced first by the DuPontChemical Company in 1938.
Several years later, after a great deal of development, nylon became the first synthetic fibre to be used in the entire carpeting industry.
Really…
The first 3 generations of fibre experienced many problems with the worst being staining.
The 4th generation fibre of nylon had a mill applied coating that solved a majority of the staining problems.
The ability of the fibre to repel water and oil-based spills as well as soil helped to propel nylon into the top-selling carpet fibres out there.
Synthetic Carpet
After several other changes, the DuPont company introduced the fifth generation nylon fibre.
Now, this stain-resistant fiber would repel most dye stains if treated within a reasonable time.
Don’t just leave it for days, even weeks, and think that this fibre will not let that stain really soak into it and not leave a smark…
This fibre is more accurately called an acid dye blocker in that it doesn’t allow acid dyes to penetrate and stain the fibre.
The protective coating mill is applied and fills the dye sites with anionic molecules.
Here’s A Tip For You
There is actually an easy way to test fibre for the presence of a fluorochemical.
And this is to cut a couple of fibres from a non-traffic area and apply a few drops of oil and water mixture.
If it beads up, then there is an active fluorochemical present.
Whenever testing for the presence of the acid dye blocker, you should again cut a couple of fibres from a non-traffic area, then immerse the fibres in a red kool-aid mixture and wait for 5 minutes or so.
Remove the fibre from the liquid and flush with a neutral detergent solution.
If the acid blockers are present and active, there will be no discolouration.
Polyester Carpet
The fibre of polyester was first introduced into the garment industry around the 1950s.
By the late 1960s, polyester was introduced into the carpet industry as a face yarn.
In hand, feel, and appearance it is similar to nylon, although it doesn’t possess that same resiliency.
Polyester doesn’t absorb water-based spills and is not affected by urine or kool-aid, but it will absorb oil-based spills.
Polyester is non-allergenic and mildew resistant.
Acrylic/Modacrylic Carpets
Both of these fibres were first used as carpet yarns around the late 1940s.
They disappeared around 1988 due to the competition from other fibres.
It was reintroduced to the market around 1990 in Berber styling.
This was done so that people could take advantage of the wool-like appearance, hand feel, and the act that it was more spot resistant.
So it was much easier to clean, and not damaged in the ways that wool carpets were.
See also Watch Out For The Natural Fibre Carpets
Olefin Carpets
Olefin is the latest synthetic fibre to be adopted for carpets.
Once only available in continuous filament, it is now produced in staple form as well.
Olefin has a wide variety of uses that include primary and secondary backing of tufted carpets, warp yarns, and other uses as well.
The Advantages Of Synthetic Carpet
- resistant to colour fading
- resistant to crushing
- comfortable and soft underfoot
- easy to clean
- stain-resistant when treated
- generally resilient
- resistant to abrasion
- many colours or patterns
- resistant to mould and mildews
Are Synthetic Carpets Good
Nylon in itself is easy to clean which is a big advantage…
It is also durable, resilient and the most sustainable of the synthetic carpets out on the market.
Making it one of the most used in places like showrooms.
For example, this carpet is not just used for its benefits in the home but can be used for its benefits in high traffic areas as well.
It has good yarn memory which prevents crushing.
If you are not sure what yarn memory means – well… When you stand on it and it flattens, it will then resume its previous form and straighten up again once your foot leaves that space.
This synthetic carpet also has good abrasion resistance, resists those all too often stains as well with treatment and holds its colour well.
This is a great advantage if the sun shines in in the summertime on your carpet, and as we know.
There are carpets that will lose their colour with the constant beating of the suns raise.
As we can see here that synthetic fibre carpet does indeed fit into the realms of your bedroom.
Not only is it good for any of these stains that you might have if you have breakfast in bed, for instance. But any wine stain.
Well…
You might have a glass of wine in your bedroom, especially if you also have a sort of sitting room in your bedroom as well.
And not only that, but you can also get synthetic fibre carpets with a soft feel to them.
I know that when you think of man-made fibres it used to be on the rough side.
But things have changed over time and man has become better at producing materials that look and feel more like natural materials.
So not only do you have resistant and soft to the feel carpets now.
But they are also not as susceptible to wearing out and staining as you would have with more natural fibres that make up carpets.
And what about the colours you can also get them in?
It is exciting to see the variety out there…
So if you had any reservations about putting gin carpets into your bedroom before.
These reservations can be thrown out of the door now. Because when you think of synthetics…
The synthetic carpet has come a long way and is definitely a good overall carpet choice for your bedroom needs.