Is Your Carpet Shedding?

Don’t let the “so-called” carpet experts tell you that carpet made with staple fiber will stop shedding in any given time frame because it won’t. The amount of shedding will diminish over time, but spun yarn will shed forever.

Shedding is the loss of loose fiber in a cut pile carpet or any carpet made of staple fiber. If your carpet is made of CFN (continuous filament nylon) there should be no shedding. You may get a minimal amount of shedding on CFN when the carpet is new from loose fibers left in the carpet during manufacturing. One or two vacuumings will remove all the loose fibers.

There are certain instances where the yarn may be defective and excessive shedding will occur. If you suspect this contact your carpet dealer and he should be able to determine if the shedding is from a defect or just a normal amount of shedding. Make sure you vacuum the entire carpet not just the traffic areas and the largest amount of loose fibers will be removed.

Remember shedding in a staple yarn is NOT a manufacturing defect. Your carpet is not falling apart. Check your vacuum to insure it is in good working order and there are no sharp objects caught in your beater bar. There are a lot of opinions about shedding, but rest assured that staple yarns will shed. With this knowledge you will be much happier with your new carpet.

WHICH CARPET FIBER

One of the most frequent questions I receive is; which fiber is the BEST for carpet? Always the answer is “It depends”.

Every fiber has a reason for being made and/or used in carpet. Your uses and your preferences will determine which fiber you should consider when purchasing carpeting either for your home or office. However, I will quote from the Carpet and Rug Institute Web Site:

“Every fiber has it’s own characteristic (we give each fiber characteristic) and no one single fiber has everything. Regardless of which fiber you choose, the construction of the carpet is what makes carpet durable. For durable, heavy traffic carpet you want to look for a dense construction (you don’t want to be able to easily see, or feel the backing of the carpet through the fiber). Shorter pile heights perform better in heavy traffic areas (like entry ways, stairs, halls, playrooms) so choosing a pile height with a ½ of an inch or less will be more durable. If choosing a cut pile carpet, a tighter twist will be more durable than a looser twist. If choosing a Berber carpet, the smaller tighter loops will be more durable than the larger looser loop.” (http://www.carpet-rug.org/about-cri/what-is-cri/frequently-asked-questions.cfm#18)

Even though some carpets are made from a blend of different fibers, most carpets are made from one of the following four fiber types. 1)Nylon, 2)Polypropylene, 3)Polyester and 4)Wool.

Each fiber and its characteristics should be considered, however the fiber alone should not be the determining factor for deciding on which carpet to purchase.

NYLON CARPET FIBER - Durable and versatile, nylon is the most widely used carpet fiber. Most nylon styles today receive a stain-resist treatment for protection against household spills and stains.

POLYPROPYLENE (OLEFIN) CARPET FIBER - The use of polypropylene in carpet has grown dramatically over the past ten years. Polypropylene will not absorb water and is extremely resistant to stains, fading, and moisture.

POLYESTER CARPET FIBER - Polyester offers exceptional softness and color clarity, and it is also naturally stain and fade resistant.

WOOL CARPET FIBER - The preeminent natural fiber, wool is luxurious and much more expensive than synthetic fibers. Wool offers moderate soil and stain resistance.

Do your homework before purchasing carpet for any use. Fiber, construction, color and price. Come into Contra Costa Floor Club and discuss your needs and how you will be using your new carpet. Our highly trained staff is very familiar with all the fibers and construction types of todays carpets.