The Ultimate Guide for Choosing New Textiles

A lot has changed in the world of carpet fibers over the past 30 years and not exactly for the good. We regularly clean 30-50 year old carpet that honestly still cleans up better than many carpets which are only 10 years old or less today. How could that be? We would stop short of calling it a conspiracy by the manufacturers but do know that a lot of the newer synthetic carpeting which may look and feel so nice on the sample boards does not hold up over time. Unfortunately many carpet retailers only have experience with brand new carpet and don’t see the issues with aged carpeting like us cleaners do. In many ways that puts carpet cleaners as the real go-to source for good information on which type of carpets perform the best. Let’s look at the major fiber types and list the pros and cons of each.

Let’s cut straight to the chase. Even if you read no further we want you to know that Nylon carpet is still the most durable man made fiber in production today. After cleaning millions of square feet of carpet since the beginning of our company, we all agree that Nylon is our first choice in carpet fibers. The only real drawback to Nylon is that it will be more expensive than other synthetic carpets but for a good reason.

Nylon is very durable and springs back to life with each cleaning. When they manufacture Nylon carpet the yarns are given a heat memory twist which cannot be done to the other synthetics. This means that when we come to clean Nylon it naturally wants to bounce back and stand tall again. Polyester fibers get a memory of being crushed which also can change it color appearance to our eyes.

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Polyester is a very popular carpet fiber and for good reason. Even in some of it’s plusher styles the price can seem very reasonable. Many Polyester carpets may contain a mix of recycled plastic bottles which in theory makes it attractive because it can be considered a “green” fiber. When you feel it on the sample boards at the store it has a soft luxurious feel to it and there’s a wonderful selection of bright colors and styles. Unfortunately a lot of these showroom characteristics won’t last long. In most cases Polyester wears and crushes much sooner than a good Nylon carpet. While Polyester may seem to check all your boxes when shopping in the store just be aware that in many instances it will not have the longevity that most consumers want and cancels out it’s “green” factor.

Olefin can be a fairly good carpet fiber. It’s used often to make Berber carpets, most commercial carpeting, and outdoor synthetic grass carpet. The Olefin fiber can wear well and is typically pretty stain resistant. Olefin Berber carpets are notorious for having spot wicking issues so you always want to attend to spills quickly and thoroughly blot up as much moisture as possible. We see a lot of Olefin Berber carpets in basement levels which seems to work nicely in those areas that don’t have a lot of daily foot traffic.

A majority of commercial carpeting is made from Olefin. You can cover huge areas in commercial buildings at a very reasonable price. We have clients tell us often that they have a commercial carpet and while it may be Olefin that does not mean that it is superior to a residential Nylon carpet. Olefin presents its own issues with crushing of the loops in a Berber style and it holds onto oily soils.

Wool is natural fiber made and in a completely different category than synthetic man-made fibers. In many carpets wool is blended with Nylon which gives it some of the desirable characteristics Nylon offers such as better resiliency to wear and staining.

Wool can be an excellent choice for carpeting in that it wears very well and can last as long or even longer than Nylon. Wool can be very soft. It increases the R value in room because it’s a natural insulator. Wool self extinguishes in a fire which is why fire blankets were primarily made from wool. Since wool is derived from a renewable source it can be considered one of the more “green” fibers out there.

There are two main factors why someone might want to avoid wool, the first being cost. Wool is the most expensive out of all the fibers used in carpet. The second major downside to wool is that it can easily be damaged by pet urine, improper cleaning agents, aggressive rubbing, and many common spills that would otherwise rinse right out of synthetic carpeting. Because of these factors you should really think twice before investing in this high end carpeting.

Buying new furniture for your home can be a fun way to completely change the look of a room. It can also be a huge investment so it’s very important to do a little research before spending hundreds or more likely thousands of dollars.

Before we even get to the fabrics the first things you want to consider is how much use will the upholstered pieces get. Is this going to be the most heavily used furniture for a family room or is this for a formal living room that will only occasionally be sat on. If it’s going to be used often you want to make sure the interior framing is well constructed to withstand hard daily use. Check to see if the cushions are flippable. Some manufacturers make pieces that only have the upholstered material on one side! There are also seat cushions that are an L shape which can’t be flipped in the case of a bad permanent stain on one side.

People are more intimate with their furniture than ever before. Your grandmother would probably be upset if you stretched out and put your feet on her davenport but nowadays we have no issue with using our huge sectional sofas as a pseudo bed! It may feel awkward but when shopping for furniture be sure to flop down and kick your feet up to get a good sense of how comfy it might be when it’s yours.

If you have pets another consideration is the fabrics construction. Cats especially like to stretch their claws in woven materials as opposed to a flat material like Microfiber. Also with pets comes the oils on their coats. Absorbent fabrics will pick up these oils and can be difficult to fully remove from fabrics like velvets, silks, and tweeds.

There are two main categories for upholstery fabrics which are natural and synthetic. Let’s take a look at the most common materials with a little background on each of them.

Tile has become a huge component of newer construction in homes around our area. In prior years you just did not see tile being used in as many rooms in Midwest homes. Tile has now made it’s way out of the bathroom and is frequently used in kitchens, foyers, hallways, and even family rooms now more than ever. Tile is a very durable flooring option which can outlast other flooring for years to come.

With all of it’s great qualities there also comes some drawbacks like every flooring. Tile can be very expensive. While in many cases ceramic tiles can be very affordable, natural stone and the installation of either will also add a large expense. In our Midwestern climate tile can feel very cold in the winters so you should also consider that adding area rugs over the tile is another expense in itself. Another expensive option for combating the coldness of tile is having radiant heat installed below.

Don’t let these few drawbacks scare you off. A well installed tile should last the an entire lifetime making it a fairly economical choice in the long run.

As with all the other flooring and upholstery textiles, there are two main categories which are natural and synthetic.

Have you looked at all of the new synthetic flooring there is these days? It’s not just that old ugly linoleum like your grandmas kitchen. There are some really great new materials out there which are very practical and affordable.

In much of the newly constructed homes you would be lucky to find any carpet outside of a family room these days. Even though carpet cleaning is our most requested service we have to agree that the trend of tearing out carpet through most common areas does make good sense. We’ve always thought you should be able to come in your home with a handful of groceries and be able to quickly make it to the kitchen and a bathroom without worrying about carpet if your shoes were a bit dirty.

Even with all the advancements in LVP flooring there is still something to be said about natural hardwood floors. They have a unique beauty that can’t be denied. Unlike LVP there is never a repeat in the pattern. Each plank is an original much like a fingerprint. For some of us there’s just no substitute for the real thing.

We advise you talk with a hardwood specialist before making the big investment in any wood flooring but here are a few things to think about before you start your search.