Natural fibers used with carpet are produced either by insects, animals, or even plants.  The fibers
that are produced by insects or animals are known as protein fibers.  Those that are made by plants are known as vegetable fibers.  Vegetable and protein fibers share the common disadvantage that they areboth very absorbent and will have extended drying times when wet cleaned - which can lead to mildew, shrinkage, and even dry rot.

Wool
Wool fiber is produced from the fleece of lambs or sheep.  Wool of carpet is imported from countries
such as England, Australia, and New Zealand.  Wool is the oldest and considered to be the finest of all carpet material. 

The ability of wool to stretch up to 40% of its back and forth more than 180,000 times without  breaking makes it very resilient.  Wool is the most expensive material for carpet, although it is also the best you can buy.

Silk
The fiber of silk is produced by the larva of  various insects known as silk worms. The silk, in continuous lengths from 300 to 1600 yards is spun to produce the cocoons.  As a fiber, silk is naturally non flammable, strong, and not affected by static charge problems - even at low humidity.

Cellulose fiber
This type of fiber is produced by plants and normally not used as face yarns.  These types will however, show up as backing materials of tufted as as well as carpets that have been woven.

Cotton
Cotton is a vegetable seed fiber that is produced from the cotton plant.  The primary use for this fiber is yarns woven in carpet or rugs.  Cotton is resistant to alkaline solutions and becomes stronger when it is wet.

The biggest disadvantages to cotton is the fact that is the most absorbent of all fibers and requires extended drying times after being wet cleaned.  It is also easily damaged by acids, stains easily,  mats down, soils quickly, and is subject to mildew, dry rot, and shrinkage.

Jute
The fiber of jute is produced by the jute plant  which grows in South America, Pakistan, and even in
India.  The stalk of the jute plant is where the longer coarse fibers are obtained, located between the outer bark and within the inner pulp.

Jute is normally used as weft yarns, across the  width, in woven carpets and as a backing material
in the construction of tufted carpets.  Jute is an inexpensive material that also serves other uses
than just carpet.  Like all other fibers, this one has disadvantages as well. The fiber is weak when it becomes wet and is also subject to dry rot,  shrinkage, and mildew.

Sisal
The fiber of sisal is produced by the leaves of the agave plant.  Sisal is very strong and primarily used for making rugs, sacking, rope, and even carpet.  The fiber stains easily and is also very difficult to clean.  Wet cleaning can also cause shrinkage so its best to use low moisture methods.

Rayon
There is quite a bit of confusion about rayon and it is easy to understand why.  Rayon is a
synthetic fiber that is produced from natural  cellulosic fibers of wood pulp or cotton.  The  material is put through several chemical treatments which help to turn it into a synthetic fiber.

Primarily, rayon is used for area rugs because of its silk like appearance.  It can be damaged by acids, has low resistance to abrasion and is also prone to cellulose browning.

Tip 1
Make sure that you get a deep cleaning of the carpet
as often as it is needed.  To achieve a clean carpet,
you'll need to have it cleaned by a professional or
you'll need to use a deep cleaning machine.  There
are advantages and disadvantages to this method,
although a thorough cleaning is needed every six
months or so.

Tip 2
Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them
in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean.  Simply
using water on a spill will help most of them.  If
that doesn't work, simply expand your search.  You'll
find several products out there on the market that
can help you get rid of spills quick.

The products range in use and can be helpful when
matching them with the different types of spills. 
You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar to
help you keep stains out.  By taking immediate action
you can prevent spills from becoming stains that
leave you with a dirty and messy carpet.

Tip 3
A clean carpet is a carpet that has been taken care
of very well.  You should always take the time to
vacuum your carpet often and make sure you do a good
job.  This means going over the floor in several
directions to allow the vaccum time to pick up all
it can.  High quality vacuums are the best choice,
as they get up the most debris.

Tip 4
The proper use of entrance will greatly help to
clean off people's shoes and keep most of the
tracked soils off the surface of the carpet.  You
should always use entrance mats outside of your
doors and make sure that anyone who enters your
home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off
of their shoes before they enter.  You can also
take off your shoes and request that guests do the
same, prior to entering your home.

Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or
home are dry.  The remaining 20% are greases, oils,
and starches.  The dry soil types are easily
removed by vacuuming.  As long as they are removed
on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the
damage to the carpet.

Maintaining and keeping a clean carpet is more than
just healthy, as it can also help to prolong the
life of the carpet.  If you have just laid the
carpet, you are already aware of the expenses
involved with doing so.

Even if you haven't had this done, you probably
know the benefits of keeping a clean carpet.  A
clean carpet will add value to the home if it is
maintained well.  It will also help to keep the
home free from odors as well.  Also, it will help
to make a comfortable living area for your friends
and your family.

Anytime you choose carpet, you have to think about many aesthetic as well as technical areas. With well over a hundred thousands designs and colours being released every year, choosing the right carpet to match your needs can be a very challenging task indeed.

Carpet is offered in a number of various textures, constructions, colors, and designs - which will open
the doors to virtually any interior design that you can imagine. The combination of texture and color will complement the look of both formal and casual environments, while helping to bring continuity to the overall room designs.

The most essential thing to think about when you shop for carpet is the amount of visitors that will be
on the carpet that is going to be installed as well as the area you hope to use it in. The design and the texture are both key aspects when you select a carpet for a specified area and use.

Nylon, polyester, and olefin are the mosty widely used fibers with carpet manufacturing, with each one displaying qualities that make themselves great with specific applications and uses. Even though nylon is the most expensive type of fiber, it is also the softest and most resilient, which makes it great for any room in your home, including those areas that have a high level of traffic.

Polyester fabric is less tough than nylon, although it more cost efficient and offers a high level of resistance to stains, which makes it a great choice for areas such as bedrooms or dining rooms that are not subjet to a lot of traffic.

The fiber olefin is solution dyed, which results in a highly resistant stain carpet that can be cleaned easily using a water and beach solution - without any loss to the color.

Unlike the other types of fibers, olefin is fade, mildew, and mold resistant, which results in a carpet that performs well indoors and outdoors. Keep in mind however, that olefin isn't very resilient and as a result, it should only be considered with berber construction.

You can get carpets in either plush or berber construction. The berber type of carpets are well made with a continuous level loop, while plush carpets are constructed of loops that have been sheared, which results in the strands standing upright.

Berber construction carpets don't crush or matt, due to their high level loops. They are however harder underfoot, uncomfortable to sit on or lay down on, and they can easily become ruined by pets with long nails. Berber carpets are well suited for high traffic areas, which include walk ways, living rooms, and entrance areas. They aren't popular with bedrooms, as their hard texture makes them a less than attractive option.

The plush type carpets are much softer to walk or lay on and they offer better sound and thermal insulation. They tend to crush and matt though when they are subjected to high levels of foot traffic.

The use of nylon fiber paired with a tight low pile construction will help to limit the amount of pile and matt crushing, due to the high resilient nature of the nylon fiber and the added support that is gained from tight construction.

The warranties for carpet ranges from 5 - 30 years, with the general rule being that you don't cover the stairs. Most carpet warranties will require the installation of new carpet padding as well at the time of installation in order for the warranty to become valid.

Every time it involves your floors, you should not restrict
your self to just carpet, but try out the new carpet
tiles rather. Carpet tiles are available in an
array of designs and a great choice of materials
as well. Bordered, geometric, contemporary, or
bamboo - will give your floors a complete makeover
and a great look as well.

Whenever you go out to purchase carpet tiles, you will need
to consider exactly where you want to install them.
The tiles will vary in thickness as well as density.
Carpet tiles with more thickness have a cushion
to ensure that it's soft on the surface, making them perfect
for homes. They will also provide a degree of
thermal insulation as well. The thinner types of
tiles are best for offices, gyms, and other high
traffic areas. All carpet tiles are easy to
maintain and will last you for a long time.

The tiles will come in many materials and
designs. If you select, you can make your house
a green house by using bamboo carpet tiles, or you
can choose terracotta carpet tiles that will
give your internal an earthly feel.

You might would like to cheer things up a bit or even
play down your floor, based on the look you
are going for. Carpet tiles that are made from
foam, rubber, linoleum, and vinyl are best for
children's rooms, office spaces, or other high
traffic areas. The cost for the tiles will
depend on their thickness and density, which
means that the prices can range from 1$ per square
foot up to 40$ per square foot.

Tiles for carpet will offer you a number of benefits
when comparing these to wall to wall carpets.
They are simple to install and easy to transport,
as you can set up them without having to move
any furniture! They are very long lasting too,
and will go longer compared to most sorts of carpet
even if they're used in high traffic areas.

You can also unleash your creative side as well
with carpet tiles. You can mix and match
different tiles, or use a color for the border
and even create a distinctive look using
various patterns. Unlike wall to wall carpet,
you don't need any professional help in case
of tear, wear, or staining. If they become
torn or stained, just replace that tile with a
new one.

There are carpet tiles available to suit each and every
taste, even budget and furnishings style
as well. As they are more affordable, they will
offer you the chance to experiment with your
interior. Pretty much the same with carpets,
installing tiles is very important.

They should be set up on hard areas, for example
stone, cement, or ceramic tile. The surface has
to be smooth and clean, so the adhesives will
last and your floor will have a well finished
look. The carpet tiles will usually have cushion
or padding already installed, that will decrease
the cost and expand the life of the carpet.

How often you need to repair your carpet depends on you.  There are instances such as burns, crushing, fading, furniture, bleeding, sprouting, and carpet beetles where you'll want to take action.  Most of the time, you can finish a repair job without needing a professional, although there will be times when you will need professional assistance.

Burns
Burns occur when a cigarette butt or flame comes in contact with the carpet.  If the burn is small,
the burnt fibers of the carpet can be cut out with scissors.  If the burn is large, you'll need to replace the area with a new piece of carpet.  You can do this yourself if you know how, or have an installer do it.

Fuzzing
This occurs when loose fibers come out on the edges of the carpet.  To fix this, simply cut the fibers that are sticking out.

Furniture marks
Heavy furniture can result in indentations being left on the carpet.  To get rid of these nasty marks, you should sprinkle your carpet with some club soda, place a towel over the area, then iron it.  Do this a couple of times and you will see your carpet begin to re-fluff.

Shading, crushing, and matting
A lot of traffic on the surface of the carpet will cause it to flatten, which may give some types of
carpet a shaded appearance.  If this happens, you should brush and vacuum the area.  If you can't fix the problem, you may need to hire a professional, as this can sometimes be very tricky.

Shedding and snagging
Shedding is a problem of usage, as the fibers will surface on the carpet.  This isn't a defect in manufacturing, but a normal problem.  To fix it, you'll need to vacuum the area.  The snags on the other hand are tufts that have pulled out of the surface of the carpet.  They will occur more often with loop pile than cut pile carpets.  You should never pull them off, but instead cut them pair of scissors.

Sprouting
A carpet is known to have sprouts only when there are tufts on it, which are longer than the rest. As pulling on them will only damage the carpet more, you should trim them off with scissors and level them down to the rest of the pile.

Static electricity
This depends on the carpet material, construction, and padding.  Humidity will play an important role
as the moisture in the air is absorbed by the carpet fibers.  A humidifier will help to retain moisture, and you can also spray the surface of the carpet with an anti static agent. 

Carpet beetles
The best way to deal with carpet beetles is with spillage and keep the surface of the carpet clean
of food.  The carpet beetles are quite annoying, as they feed on wool, hair, hides, fur, grain, seeds, and flour.  If the carpet is infested bad, you professional cleaner is the way to go.

Bleeding or crocking
Bleeding of the carpet is the loss or transfer of the color from one section to another.  Good underlayments can help to prevent bleeding to a certain degree.  Crocking on the other hand is the loss of the carpets color when it is rubbed. To avoid this, simply avoid getting your carpet wet.

A carpet installation job that is one right can help you reduce your repair worries to quite an amazing degree.  You can always call a pro as well, as their services will often end up being much cheaper than if you were to go ahead and replace the entire carpet.

Carpets are available in many different styles and colors, although when you shop for your carpet, you should try to buy the best quality carpet you can get for the money.  Even if you happen to be on a
very strict budget, you shouldn't skimp on your carpeting or your carpet pad, as quality products will tend to last longer, wear better, and even save you quite a bit of money in the long run.

Almost all modern carpets are made from either nylon, polyester, or olefin.  Nylon is the strongest type of material and also the most widely used.  Even though nylon will never wear down to the treads, it can fade and get very scrubby in appearance. Buying the proper padding for your carpet and having it treated with a stain resistant treatment will help to make it last a lot longer.

When you pick out a carpet, you need to know how to tell if carpet is good enough quality.  One easy way to test is by looking at the density of the carpet.  This means the thickness and closeness of the pile, or each specific strand of fiber.

The closer the fibers are to each other, the better the overall quality will be.  You should stick your fingers into the rub or bend it to see if you can feel or see the mesh.  The less you feel or see, the better the quality of the carpet.  Another factor with quality carpet is the twist level or the number of twists in 1 inch length of fiber - as the more twists you see, the better.

The density of the pile will affect how the carpet will wear, while the cut of the pile will affect how the carpet looks.  A plush cut carpet looks like a field of velvet with even color and it's great for a formal look. 

The saxony cut carpet has irregular cuts of pile,
and provides a great everyday look.  Frieze is a very nubby twisted pile, with a less formal look although the wear it offers is very good.

When you buy carpet, you shouldn't ignore the carpet pad.  Along with going for the best quality of carpet you can afford, you should also buy the best quality of pad as well.  The padding will cut down on noise, and also help to act as a cushion so it's very important - almost as important as the carpet.

By taking your time and knowing what to look for, you won't have any problems picking out your next carpet.  Quality and durability are the keys to great carpet and pad, which is why you don't want to rush this process.

Shopping for carpet is something that has never been an easy task.  To most people, it is more of a chore than fun.  For most people, shopping for carpet is a dreaded experience that should be avoided at all possible costs - although they aren't in this alone.

Once you realize that others feel the same way, its time to go shopping.  Frieze is an excellent choice of carpet, one of the most popular types that you can purchase even today.  Frieze offers you a lot of benefits without having to compromise anything.

The following are points that you'll want to consider
when you evaluate the durability of the carpet:
    1.  75% twist
    2.  15% fiber type
    3.  10% density

Twist The twist type of carpet has a spiral shape.  It is used via heat method that twists the yarn into its permanent shape.  The fibers can have up to seven twists per yarn, as the more twists you have the better.  The result in the end is a rustic knotted look that is very appealing.

Fiber type
Frieze carpets are normally made with high quality nylon yarn.  Nylon is one of the most popular and most widely used fiber types for wall to wall carpets. 

Density
It is very interesting that several people use the density of carpet as their primary factor in judging quality. 

As you may know, carpet can be too dense.  The denser a carpet is, the harder it will feel, as the fibers are compacted.  The fibers were meant to wear on their sides rather than on the tops, as they need their room to move.

To help you get a better idea of carpets and the types that stand out, we'll take a look at several of them below.

Gulistan
Gulistan is actually one of the top manufacturing companies of frieze carpets.  The company was a trendsetter early on with innovate styles and a very impressive selection of colors and easy
care.  Even though the company is one of the smallest in the world, it has proven it has what
it takes to compete, with it's high quality nylon frieze that is popular even today.

Laura Ashley
The Laura Ashley company is a name that sports an  elegant English country look that continues to grow and inspire.  The company brings a lot to the table, from impressive carpets to bed linens, paint, and upholstery fabrics.

Beaulieu industries
This company licensed the Laura Ashley name and premiered close to two dozen products, which included a cool frieze carpet.  The company has been very successful with their carpets, managing to compete for several years.

The bottom line
Anytime you shop for carpet, no matter what the style may be, you should always know what you want and how it will fit in with your home.  Along with frieze carpet, there are many other types such as Berber, loops, high pile, and others that will add quite a bit to your home.  Your carpet is very important, and therefore you shouldn't rush buying it.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get assistance from a professional, friend, or a member of your family.  Those that have experience with carpet can be a great help when you purchase your own, especially if you don't have a lot of experience.

By getting help when you need it, researching, and just taking your time, you'll have no problems at all shopping for a carpet.  Carpets can make or break a home, which is why it is very important that you know what you are buying before you make that critical purchase.

Although vacuum cleaning can remove a majority of the dry soil, it is also necessary to clean your carpet on a frequent basis to remove the oily, sticky soil that builds up in the pile as a result of odors and dirt that is tracked in from outside. 

If you can clean the carpet before it becomes too bad, the cleaning chore will be easier to do and a lot more successful.  There is a myth that is totallyfalse, which states that cleaning the carpet before
it is necessary will get it dirtier faster.  The carpet with the typical household should be cleaned every 12 - 18 months depending on the number of people living there and the amount of traffic that walks on the carpet.

The choice of the right vacuum is important as well.  There are some vacuums that will leave residues behind, which will promote re-soiling andbasically defeat the whole purpose of household
 cleaning. 

Professional carpet cleaners
It is in your best interest to use professional cleaners simply because their experience will enable them to do a much better job than you can do yourself. The equipment they use has more extraction power than the units available to you, and the carpet will dry faster as well.  They know the cleaning agents to use, and they know the differences in carpet construction and fibers.

Doing it yourself
If you have made the decision to rent a steam cleaning machine and do the job yourself, you should check on several systems before you make a selection.  Most of the units available for rent
don't clean well enough and may end up damaging your carpet.  Therefore, you should always consider
the following:
    -  Several rental companies offer cleaning equipment that is similar to what the professionals use.  The equipment should have enough vacuum power to allow the carpet to dry within 12 hours of cleaning.  You should always avoid rental units found in retail and grocery stores that don't have the power to extract the cleaning solution from the carpet fast enough, as it can actually damage the carpet due to over wetting.
    -  Make sure you avoid over wetting the carpet.  Any prolonged dampness can lead to mildew
growth and bacteria in the carpet, or cause a seperation of the backing.  A wet carpet that stays this way for longer than 24 hours can develop problems.  You can control this by using proper equipment and the right training.
    -  Carpets that have stain resistant treatments have to be cleaned with products that are formulated for this very purpose, or the stain resistance will be impaired and the warranty will be voided.  Never use cleaning or spotting solutions that contain bleaches as they can mess up the color of the carpet.
    -  Never use any silicone based treatments on the carpet. 
    -  You can help to reduce the drying time by using several fans to move the air around the carpet. You can use a dehumidifier as well, as it will pull moisture from the air. 

Hot water extraction
The hot water extraction system is highly recommended, as it considered to be one of the best methods for carpet cleaning.  Also known as steam cleaning, the process consists of spraying a mixture of water and detergent into the pile and recovering the water and soil with a powerful vacuum that puts it into a holding tank.  You can use a truck mounted unit or a portable self contained unit as well.  This method is easily one of the best, and is ideal forsoiled carpets or pet stains that you have yet to get out of the fibers.

When you select carpet for your home, you have many
things to consider and many different options to
weigh as well.  Carpets come in many different colors
and styles, textures and fibers, and there are many
different qualities to choose from as well.

The two most popular choices of carpet today are the loop pile and cut pile.  Loop pile has individual strands of yarn pulled through the backing of the carpet twice, which creates a small loop. 

The cut pile has the loop cut at the top, leavingtufts of yarn that stand straight up. Cut pile is
normally more durable than looped pile.  Cut piles come in many styles, such as shag, textured, saxony, and velvet.  Loop pile choices include berber, cable, or sisal.  For high traffic areas, loop pile is an excellent choice.

 One of the factors with choosing your carpet is the cost.  Even though there is nothing more luxurious than having wool carpeting in your home, most of us can't afford wool.  If you are able to afford wool carpeting you'll find that even though it costs more to install, it will prove to be far more superior than any other type of carpeting.  There is no man made carpet fiber that come close to the durability, rich look, or even the feel of wool - which can also last for 30 years or more.

Acrylic carpeting is very similar to wool, and sometimes referred to as man made wool.  It is resistant to moisture, fading, mildew, crushing, and staining, although it isn't recommended for high traffic areas. 

Nylon carpeting is also popular, as it is recommended for high traffic areas.  Nylon is one of the most expensive types of synthetic fibers, although it is still cheaper than wool. 

Olefin is a low cost carpet material, often used for indoor or outdoor carpeting.  Olefin is colorfast and strong, very easy to clean.  One of the draw backs to olefin is that it can easily be crushed.

Another consideration you'll have is the color and patterns of the carpet.  Light carpeting colors help to create a spacious effect, making the room appear to be larger.  Light color carpets will of course, show much more soil than dark colors.

If you have pets around the house or little kids, dark colors may be your best bet.  There are many different varieties of dark colors, which is great for those interested in style.  Dark colors are ideal for stains or pets, as they don't show soiled areas near as much as light colored carpets.

If you end up selecting light colors around pets or little kids, you'll find yourself having to work twice as hard to make stains less noticeable.  It would be easier and also smarter to select a dark color and make it easier on yourself.

In the past and even today, carpet is very popular with home owners all across the U.S.  Carpet is the most practical, fashionable, and versatile choice of flooring out there, as it also accounts
for more than half of all flooring purchases that are made each and every year.  The fact is, carpet has outsold every other type of flooring for more than 60 years.

Carpet offers you several advantages that other flooring options can't compete with.  Below, you will find many of the features that carpet will add to your home.

Warmth
Carpet is the best choice you can make for your bedroom, family room, and other areas where you need warmth underfoot. 

Insulation
Both carpet and carpet padding will provide an extra layer of much needed insulation between the floors of your home.  Depending on the density and weight of the carpet, it contributes to the R-value of your home, which adds to the energy efficiency
as well.

Safety
Carpet offers a slip resistant surface that will prevent accidents along with a natural cushion in the event of someone falling.  For young children and the elderly, this is very important.

Reduction in sound
Carpet will also reduce noise better than any other type of flooring.  Carpet works to dampen noise in three ways:
    1.  Reduces surface noise from foot traffic
    2.  Absorbs airborne sound
    3.  Blocks transmission of sound
These qualities are valuable in apartments as well as semi-detached homes.

Surface
Adding carpet to a room can also disguise any existing damage to the floor and also hide any
other problems such as warped floors.  The thicker density the carpet is, the more problems it will be able to hide.

Easy to care for
The carpets of today are more stain resistant than they have ever been in the past, which makes
cleaning even the worst possible spills easier than ever.  No matter type of spill it may be, there is always a way to clean it up. 

Clean air
Research has proven that carpet can indeed improve
the quality of air by trapping allergy causing
dust and allergens if it is properly cleaned and
maintained. 

Variety of use
Carpets aren't only for floors anymore, which is a really great thing.  You can easily add carpet to steps, stairs, walls, posts, and other non level surfaces, without having to worry about it slipping, lifting, or buckling.

Flexibility
Carpet is the primary foundation in almost any room.  Because it is available in a variety of
different colors and textures, it helps to create an unlimited number of possibilities for decorating.  From the neutral tones to rich solids, carpet is the first step you can take to make your home look better than ever.

Low cost
Carpet doesn't cost a lot of money, as it offers an economical alternative to the other types of expensive flooring.  Even with professional installation, you won't pay near as much as you would for hard surfaces.  Unlike hard surfaces, carpet can keep you comfortable if you decide to lay down on it.

Life span
The carpets of today are very durable and can outlast most other types of flooring available on the market.  All you have to do is select a type of carpet that has a life span of 5 - 30 years or more, which is very common now days.

Warranty
With most manufacturers, you can get great warranties with your carpet purchase.  This way, you'll be protected when you install your new carpet.  Once installed, all you have to do is enjoy it - as the warranty will ensure that you are very well protected.