Carpets - what do I need to know?

[JackReacher]

I am having to buy carpets for the first time in my life, doing 4 bedrooms and the stairs and landing. Brief research says that synthetic carpets have improved massively, and have the benefit of being easier to clean and not attract moths. However, we really like loop pile and it seems you cannot get synthetic carpets in loop. We are going for a fine strip on the stairs and loop really works well, so it will be either 100% wool or a mix. We will probably keep to loop in the bedrooms as well as we like the look, but with kids on the horizon I worry that they might be tough to keep clean. Also, I understand to pay for good underlay and avoid carpet right etc, which is fine, I've got a good local independent.

Few questions:-

Are moths really a problem on wool or mix carpet? I'm on a modern housing estate in a semi rural location
How easily can loop wool/mix be cleaned? I know you can't bleach it
What is the advantage or disadvantage of 100% versus a 80/20 or 50/50 mix?
Brands, are Manx and Cormar any good? are there brands to avoid?

Thanks

[JackReacher]

AC43 said:

Are you sure you want carpet? With kids wood floors are 1000% times easier to keep clean.

I had a year in a house with a baby and carpets. Even though they were just on the stairs and in the bedrooms I spent hours scrubbing all sorts of st out them. Sometimes literally.

Only now the kids are 10+ are we vaguely considering carpets on the stairs and upstairs for the next one.

Just a thought.

Thanks, this is a big consideration and a concern of wool carpets. We are definitely going with a hard surface over all the downstairs, with a preference for carpet on stairs (safer?) and bedrooms as feels warmer, and also absorbs noise, which is also a problem with newish build.

[JackReacher]

nurburgring1 said:

Most wool carpets stocked on the high street will be 80/20, that is 80% wool 20% man made. A lot of man made carpets will be polypropylene, although nylon has made a come back. There are others, even cotton, a read of the web will list them all.

Wool mix is harder wearing and on the whole will last longer, but usually costs more. Modern polypropylene carpets are very good value and as has already been said, can be a bit more resistant to some staining, some are described as bleach cleanable. Wool mix carpets do offer good stain protection via the natural oils in the wool. A new carpet can be stain protected, but it may be a good idea to find out if the manufacturer recommends it in the case of wool, not all of them do.

The majority of carpets on the high street will be a tufted construction, other popular ones may be wilton or loop pile, they are all available in wool and man made. Some carpets will felt back, this has taken over from the old rubber back, this type of carpet is at the cheaper end of the market and doesn't require an under lay. The rest require an under lay and the better ones are more expensive. Some carpet shops offer free under lay when you buy the carpet, it's not always the best quality.

As regards cleaning, both wool and man made carpets can be cleaned, hot water extraction provides a deep clean and is recommended by a lot of the manufacturers. Professional carpet cleaning is far better than DIY methods, as resoiling can be a problem following DIY attempts, this is due to detergents not being fully extracted. Good professional carpet cleaning businesses are usually members of the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA), but recommendation from previous clients is the best way of finding any good trader.

Moth damage will only be found in natural fibre carpets, but regular vacuuming should stop any problems. Periodic vacuuming behind furniture is important, it's in these places that moths may lay eggs.

Many thanks, very helpful. It sounds like you're in the trade? Any opinion on Cormar or Manx carpets?