Learn The Different Yarn Styles of Carpeting

Learn The Different Yarn Styles of Carpeting

One of the factors a professional considers before cleaning a carpet is the yarn style it is constructed of.

Some of the different construction styles to think about:

Level loop- like name suggest loops and has same height. All different methods of cleaning can be used.

Velvet plush- is very high density cut pile and is not twisted. Looks like a flat top haircut. Grooming after steam cleaning with  a brush is recommended but rotary agitation is not a good idea.

Saxony Plush- looks similar to velvet plush but has several twists per inch instead of straight up/down. Saxony is the most popular style of carpet installation for residential wall to wall. This style also can be groomed with a brush but scrubbing with a rotary type machine is not recommended. The pile can become permanently distorted.

Cut & Loop- As name suggest has cut top and level loop mixed in. Dry cleaning or low moisture is often the preferred method.

Multi level loop- is a looped yarn that has different heights.

Frieze- have several twists per inch and bends revealing one of the sides. Machine cleaning may cause distortions in pile and not recommended. Steam cleaning is best.

 

Learn The Different Yarn Styles of Carpeting

Professional Carpet Fiber ID

As part of being a professional carpet cleaning technician the first step durinng the inspection process is identifying what type of construction the carpet is made of. Although nylon and olefin (berber) are the most common and in 90% of all US homes knowing which one is critical to determining what process and detergent to use. Nylon needs to be cleaned with a cleaning solution of ph 10 or lower according to the manufacturers. Berber can melt from a hot hose and damage can be caused from dragging furniture. Natural carpets like wool can shrink if too much water is used.

The “burn test” is the best known test for identifying carpet materials. The professional needs a lighter, ash tray and pair of tweezers.

The yarn can be found often laying in corners or be pulled from obscure areas like closets.

Top characteristics to look for during a burn test.

Flame, odor ash

- Flame of nylon and olefin is blue and has an orange tip. Olefin burns super fast.

-Polyester and acrylic sputter a bit when burned and give off black smoke.

-Wool extinguishes itself or goes out immediately

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Professional Carpet Fiber ID

Types Of Carpet Fibers

Types of carpet fibers.

Acrylic- Feels and looks like wool and is actually stronger then wool. The biggest downside is it becomes stiff and hardens over time. Also does not last as long as other types like nylon, olefin. This material dislikes water but loves oil, meaning it will not hold water but easily absorbs oily substances. Acrylic can fuzz easier then other materials and can be difficult to dye. This fiber is washable and is mostly used for area rugs.

Polyester- PET is the short acronym and loves to absorb oily spills but does not hold water and does not need any added blockers to resist water based spills and stains. Currently represents about 10% of the marketplace and is a favorite in apartment complexes for its cost. Poly is very sun resistant and so is popular for sitting rooms that receive a lot of sunlight. It is not very resilient and will show wear from walking on it or traffic patterns. This material is prone by even normal wear and will not spring back like nylon.

carpet fibers

Types Of Carpet Fibers

Learn Different Carpet Fiber Types

Learn about the different carpet fiber types and their characteristics.

Plant based carpet fiber examples

Sisal- sisal comes from the leaves of the sisalana tree native to certain areas of mexico. It can be used in walk off mats, area rugs and wall to wall carpeting. Often you find it in walk off mats at entrances, it is very rough to the touch and shrinks when wet.

Coir- comes from the hair of a coconut and is used in walk off mats and area rugs. It is rough to the touch and expands when wet.

Sea Grass- sea grass comes from ocean grass and is used in walk off, area rugs and wall to wall. It is very slick looking and has a shiny appearance

Abaca- comes from a banana leaf grown in phillipines, its is coarse to the touch

Protein fibers- comes from animals and insects. These materials are sensitive to high alkaline detergents may bleed colors if slightly acidic chemicals are used.

Protein or animal based carpet fiber examples

-Wool comes from fleece of lamb or sheep, the most popular countries producing these are australia and new zealand. Around the world wool is still the most popular fiber but in the united states it makes up less then .5%

Learn Different Carpet Fiber Types

Clean Up Spaghetti Spills From Carpet, Easily.

First, don’t wait. Delaying can cause spaghetti spills to become permanent stains in carpeting. Use a clean white towel to blot any liquids up. Gently remove any solid noddles of spaghetti with a spoon.

Always test any carpet spot remover in an unseen area for color fastness or potential damage to carpet.

Solution mix- use ¼ teaspoon of dishwashing detergent and mix with 1 cup of warm water. Rinsing is always necessary to remove any residue which can cause resoiling in the carpet.

Start with dabbing a small amount of solution on a white clean cloth and gently blot the spill area. Start from outer areas and work towards the middle. DO NOT RUB or SCRUB.Allow solution to sit for a couple minutes before starting.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

After the spill is removed rinse with warm water and blot with dry towel or cloth.

Always pat the area dry when completed and never rub. Can also place a dry towel over the area and a plastic garbage can on top to apply pressure. Leave for several hours to soak up. Spaghetti can be difficult to remove from carpet, repeat several times if necessary.

*** Never use laundry detergent on carpet, these products can brighten up the fibers. Never use automatic dishwashing detergent also, most contain bleach which cause permanent damage

When using a spot cleaner from a store, always rinse thoroughly with warm water. A spray bottle set at mist setting is always best to avoid over wetting the area. Never use more detergent then directions, too much detergent can cause rapid re-soiling.

Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question.

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Clean Up Spaghetti Spills From Carpet, Easily.