NYLON: DURABLE!
- Great for high traffic areas.
- Easy to clean.
- Stain resistant from treatment. It is non-absorbent so liquid spills can be blotted up.
- Can be more costly.
OLEFIN/POLYPROPYLENE: BUDGET FRIENDLY!
- Dirt, food, and spills roll off the strands.
- Budget friendly.
- Flattens from walking, crushes under furniture, flash burns from dragging furniture.
- To help prevent this, use in low-traffic areas. Find a low-pile, loop, or Berber. Move furniture frequently, or not at all. Lift your furniture when moving, don’t drag it across the carpet.
(TRADITIONAL) PET POLYESTER: COLORS GALORE!
- Naturally stain resistant because it is made from recycled materials and there is nothing in the fibers for the liquid to soak into.
- Easier to dye in bold colors which allows for a larger variety of color options.
- Budget friendly.
- Attracts oils, which bind with dirt. A dirty looking carpet is probably just oily.
- Crushes easily.
SMART STRAND: STAIN RESISTANT!
- The stain resistance in a SmartStrand carpet is woven directly into the fiber instead of having a topical treatment applied after the carpet is made. This allows tough stains, such as mustard and red wine, to be removed by blotting the area with warm water.
- Great for high traffic areas.
- Can be more costly.
WOOL: REPELS OIL STAINS!
- Highly resilient. It will keep its shape.
- Wool repels oils, which help it maintain a clean appearance.
- It is an insulator which will help reduce your heating and cooling bills.
- Wool is a natural fiber that can be made without chemicals and dyes. This makes certain wool carpets hypoallergenic, so long as you aren’t allergic to wool, and a great green option by being organic.
- Not stain resistant against spills unless treated topically at the factory.
- Fades under sunlight and absorbs water.
- Costly and requires more care than a nylon.