Synthetic carpets, made of man-made fibers, make up the biggest portion of the wall-to-wall carpet market. There are several reasons why synthetic fibers are preferred by many over natural fibers (such as wool), including cost, strength, durability, and stain resistance.
You’ll find four major types of synthetic fibers used for carpeting. Each fiber has certain characteristics that may make it more appealing than other fiber types or more suitable for specific uses than others. Here are the four main types of synthetic carpet fibers.
1. Nylon
Best for: Heavy-traffic areas, including stairs
Nylon is one of the most well-known synthetic fibers. For years it has been considered the “ultimate” carpet fiber. Nylon is, in general, a strong fiber with high resiliency (the ability to bounce back after becoming flattened or compacted). This translates into a very durable carpet.
Nylon does have some disadvantages, though: it is more expensive than other synthetic carpet fibers, and less stain-resistant (although it is always protected with a stain treatment).
- Easy to clean and maintain when treated for stain protection
- Extremely durable
- Excellent fiber resiliency (bounce-back)
- Expensive
- Not as soft as other fibers
- Generates static electricity
2. Polyester
Best for: Low- to medium-traffic areas, such as bedrooms and home offices
Polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, or PET) is a very versatile fiber that has been used for a long time in carpeting. Historically, polyester has been viewed as a lower-quality carpet fiber than nylon, because polyester is not as strong or as resilient as nylon. However, there have been many technological advancements in polyester production, and as a result, polyester today is more durable than it has been in the past.
A big advantage of polyester is its built-in stain resistance. Another bonus is that polyester carpets today are often made of recycled materials, making them more environmentally friendly carpets than their nylon counterparts.
- Soft and plush underfoot
- Less expensive than nylon
- High stain resistance
- Shows wear earlier than nylon
- Not ideal for high-traffic areas
- Fibers are not as resilient as nylon
3. Triexta
Best for: Low, medium, and high-traffic areas, except for mudrooms and entryways that may track in oil-based dirt
Triexta is the newest carpet fiber and is currently generating a lot of buzz in the carpet industry. In 2009, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission officially recognized triexta as a generic name for polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), making it a new classification of fiber.
Although triexta essentially comes from the same “root” as polyester, there are several key differences between the two fibers. The biggest difference is that triexta is more resilient than standard polyester. Triexta is also much softer than polyester (although there are many new “soft” polyester carpets). Many triexta carpets are made using biotechnology that utilizes corn glucose in the manufacturing process, making these carpets eco-friendly and resulting in less off-gassing.
- More durable/resilient than regular polyester
- Very soft
- Colorfast, won’t fade or discolor
- Newer fiber, no long-term performance info
- May soak in certain oil-based soil but can be cleaned
- May need more frequent cleaning than nylon or polyester
4. Olefin
Best for: High-moisture areas such as basements and outdoor spaces
Olefin (polypropylene) is commonly found in looped styles of broadloom (such as Berber) and area rugs because its appearance is similar wool. Olefin is considered a less durable fiber than most other synthetic carpet fibers and is usually limited to products of entry-level quality and looped styles, where resiliency is not as crucial. However, olefin is extremely stain-resistant, and so it’s well-suited to areas prone to spills.
- Very affordable
- Tolerates spills because of its stain and moisture resistance
- Fade-resistant
- Least durable synthetic fiber
- Attracts oil-based dirt
- Tough to clean if fibers trap oils
5. Indoor Doormat
ABSORBS MOISTURE & DIRT: Our indoor doormat can quickly absorb moisture and scrap off dirt, water, dust, grit, mud, sand, sleet, grass, slush, rain, snow from your shoes instantly, keeping floors clean and dry. Work as front door rug, dirt trapper doormat, front back door mats, door mat inside, indoor doormat, door mat indoor shoes scraper and so on.
- ANTI-SLIP & LOW PROFILE: Our absorbent front back door mats use 100% high quality non-skid rubber backing, keep water and moisture from seeping and stay in place on dry floor, won’t slip or scuff floors. WARNING: Place rug on CLEAN DRY SMOOTH FLOOR only. Water under rug can cause it to slip. Keep bottom of rug dry. Low profile design and reinforced overlock edges ensures that doors won’t get stuck or the door rug go curling.
- DURABLE, SAFE & FASHION: door mats inside features the dense polypropylene fiber weave in stylish color pattens to match any décor. The fine sewing technology & TPR rubber backing makes our indoor doormat solid, durable and practical, no shedding. Eco-friendly and recyclable, nontoxic, odorless, perfect for homes with kids.
- EASY TO CLEAN: Our doormat indoor entrance sweep with a broom or vacuum regularly or shake off outdoors or use a garden hose to rinse the door mat. For a deeper clean, machine washed and air dried. We recommend that rinse under the water in the cold water not the hot water. After multiple times machine wash test, the door mat is still as good as new.
- NO HASSLE, GUARANTEE: We love and take pride in our interior door mat. Have the confidence that this product will last, if there are ever any issues, just contact us and we will make it right. Order now and be assured that this product will live up to your expectations, guaranteed. If it does not, we got you covered. Chances are, you will never need to reach out.