Many housewives today refuse carpets, as they need to be constantly cleaned and dust accumulates on them. But there are many situations when a carpet in the house is simply necessary. In these cases, synthetic products can replace expensive natural ones with dignity.
Features and Benefits
To lay or not to lay a full-fledged pile carpet in a modern apartment is an individual matter. Opponents of textile flooring say that debris, vermin and dust accumulate on the carpet. It can be a source of unpleasant odors in your home and is a fire hazard. Admirers quite rightly argue that some interiors literally require a carpet. It gives coziness, comfort and status, and in addition, it perfectly retains heat. A carpet on the floor can also be laid for those who have a high audibility in the house, since it absorbs sounds (this is why carpets were so often hung on walls in Soviet times).
Traditionally, carpets were made from natural materials - silk, wool, cotton. Today, such items are very expensive.
Carpets made of such synthetic materials have become widespread:
- acrylic carpets (100% synthetic fiber, originally created as a replacement for wool);
- products made of polyester (polyester);
- polypropylene carpets;
- models from modern types of synthetic fibers, for example, "hit-set" or "frieze".
Products made from artificial materials are very popular. They differ from synthetics in their origin. If synthetic fiber is made from inorganic raw materials chemically, then artificial fibers are created on the basis of natural materials, in particular, cellulose. These include:
- viscose carpets;
- products made from artificial silk.
All of these materials have their pros and cons.
If we compare them with natural ones, then:
- Synthetics are resistant to abrasion: such carpets will not lose their appearance for a long time.
- Moles do not settle in them, mold does not appear.
- Dirt does not accumulate on them, and household stains (spilled juice, wine, etc.) can be easily removed at home.
- Many synthetic materials hold the paint very well, which means that such a carpet is not subject to fading, fading.
- These products accumulate much less static electricity.
Disadvantages of synthetic rugs: high fire hazard (they can emit toxic substances during combustion) and ecology.
Although most modern man-made materials do not emit any harmful compounds into the air, fans of everything environmentally friendly do not accept the use of such coatings.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a very popular raw material for carpets. Such models should be paid attention to those who want the floor covering to be as similar as possible to woolen. It will be just as soft, fluffy and pleasant to the touch. Acrylic is easy to paint: products from it can be of the most incredible shades. The acrylic carpet keeps its shape perfectly.
For those who are not afraid of dust and want to lay a rug in the nursery, a model made of this material is best suited. It is hypoallergenic and soft. You can choose an acrylic covering on a cotton basis: such a rug will "breathe" better.
Acrylic products can have different pile heights. Now very popular models where high and short pile are combined. This creates a pleasing embossed pattern.
Acrylic models are affordable, although not the cheapest on the market. Most often they are made by machine, but there are also handmade samples with the addition of wool, cotton and other fibers.
Acrylic products are popular with customers due to their brightness, original design and the ability to choose any pattern. Housewives note that they insulate sound well and retain heat. However, acrylic is very difficult to maintain. According to reviews, such a carpet can roll, and if it is embossed (with a different-sized pile), then the dust that accumulates in the patterns is very difficult to clean out from there. A number of buyers were forced to clean such models twice: first with a vacuum cleaner with a conventional nozzle, and then with a small turbo brush. If there are animals in the house, hair will accumulate between the villi.
At the same time, buyers note that the cost of a good acrylic carpet is often comparable to the price for a woolen model.
Polyester
Polyester is a refined product. But do not be afraid of this. Modern technology has made it completely safe. Polyester filaments come in a wide variety of shapes. It's hard to imagine, but the high-tech apparel for professional athletes and the cheap T-shirt you can buy at the flea market are made from the same raw materials.
For carpet weaving, polyester is just a godsend. The fiber can be absolutely any, which means that polyester can be used to make both lint-free carpets and the popular today "shaggi" - rugs with soft and long pile.
The inscription on the label "100% polyester" guarantees that the product will not tear or shuffle out for many years. Polyester carpets keep warm well. The fiber does not absorb moisture, which means it does not get dirty much.
Reviews of polyester carpets are controversial. Soft long-haired models are popular. They are incredibly pleasant to the feet! They are laid by beds, sofas and in children's rooms. It is a pleasure to step on them. In addition, such models decorate the interior, help to create a modern stylish design.
Long-pile polyester carpets are categorically contraindicated for those with allergies or asthma.
They accumulate a huge amount of dust and debris that are invisible to the naked eye.
"Shaggi" requires daily painstaking cleaning. There are housewives who do it with pleasure, especially if the house has a powerful washing vacuum cleaner that can deeply clean the pile. Many buyers of these rugs have noted that routine cleaning is not enough for this model. Periodically, you need to knock it out in the old fashioned way on the street.
The pile of the "shagga" is easily crushed, both from the legs and from the furniture, if you put something on it. Small creases can be lifted with a vacuum cleaner brush, but in general, once the pile has begun to deform, this process cannot be stopped. Polyester fiber rugs are highly static electricity storage.
Carpets from this fiber can be made independently: experienced knitters know that polyester or synthetic rope can be purchased in specialized stores. Surprisingly beautiful carpets are knitted from these threads using the technology of lace napkins, which will serve for a long time and decorate the interior.
Polypropylene
The most important advantage of carpets made from this material is their bright color. The polypropylene fiber is deeply dyed and holds the paint so that the product is never in danger of fading. Their service life is short - 3-5 years. Such a rug is inexpensive and perfect for those who regularly change the interior. After a fresh renovation, you can lay a synthetic rug, and by the time you want to freshen up the situation, it will not be a pity to throw it away. Polypropylene has less static electricity than polyester and is easy to clean.
Much better in properties is an improved material based on a polypropylene base - "hit-set" (you can find the names Hi-Set, Heatseat). This is a special fiber that is twisted around its axis many times. Thanks to this, it perfectly holds the paint and retains its splendor for a long time. It is important that during heat treatment the fibers can be additionally treated with antistatic and dirt-repellent additives. This significantly improves the performance of the carpet.
According to reviews, these rugs are really easy to clean.
The stains are removed with a foam sponge (special carpet cleaner or dishwashing liquid).
From two "hit-set" threads, twisted in a special way, a frieze fiber is obtained. These threads are used to create a separate variety of carpets. They turn out to be denser, fluffy, and their pile is like curly. Such coatings have a modern, "informal" look.
Frieze carpets are more expensive than propylene carpets, but they are more durable. According to reviews, "curly" pile perfectly hides footprints, splashes and stains. Such a rug is good for rooms with high traffic, for example, for a hallway.
Where to lay and how to care?
In order for the carpet to serve for a long time and please the eye, you need to select it based on the properties of the synthetic fiber.
For a living room, a medium to short pile carpet, such as a hit set, works well. You can also purchase an acrylic model if there are no fluffy animals in the house.
Long-naped "shaggi" made of polyester - an option for the bedroom. The less you walk on it, the better. You can put such a rug in the living room, but not near the sofa, but in the center of the room. Then he has a better chance of staying beautiful for several years.
For children, a bright polypropylene carpet is best suited. If the house has cold floors, let's say the acrylic option. Frize models are also fine: they are fluffy and hide dirt.
For the hallway, a short-nap rubber-based rug would be an ideal option.
The main guide to caring for your carpet will be the information on its label. But in general, any rug needs regular (at least once every couple of days) vacuuming. Many housewives know that synthetic models (and especially long-haired ones) are best vacuumed on both sides. A washing vacuum cleaner is a great helper in this matter.
Carpets made of synthetic fibers "tolerate" normal household cleaning: the stain can be washed with washing powder, soapy water, carpet and furniture detergent. You can rub them with a sponge or cloth.
Synthetic carpet should never be cleaned aggressively, for example with gasoline, acetone or bleach containing chlorine. It is not recommended to put hot objects on them, since many of them cannot stand high temperatures.
Any synthetic carpet for washing and care can be dry cleaned.
You will learn more about synthetic carpets in the following video.