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Are Wool Carpets Really Better than Nylon Carpets?

By: Aeronx Mc Mall

Nearly 90 percent of full-coverage or wall-to-wall carpeting produced today is made of synthetic fibers, with nylon being the highest among them. Wool carpeting makes up the other 10 percent of today's carpet production which begs the question, "If wool's so good, how come more people aren't making it and buying it?"

The answer is simple. It comes down to cost. Wool fiber is the most expensive used in carpet production. This is the reason it's most commonly utilized within area and smaller rugs, and much less frequently for wall-to-wall carpeting production. Nylon is the most expensive of the synthetic fibers from which carpeting can be created but it is still less expensive for manufacturing purposes than is wool.

As is true of nearly any product, you get what you pay for and the same can be said of carpeting. In the grand scheme of things, wool really is better than nylon, despite the prevalence of nylon carpets on the market.

There are many factors which make wool a better consumer choice for carpets. These factors fall into four main categories: overall quality, cost and investment, appearance or features, and ethical or environmental concerns. When making decisions on carpeting, consumers must weigh the information in all of these categories and decide which factors are the most important to their unique needs.

Overall Quality Considerations

Wool carpets are extremely durable, exhibiting a natural resistance to wear and tear, staining, and other forms of soiling. They also hold up well in high traffic areas as they don't crush easily.

Nylon is durable, and has proven the strongest among the synthetic carpet fibers available. Nylon is by far the best choice of synthetics. Higher grade nylon fiber, with a yarn of nylon type 6 or higher, greatly improves usable life; however, even higher grade nylon carpets require chemical treatment to prevent staining.

Cost and Investment Differentiators

Cost considerations or constraints can cause a consumer to select a less durable, lower quality product, knowing full well it will only hold up for a particular period of time. However, carpeting is an investment one should consider wisely. The replacement of carpet is costly regardless of the type selected; it also presents other disruptions and challenges, including the upheaval of one's home life.

Wool carpet, especially that which is a full-coverage or wall-to-wall carpet, can be expensive but the benefits should be considered. The upfront investment may be worth it. Nylon carpeting can become just as expensive over time, if one considers maintenance and replacement costs. Nylon has a propensity for staining, general wear, and degradation. Wool requires less extensive maintenance and more infrequent replacement.

Deep cleaning a wool carpet should be completed by a professional, as removal of excess water is important. Nylon carpeting can often be deep cleaned by the owner, using a rented or purchased wet vacuum designed for carpeting. Wool carpeting is more durable and naturally resistant to soiling, so it should require deep cleaning with less frequency than nylon.

Appearance and Features

Many consumers select nylon carpeting because it is available in such an array of shades. As nylon is man-made, it can be formulated to any hue imaginable. Wool carpets in varying shades are much less common and most frequently found containing more natural or earthy tones.

Wool creates very plush and soft carpets naturally. Nylon can be soft as well, within a particular spectrum, though it still cannot approach the feel of a wool carpet. There are newer, softer, and more expensive forms of nylons now available on the market which many consider to be second only to the texture of wool.

Ethical and Environmental Concerns

Many consumers are interested in maintaining as natural a home environment as possible. For those of this mindset, wool carpets would be an appropriate choice. Those less concerned with the presence of synthetic materials or chemical treatments used on carpeting might select nylon instead.

Nylon is a plastic and therefore not as eco-friendly as wool which is a renewable and biodegradable choice. This also presents a strong argument in favor of wool for those interested in their impact on the environment.

Wool, while obtained from sheep, is a byproduct that does not hurt or cause the death of the animals from which it is harvested, making it an acceptable choice even for many vegetarians and others concerned with animal welfare.

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