Cleaning Tip: Loop pile carpets respond well to steam cleaning. Because of the way the fibers are twisted and looped, it can cause these carpets to hold excess water, dirt, and stains more than cut piles. Have your loop carpets steam cleaned every 6-12 months to help keep its integrity and make it last for years.
To clean your looped carpet, choose only a cleaner specifically formulated for your carpet's type. The better option is to use only water for cleaning. If you use any kind of common soap or detergent, there is a high risk of leaving a residue.
Nylon Carpet
For cut pile carpet, a vacuum cleaner with a rotating beater bar/brush which agitates the carpet pile and loosens dirt is recommended. For shag and looped carpet a suction-only vacuum is recommended to prevent, fraying, excessive fuzzing and damaging of the loops.
Specific loop styles — like Berber carpets — will be easier to clean because they trap lower rates of dirt and dust, and will therefore last longer before they become stained or discolored. Some pile types require special care when vacuuming or cleaning.
Loop pile refers to a carpet in which the loop fibers are NOT CUT (see diagram above). This type of carpet is left in it's woven form and consists of several loops of carpet fiber. A patterned loop carpet is formed when the loop fibers are at various heights. Loop piles rarely show footprints and vacuum lines.
Stains that reappear as a result of residue originate within the carpet fibers themselves. In these cases, some of the shampoo, soap or other cleaning agent used in a traditional cleaning process was left behind in your carpet. Even after the carpet dries, the residue will remain.
Cellulosic browning may cause the brown discoloration of a carpet or rug after cleaning. Cellulose carpet fibers in jute carpet are susceptible to discoloration when exposed to moisture, come cleaning chemicals, and slow drying.
Steam cleaning is the only truly effective method. It is capable of reaching the deepest parts of a carpet, and it can remove all stains, bacteria, hair, and dirt from your carpets.
Over-Shampooing
Not only do they apply too much shampoo during the cleaning process, but they also don't properly rinse out what they do apply. The chemicals left behind can damage your carpet, and will leave residue behind which will make your carpet into a dirt magnet.
In general, most cut and loops tend to be more expensive than Berbers, Saxonies or friezes of comparable quality and fiber type, due to the added intricacy of creating the patterns.
Cut pile is the most popular style of carpet and is created when the fiber loops are cut, hence the name. When they're cut, the result is an upright pile and the ends of the carpet fibers are exposed.
2) Berber is a common type of loop pile carpet that has a chunky weave and is famous for its flecks of color. These flecks can be seen evenly spread throughout or combined to create specific patterns, like this berber carpet from Shaw.
Loop piles are very popular in game rooms, family rooms and offices for their durability and wide variety of patterns. When selecting a loop carpet, the tighter the loops are, the more resistant to matting and crushing it will be.
Cut & loop carpet has a combination of high cut tufts and lower loops in a variety of sculptured patterns. Tough and durable, cut & loop carpets can be used in any place that gets a lot of activity. But, probably the most attractive feature of these carpets is the beautiful, yet subtle patterns that they can create.
While some consider it outdated, berber is known for being one of the oldest and most durable kinds of carpet. Berber carpeting is typically found in low maintenance, high-traffic areas, like basements.
In cut-and-loop styles, some loops are cut. Pattern and texture are provided by the contrast between the uncut and cut loops—sometimes uncut loops are dominant; sometimes cut loops are. In twist styles, loops are cut and yarns are tightly twisted.
The best carpet for stairs has a low pile—¾-inch or less—to be both more stable underfoot and resilient to traffic. A synthetic plush style in twisted or cut pile is always a safe option, while a looped style like Berber is occasionally avoided (particularly if you have pets whose claws may catch in the carpet loops).
Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax and 1/4 cup vinegar, then apply this paste to deep stains or heavily soiled sections of carpet. Allow the paste to sit on the carpet for several hours until it dries completely, then vacuum it away.
How Often Should You Shampoo Your Carpet? You should consider cleaning your carpet at least every 12 months to remove dirt, grime, and allergens. However, this schedule can vary depending on several factors in your household. If you have children or pets, you might shampoo your carpets more regularly.
Bedrooms, especially those with carpet, should be vacuumed at least once a week and twice a week during allergy season. Less-often used spaces such as guest rooms, sunrooms, or formal dining rooms can be vacuumed less frequently or just before you're expecting company.
Vacuum cleaners are perfect for use on carpets and other surfaces made up of fabrics. Sweeping is incapable when washing carpets for the fibers. Special vacuum cleaners may even manage waters to help eliminate spills and stains. On the other hand, brooms are inefficient in removing liquid.
Typically, vacuuming does not damage carpet and is actually a safe and effective tool for cleaning dirt and grime from carpets. Some may argue that vacuums are the best cleaning tools for carpets because they suck deeply embedded dirt and dust from carpets without fraying or damaging the material.
When doing your thorough cleaning, dust the room before vacuuming so you can vacuum up the particles that float into the air as you work and settle on the floor.