News
Carpet: The Basics
A Helpful Glossary of Terms
Sep 2, 2017
Carpet Tiles- For commercial customers, unlike like standard wall-to-wall, carpet tiles are individual carpet squares that can be removed for individual spot cleaning or replaced.
Then is a lot of information online when it comes to carpet care and carpet cleaning. If you know some of the basic carpet and carpet care terms, it's a lot easier to break down this information and ask the right questions when speaking with your carpet cleaning professional. We've compiled a list of the most basic terms:
Blooming- The carpet fibers untwist. This happens for many reasons like general wear and tear but it can also be caused by improper cleaning techniques as well as poor maintenance.
Tufting- Tufting is the first step in the carpet manufacturing process, and is defined as the loop (cut or uncut) of pile.
Crushing- This is matting. Eventually, all carpet will show signs of crushing. Establishing a good maintenance program and using firm padding can happening. Hint: Frequently rearranging furniture to re-direct traffic patterns can all help to greatly prolong crushing.
Fray- Like matting fray is a result of high-traffic, wear and tear, and improper cleaning methods (using incorrect cleaning products, scrubbing stains instead of blotting, etc.). When fraying occurs, the carpet fibers become damaged, expand, and change textures.
Rippling- Typically caused by excessive heat and humidity, rippling is the technical term for wave-like or ruffled patterns that appear on wall-to-wall carpeting. In most cases, rippling can be corrected by contacting a qualified carpet care specialist, such as Hazelton Cleaning or carpet retailer to re-stretch the carpet.
Shedding- Post-installation, new carpet has a tendency to shed fibers for several weeks. While shedding is more common in cut pile and wool carpets, it is still a minor issue for synthetic fiber carpets. Regular vacuuming is the best method for resolving a shedding issue.
Seam- The line where two pieces of carpet intersect is known as the seam. Since most carpet is produced in 12-foot wide rolls, avoiding seams is rarely a possibility.
Dirt Encapsulation Cleaning (DEC)- DEC uses very little moisture to clean, equating to faster drying times. This is good in between regular professional hot water extraction cleaning, not as a replacement for it.
Hot Water Extraction- Recommended by major carpet manufacturers, hot water extraction is a cleaning process that agitates carpet to break down the soil and grime buried deep within the fibers. After a thorough rinse with eco-friendly cleaning solutions,
carpets are not only cleaner, but they are stronger as well. This is one of the services Hazelton Cleaning offers our customers.
Denier- refers to the total amount of yarn per carpet area; carpets with more denier have a higher yarn count.
Face Weight- Similar to denier, face weight plays a great role in carpet performance and durability. Face weight is defined as the total weight of fibers per square yard of carpet. Note: when measuring face weight, backing is not included.
Fibers- The basic material that carpet is made from and is typically synthetic (i.e. nylon, olefin, polyester), other types of carpet are made from natural fibers, including wool, cotton, silk, and bamboo.
Padding- Padding is the layer of cushion that is installed between the carpet and floor board. Padding is absolutely essential in prolonging carpet life, appearance, and quality.
Pile- Also know as nap, pile is the visible portion of carpet fibers. There are several different types and styles of piles, including cut and loop
Pile Reversal- Also known as “shading,” pile reversal occurs when high-traffic activity bends the carpet fibers in various directions. Pile reversal is highly common at pivot points (i.e. hallway corners, doorways, etc.), and directly results in the creation of a discolored impression.
Resilience- The ability of carpet to resist matting. The type of fiber, padding, backing, and other characteristics are used to qualify the amount of resilience a piece of carpeting has.
If you have other questions, or a just want a fantastic carpet cleaning call Hazelton Cleaining today!