Wool -v- Synthetic: How to Choose a New Carpet for your Home

Whether you are replacing old and worn out carpet in your current home, or you are purchasing a carpet for your very first home, a common dilemma is whether to buy wool or synthetic carpet. As you can imagine, as it is with most things in life, there are pros and cons to each type of carpet.

As the carpet experts we’re here to offer guidance to help you choose the right carpet for you.

Wool Carpet

If quality, durability and lifespan are what you’re looking for then wool carpet may be the best option for you. Wool fibres have a natural elasticity and can bounce back into shape after being compressed underneath furniture. This natural resilience allows wool carpets to withstand a great deal of day -to -day wear and tear for a long time.

However, wool carpet is not as resilient to spills and stains as synthetic carpet is. If a spillage were left to soak into a wool carpet it would eventually seep past the natural oils in the wool fibres and stain the carpet permanently. If you’ve got young children and/or pets then it’s perhaps best to opt for a darker coloured wool carpet so that won’t show any stains up as much.

Synthetic Carpet

Carpets made from synthetic or manmade fibres such as polypropylene, nylon, or polyester are often treated with solutions like Teflon, giving them a higher level of stain resistance.

Remember though - No carpet is completely spill-proof! But, if a spill were to go unnoticed for a while on a synthetic carpet there’s more chance of you being able to remove it with a quality, heavy-duty spot cleaning treatment.

If you have children and/or pets and your main concern is having a relatively stain-proof carpet that is easy to clean then a synthetic carpet may be the most suitable option for you. Synthetic carpets often work out a bit cheaper than wool carpets so they’re a good choice for a young family just starting out on the property ladder with children and pets.

Finally

All types of carpet should be cleaned at least once a year and always by a certified, professional carpet cleaner. This is crucial in order to not only try and extend the life of your carpet, but also to remove any dirt, dust, allergens and other nasties that have penetrated your carpet that simple vacuuming just doesn’t touch.