Synthetic carpets have gained their popularity relatively recently, but despite this, the market for synthetic carpets has surpassed natural carpets several times. This is largely due to the fact that the material obtained in the process of chemical processing is a universal substitute for wool. In addition, such carpets have a relatively low price. Nylon and polyester are the two most popular synthetic carpet materials that you will find on the market. They are similar, but at the same time have different qualities and prices. In this post below we will examine what is the difference between nylon vs polyester carpet and which one are you should choose for your home.
Cleaning and Maintenance of Nylon vs Polyester Carpets
There are few main things that you have to consider before choosing nylon or polyester carpet. Cleaning and maintenance it’s one of the most important of them. Speaking of which, you should know that the carpets made of polyester can attract dirt and dust easily, so you have to clean them regularly. You should vacuum clean polyester carpet a minimum of once per week or even every day if you have a chance. This especially applies to the high traffic areas such as the living room entryway and so on. Polyester carpets are indeed resistant to stains but you should try to remove all the spillages as soon as you can.
Nylon carpets are a bit easier to clean. It will be enough to vacuum clean it out once a week and give it a proper steam cleaning once a year.
Durability
The disadvantage of polyester is that it is not as durable as nylon carpets. It is better to lay such carpets in places with lower foot traffic. Although today the production technology has advanced so that the life of the polyester carpet has increased. The material is now denser and more resilient than before: at least in class 1 and higher fiber carpets.
What is Nylon?
Nylon is one of the most commonly used carpeting types. Homeowners like it for being durable and at the same time easy to clean and maintain. It has a nice reputation and it’s no surprise that carpet stores always offer it as the most practical option. Let’s see what makes nylon so special and a good choice for your home.
The history of nylon goes back to the early 20th century when it was invented by Wallace Hume Carothers, who was at the time doing research at the DuPont. A few years later nylon was first used commercially to create ladies stockings, and it was also used for the production of toothbrushes and fishing equipment (fishing lines). Producers quickly realized that nylon can also be used for carpeting. They improved the formula a little and created a continuous filament nylon. This was the new word in the market of carpeting. This synthetic material has absolutely revolutionized the approach to the creation of the carpet.
You’ll be surprised, but nowadays more than 60% of all the carpets that you find on the market are created of nylon.
For the creation of carpets, two different types of nylon fabrics are used. The first type is the premium nylon, it is the most durable and strong, that is that 6,6 type. Another type is type 6, it is also good but slightly weaker.
The production technology continues developing and during the past decade, the difference between the two nylon types has become minimum. But the majority of the carpet that you find on the market are made from 6,6 type.
Years of testing have shown that there is no difference in durability or resilience. The only thing that can be significant: 6,6 has a higher melting point than 6. Although both materials should not be subjected to fire, so the advantage is only theoretical.
Another difference is that nylon 6 is easier to recycle. That’s more eco-friendly!
Top Nylon Carpet Advantages
- The main advantage that I can name is the resiliency of nylon. In other words, if you compress it and put something on top (or walk on it), it will bounce back and won’t have any marks left. It’s also a good characteristic for vacuum cleaning, you don’t have to worry about your favorite carpet losing its shape.
- It’s super easy to clean and easy to maintenance. Like we said above, it will be enough to do regular vacuum cleaning once a week and give your nylon carpet steam cleaning once in 12 months. In mild cases, it’s even enough to sweep it with a broom.
- Nylon has vivid colors, so your kids will definitely love it.
- These carpets keep the shape.
- Nylon is hypoallergenic which is really important for sensitive individuals. It is very resistant to mold and mildew development.
Nylon Disadvantages
- One of the main disadvantages of nylon that I have to mention is its ability to build up static electricity. The static charge builds up and can be easily transferred to you when your walk on this carpet. Can you imagine, nylon carpets can accumulate up to 12,000 V? That’s actually a lot, this amount of electricity can even harm the electronic devices if applied directly.
- But you don’t need to worry – most modern nylon carpets are already covered with an antistatic coating, plus they usually have carbon fiber attached which really helps to minimize this charge.
- Another disadvantage of nylon is that it’s a bit more pricey compared to other artificial materials. If the price is of matter to you, I would recommend choosing some other carpeting type.
- It’s not very soft. Indeed, nylon has a lot of advantages, but it’s not a very soft fabric. If you like to walk barefoot on the fluffy soft carpet, nylon is not the best option.
What is Polyester?
Polyester is another popular synthetic fabric widely used for carpets creation and it’s made from plastic. It’s easy to use for the carpet because polyester is efficient and doesn’t wrinkle.
If you look at the history, you’ll see that polyester was created almost at the same time as nylon. Most surprisingly it was discovered by the same person, Wallace Hume Carothers who created nylon. Polyester was his first creation. He discovered it by mixing alcohols and carboxyl acids. Later on, polyester gained popularity in the early 40s. DuPont then created the first widely known polyester fabric which was called Dacron.
The fibers perfectly imitate wool, so polyester carpets are soft and fluffy. They provide excellent thermal qualities, which is important for kids playing on the floor or adults who wish to lie down there.
Top Polyester Carpet Advantages
Before making a purchase, you need to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Like other coverings, polyester carpets have certain pros and cons to be aware of.
- With polyester carpet, you don’t have to worry about spilling a drink. This type of carpet has a great resistance to stains plus it’s really easy to clean. It will be enough to blot it as soon as the spill has happened.
- Same as nylon, polyester has really bright colors. I have a polyester rug at home and I must say that it always looks vibrant and catches the eye. Is there a reason for that is because polyester is really easy to color. Producers offer polyester carpets in so many shades. Moreover, polyester will remain colorful for a long time, the color will not fade away. If you like bright colors, polyester is a great choice to make.
- Carpets of this type perfectly imitate their elite expensive counterparts, allowing you to create rich, spectacular interiors. At their low price, they can represent a group of long-haired textile coatings, as well as have a low “wool”, without requiring special conditions of maintenance. They are soft, pleasant to the touch, maintain their original appearance for a long time. It should also be noted that polyester carpets do not emit harmful substances in the room, which makes it possible to use them in the nurseries.
- Polyester is eco-friendly. Many of these carpets are created from the recycled materials taken from plastic bottles and lids. If you wish to protect nature, a polyester carpet is a great choice. Use the repurposed materials.
- Indeed, although synthetic fibers are not as environmentally friendly as natural fibers, polyester is one of the most environmentally friendly synthetic fibers: much more so than nylon. The amount of energy used to create one kilogram of nylon fiber is twice as much as it takes to produce the same amount of polyester.
- In addition, polyester is easily recyclable. In fact, most of the polyester in today’s carpet industry is made from recycled plastics that used to be bottles. This helps to get rid of landfills and saves resources.
- It’s budget-friendly. Yes, the price of such carpet is very low, in some places you can find the price of this carpet even below $1 per square foot. So if you would like to save a few dollars and have a new carpet for a little price, and you will be ready to replace it in a few years – polyester is a good choice.
Polyester Disadvantages
- One of the main downsides of polyester carpet is its ability to attract oils. And as you know oils are everywhere they can be brought on the shoes from the street, we have them on our skin, or any spill may just happen.
- Unlike nylon, polyester can be crushed easily. So if you have a high traffic area, polyester is not such a good choice, because it will mat down and crush. Even a carpet that has a few years may start looking old and worn out. Be ready that polyester carpet lifetime is usually around five years.
- Since polyester is it chemically produced material, many of this carpet has been treated with anti-static solutions and anti-bacterial solutions. These solutions may have a residue on the carpet and your new carpet will release an unpleasant chemical smell. There is no need to worry it shouldn’t keep you from buying one. This smell usually goes away after a few days. Just make sure you ventilate the room well.
- Polyester carpets can be flammable. However modern standards control the flammability of the carpets, and modern carpets usually burn out pithing a short time. Just keep this in mind, and don’t place polyester near the open fire.
Conclusion
If you’re not limited on budget, nylon is a better choice than polyester because it has greater durability. At the same time, polyester is more resistant to stains. Polyester carpets look beautiful, attractive, soft, and warm to the touch, just like their expensive woolen alternatives. At the same time, the cost of the carpets remains affordable and acceptable for everyone.
If you need carpeting for the high traffic area, nylon wins again, because it is resilient and will not compress and have any marks after you walk on it. Buy only quality polyester and nylon rugs from trusted manufacturers. In this case, the products will help maintain warmth and comfort in the house for a very long time. A wide selection of textures, patterns, colors, and sizes available on the market will satisfy even the demanding buyers.
At the end of the day, the choice of nylon vs polyester carpet is yours! I hope you enjoyed this post and will make a smart decision.