Which carpet cleaning method works best, steam cleaning, (hot-water extraction) or the chemical dry-cleaning method? (like Chem-dry). Are there any other methods? which have you used and had good luck with. Which method works best on pet urine odors?
Best Carpet Choice for Walkers and Wheelchairs? These can be very damaging to residential-grade carpets installed over pad. Rubber wheels are very abrasive and tend to roll the carpet in front of the wheels causing the carpet to stretch-out and develop wrinkles quickly.
This can ruin even the highest quality carpets. What is the Best Carpet Choice in this situation?
Thicker is Not Better in this Situation!
Best Carpet Choice for Walkers and Wheelchairs? A thick carpet pile and thick padding are the absolute worst options for anyone who is unstable walking, using a walker, a wheelchair or a power-chair as it increases the chances of tripping and falling.
Thick carpet and padding also make it more difficult to push and maneuver manual wheelchairs and walkers.
Padding or No Padding?
To make it easier to get around easier you might want to install a low-profile carpet no thicker than 1/2″ pile height.
Basically, the shorter the carpet pile the better, and the thinner the pad the better! Sometimes using no padding at all is a wise choice!
Wheelchairs tend to roll more easily over low-pile commercial-grade carpets which are commonly installed in schools, businesses, institutions and retirement homes.
These low-profile styles are often glued down without any pad to increase longevity, clean-ability and reduce costs.
Commercial Grade or Residential Grade?
You might want to consider using a commercial-grade “level loop” or “cut pile” carpet, with either a 1/4″ (10-pound density) padding
Better yet, use no pad underneath at all, just glue the carpet directly to the floor.
It’s not very soft underfoot without a pad, but it is easier to clean, more durable, easier to walk on and easier to push a wheelchair around too.
Commercial Carpet Cost?
The cost for a basic commercial-grade carpet is very reasonable, about $15-20 per yard installed for a simple 20 to 26 ounce carpet, glued down without pad. (level loop or cut pile style)
You can choose a single color or multicolored style. Look for brands like Mohawk or Shaw for the lowest cost.
What is a Good Carpet Choice for Kids Dogs Cats and Pets?
Q. I am looking for a good quality carpet that can withstand children, cats, dogs and heavy traffic. I have a formal living room that you land in upon entering my house. To get to any other part of the house at that point, one needs to walk through the living room. My biggest problem is the traffic marks from the front door, across the living room and down the hallway to the bedrooms. This gets dirty fast.
Alan’s response:
A Nylon Frieze is one of the most durable and best-wearing carpet styles. There is only one type of carpet fiber that can withstand kids, pets, and heavy traffic, it’s a Nylon Frieze. Depending on how long you want your carpet to last, you need to choose accordingly. I suggest you take my free Carpet Foot Traffic Test and follow the prompts until you determine what face-weight and pile density might best meet your needs and goals.
For example: A 100% nylon frieze carpet style with a tuft twist of at least 6, a face weight of 38 to 45-oz, and a pile density of at 1800-2200 is designed to withstand 10 to 15 years of medium to heavy traffic. Frieze styles wear so well because they have a higher tuft twist and Nylon is the most durable fiber.
Smartstrand by Mohawk is another good option if you want a carpet that is easy to clean and is excellent at resisting stains. Between Nylon and Smartstrand I think that the most important thing to consider is your budget and how long you want your new carpet to last. Overall, Nylon will last longer, but Smartstrand will be a bit easier to clean. Smartstrand is also known as Triexta or PTT or Sorona and was invented by DuPont. Personally I am a fan of Nylon because it has stood the teat of time for over 70 years while Smartstrand has been around for about 10 years.
Q. I have four kids and three dogs. I need a carpet that is able to take a beating. My question: I am confused about carpet specifications. What is BCF? I see these initials on the back of some carpet samples but not others? What does this mean?
Alan’s response:
BCF stands for Bulked Continuous Filament. You want to buy a carpet made from a continuous filament fiber. The work “Bulked” refers to a process where the manufacturer makes the strand of fiber beefed up, or bulked to create a fatter and more beefy feel. Think of it like using a volumizer on your hair, it makes it feel thicker and fuller. The “CF” or Continuous Filament, means the strand is formed or “extruded” in one long strand. When they make carpet from a CF fiber is virtually eliminates the shedding and fuzzing that you experience with a carpet made from a Staple Fiber.
A Staple Fiber is short lengths of fiber, usually 3 to 10 inches long, that are spun together to make a long strand. Strands are then twisted to form a tuft. When carpet is made using staple fibers, the carpet will tend to shed and fuzz for up to a year after installation. While this is normal, it is not a result that most homeowners enjoy living with. When you vacuum up bag after bag of loose fibers, it makes you think your new carpet will shed so much it will eventually become totally bald! So unless you like vacuuming three times a day, I suggest you be sure to buy a carpet made from a Continuous Filament Fiber.