Carpet Fiber Types and How They Affect Professional Cleaning

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Carpet Fiber Types and How They Affect Professional Cleaning

Carpet is not one-size-fits-all. The type of carpet in your home determines how it should be cleaned, what chemistry should be used, and even what tools are safe. Unfortunately, many cleaners carry one generic cleaning solution on their truck and use it on every home — regardless of the carpet fiber type, soil level, or manufacturer recommendations.

This “one-chemical-fits-all” approach can:

• Void warranties

• Cause color loss

• Damage delicate fibers

• Leave sticky residue

• Distort the texture of the carpet

• Fail to remove oils or embedded soil

Different carpet fiber types respond differently to heat, presprays, agitation, and pH levels — so using the wrong solution can cause permanent damage. This is exactly why professional cleaners must identify the carpet first and select the right chemistry for the job.

At Suds Up Carpet Cleaning, we keep multiple types of cleaning solutions on our truck at all times. This ensures your carpet gets the correct treatment based on fiber type and soil type — giving you the safest, deepest clean possible.

Nylon Carpet – Durable, Resilient & Highly Cleanable

Nylon is one of the most common carpet fibers because it is:

• Strong

• Resilient

• Great for high-traffic homes

Brands that frequently use nylon include Shaw, Mohawk, Masland, and older Stainmaster carpets.

How Nylon Should Be Cleaned

Because nylon absorbs oils, it needs:

• Alkaline or enzyme presprays

• Hot water extraction

• A proper pH rinse

Generic cleaners often fail to break down oily soil in nylon, leading to rapid re-soiling.

Example of durable nylon carpet. Click the photo to visit TrafficMaster’s website and learn more about this carpet type.

Polyester (PET) – Affordable & Stain Resistant, But Attracts Oils

Polyester carpets are common in homes because they are budget-friendly. Brands include DreamWeaver, Engineered Floors, Mohawk, and Shaw.

Pros

• Very stain resistant

• Vibrant colors

• Low cost

Cons

• Mats easily

• Shows traffic patterns

• Attracts oils from skin, pets, and cooking

Cleaning Needs

Polyester often requires:

• Degreasing additives

• Oxygenated boosters

• Thorough agitation

A generic cleaner is rarely strong enough to break down oily soils in polyester carpets.

Polyester carpet is known for its softness and color clarity. Click the photo to visit Mohawk’s website and learn more.

Triexta (SmartStrand) – Pet Friendly, Soft & Extremely Stain Resistant

Triexta, also known as Mohawk SmartStrand, is popular for families with pets.

Benefits

• Exceptional stain resistance

• Very soft

• Extremely durable

Cleaning Needs

Triexta can trap oils, so professionals use:

• Enzyme-based cleaners

• High heat

• Proper rinsing

Using the wrong chemistry can make Triexta feel sticky or attract soil faster.

Triexta carpet is known for its softness and color clarity. Click the photo to visit Mohawk’s website and learn more.

Wool Carpet – Premium, Natural & Requires Gentle Care

Wool is a luxury carpet fiber found in brands like Karastan, Fabrica, and Masland.

Cleaning Requirements

Wool must be cleaned with:

• Low-pH, wool-safe detergents

• Lower water temperatures

• Controlled moisture

Generic cleaners can burn, shrink, or bleed wool.

Karastan wool carpet is known for timeless style, natural durability, and luxury feel. Click the photo to learn more about wool carpet by Karastan.

Olefin (Polypropylene) – Affordable & Found in Berber

Olefin carpet is often used in looped Berber carpets.

Benefits

• Very stain resistant

• Dries fast

• Great for basements

Challenges

• Attracts oils

• Can wick deeply

• Not very resilient

Olefin requires solvent boosters — something a generic cleaner simply doesn’t provide.

Olefin carpet is known for moisture resistance and color stability, making it a practical choice for certain areas of the home. Click the photo to learn more about olefin carpet options by Anderson Tuftex.

Berber Carpet vs Plush Carpet – What’s the Difference?

Berber

• Usually looped

• Often olefin or nylon

• Hides soil well

• Can snag or pull

• Needs gentle cleaning

Plush (Cut Pile)

• Dense, soft

• Usually nylon, polyester, or Triexta

• Easier to clean

• Shows footprints

Berber carpets wick easily, so using the wrong solution can make stains reappear after drying.

Berber vs. Plush carpet: two popular styles with very different textures, durability, and maintenance needs.

How to identify your carpet fibers

If for some reason you need to identify your carpet fibers, one method that is sometimes used is burn testing. This involves burning a small, loose strand of carpet fiber and observing how it reacts to flame — including how quickly it ignites, whether it melts or burns, the color of the flame, the odor produced, and the type of ash or residue left behind. Different fibers react differently; for example, many synthetic fibers will melt and form hard beads, while natural fibers tend to burn and leave ash with a smell similar to burning hair or paper. Burn testing can provide helpful clues, but it is not always definitive and should be done with caution, as heat and open flame can be dangerous. For accurate results, professionals often rely on manufacturer information or proper testing rather than burn testing alone.

Example of a carpet fiber burn test used to help identify fiber types. Click the photo to learn more at the The Carpet Cleaning Association of VIC

Why Different Fibers Need Different Cleaning Solutions

Each fiber has its own:

• Heat tolerance

• pH tolerance

• Moisture tolerance

• Reaction to enzymes

• Reaction to solvents

• Soil absorption level

Nylon: Handles stronger cleaners

Polyester: Needs degreasers for oils

Wool: Needs gentle, wool-safe solutions

Olefin: Must be cleaned with solvent-based products

Triexta: Requires heat and enzyme products

A single generic cleaner is simply not capable of safely cleaning all fiber types.

Why Different Soils Need Different Cleaning Solutions

Homes don’t have just “one type” of soil. You may have:

• Pet oils

• Human body oils

• Food spills

• Dust

• Filtration lines

• Urine contamination

• Traffic pathway soil

• Sticky residues

• A combination of many types

Each soil type requires its own chemistry.One bottle cannot fix everything.

That’s why Suds Up Carpet Cleaning carries a variety of presprays, rinses, boosters, enzymes, and solvent additives — so your carpet gets the exact cleaning it deserves.

Our Cleaning Process

Here’s what we do to ensure the safest, deepest clean:

1. Identify carpet fiber type

2. Identify the soil type

3. Pre-vacuum if needed

4. Apply the appropriate prespray for your carpet

5. Agitate with a CRB or rotary machine when needed

6. Extract with hot water using truck-mounted equipment

7. Rinse with a balanced pH

8. Perform grooming for a uniform finish

This ensures your carpet dries fast, stays cleaner longer, and remains protected.

Manufacturer Requirements & IICRC Standards

Most manufacturers — including Shaw, Mohawk, DreamWeaver, Karastan, and Masland — require professional cleaning every 12–18 months to maintain warranty coverage.

The IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification) sets the standards for correct carpet cleaning. They dictate:

• Proper chemistry

• Safe temperatures

• Approved cleaning methods

We offer carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, grout sealing, upholstery cleaning, area rug cleaning, pet urine treatment, and more

Carpet Cleaning

Our professional carpet cleaning removes deep-down dirt, oils, allergens, and odors that regular vacuuming leaves behind. Using truck-mounted hot water extraction, fiber-specific cleaning solutions, and proper agitation, we restore your carpet’s freshness, softness, and appearance while extending its life. Whether it’s traffic lanes, pet issues, or general maintenance, our cleaning process is designed to give your carpet the safest and deepest clean possible.

Learn more about our professional carpet cleaning services available throughout Pasco and Pinellas Counties.

Tile & Grout Cleaning

Tile and grout collect layers of soil, oils, and residues that mopping simply can’t reach. Our high-heat tile and grout cleaning process lifts away embedded buildup and brightens grout lines for a fresh, renewed look. We use professional-grade solutions designed to break down grime safely and effectively, followed by a high-pressure rinse and optional grout sealing to help keep your floors cleaner longer.

Learn more about our professional tile and grout cleaning services available throughout Pasco and Pinellas Counties.

Upholstery Cleaning

Your furniture absorbs body oils, dust, spills, and allergens over time — but our upholstery cleaning process brings it back to life. We carefully identify the fabric type, apply the correct cleaning solution, gently extract soils, and leave your upholstery cleaner, fresher, and more comfortable. From sofas and sectionals to dining chairs and recliners, we use safe, fabric-appropriate methods to protect your investment and refresh your home.

Click here to learn more about our professional upholstery cleaning services.

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Curious if we service your location? We proudly clean homes throughout Pasco and Pinellas County, including Land O’ Lakes, Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, Odessa, Wesley Chapel, Tarpon Springs, and New Port Richey. Click the link to view our full Service Area Map.

Click here to view our service area map and see if we serve your location.

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