How Does It Work?
Love the look of plush, white carpet? It’s a nice idea, but for most of us, is way too impractical to live with. After all, one misplaced glass of red wine and your luxurious new carpet is forever stained. Or is it? What if there was a way you could have your white carpet and drink your red wine too? The solution is a stain-resistant carpet. Here’s how it works.
The Difference Between Carpet that Resists Stains and Stain-Resistant Carpet
First, we need to clear something up. Just because a carpet may be advertised as resistant to stains, doesn’t mean that it’s stain-resistant. This is an important distinction to make. There are many types of materials that can make carpets naturally less likely to stain, but unless they’re chemically treated and labelled, they aren’t truly ‘stain-resistant’.
How Stain-Resistant Carpets Are Made
It all starts with nylon. Because of nylon’s durability and inbuilt resistance to stains, it’s usually the material of choice when making a stain-resistant rug. Every manufacturer has a different process, but generally, a stain-resistant carpet is made one of two ways. Either the chemical, stain-resistant treatment is applied to the nylon fibres before the carpet has been manufactured, or applied after.
How To Clean Your Stain-Resistant Carpet
No matter how your stain-resistant carpet was manufactured, you’re left with a carpet that can stand up to the toughest stains you throw at it. We’re talking food stains, red wine, mud, and even ink. All you need to do is apply soap and water and your gorgeous carpet will once again be stain free. General rules of thumb are to clean up stains as soon as possible and never use anything too harsh such as bleach as it can erode the chemical barrier that keeps your carpet looking fresh.
Beyond the Stains
The perks of stain-resistant carpet go beyond just aesthetics. Here are a few other ways that stain-resistant rugs could benefit your home.
Resistance to Mould and Bacteria
These carpets don’t just ward off unsightly stains. They are also resistant to mould and bacteria, both of which are hazardous to your health. While all carpeting carries the risk of toxins becoming trapped in the fibres, stain-resistant carpeting is much less likely to breed bacteria.
Overall Durability
Nylon is a synthetic material, which can make it extremely durable. While natural fibres such as wool and jute have a natural lifespan, synthetic carpets can last much longer as long as they’re high quality.
More Cost-Effective
Outright, it may not seem like there is much of a price difference when it comes to stain-resistant carpet and regular carpet. Where the savings come in is when you look at the carpet’s lifespan. Regular carpets will wear down quicker and discolour, even if you do manage to avoid stains. Stain-resistant carpeting will generally last longer, making it a more cost-effective option over time.
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