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Vintage Textile Machine

Choosing the Right Textile for Your Carpet & Upholstery

For centuries, textiles have shaped industries, from woven natural fibers like wool to advanced synthetics such as nylon. Originally crafted for clothing and furnishings, these materials evolved to enhance durability and cleanability in carpets and upholstery. Many are blended for performance and sold under various trade names. While factors like pile twist and construction matter, understanding fiber characteristics helps in choosing the best option. Explore the pros and cons below to find the right fit for your space.

Common Textiles Pros & Cons


 NYLON

 a. Absorbency - Fair


 b. Abrasion resistance - High


 c. Biological resistance - Excellent


 d. Chemical resistance - Dissolves in formic acid. Good heat setting. Sensitive to UV rays.


 e. Resilience - Very good.


 f. Static resistance - Poor


 g. Soil resistance - Fair to Excellent. 100% nylon cleans easily.


 h. Cleanability - Very good.


 i. Spot removal - Good for oil spots. Absorbs water base soils.


OLEFIN (Polypropolene or Herculon)

 a. Absorbency - None


 b. Abrasion resistance - Excellent


 c. Biological resistance - Excellent


 d. Chemical resistance - Very good. Sensitive to UV light.


 e. Resilience - Poor. Crushes easily.


 f. Static resistance - Excellent.


 g. Soil resistance - Excellent for water base. Poor for oil base.


 h. Cleanability - Excellent for water base. Poor for oil base.


 i. Spot removal - Excellent for water base. Poor for oil base.


POLYESTER

 a. Absorbency - Low


 b. Abrasion resistance - Good


 c. Biological resistance - Excellent


 d. Chemical resistance - Good


 e. Resilience - Poor


 f. Static resistance - Good


 g. Soil resistance - Good


 h. Cleanability - Fair to Good


 i. Spot removal - Water base easy, oil base difficult. Urine easy to remove. Bleach will scratch (dull) fiber.


ACRYLIC

 a. Absorbency - Very low


 b. Abrasion resistance - Fair


 c. Biological resistance - Excellent


 d. Chemical resistance - Good


 e. Resilience - Fair


 f. Static resistance - Good


 g. Soil resistance - Good


 h. Cleanability - Fair to Good


 i. Spot removal - Good for water base.


WOOL - Most is imported.

 a. Absorbency - Very high. 15% of weight is water. Center is medulla, where water goes.


 b. Abrasion resistance - Moderate


 c. Biological resistance - Prone to mildew


 d. Chemical resistance - Fair. High pH will damage epidermis/cuticle (outer surface). Wool fiber producers recommend cleaning @ 5.5 to 8.0 pH. dissolves in Chlorine bleach (Sodium Hypo chlorite)


 e. Resilience - Good dry, Poor wet.


 f Static resistance - Poor


 g. Soil resistance - Fair to Good


 h. Cleanability - Fair


 i. Spot removal - Fair


COTTON, RAYON, LINEN AND ACETATE

 a. Absorbency - High. Requires longer drying time.


 b. Abrasion resistance - Poor. Rayon is weakest of all fibers when wet.


 c. Biological resistance - Poor


 d. Chemical resistance - Fair. Strong acids or alkalis will attack.


 e. Resilience - Poor


 f. Static resistance - Low


 g. Soil resistance - Fair


 h. Cleanability - Fair


 i. Spot removal - Problems with water base.


 SILKS - Cheap fiber with good feel

 a. Absorbency - High


 b. Abrasion resistance - Fair


 c. Biological resistance - Fair


 d. Chemical resistance - Fair. Avoid bleaches, strong alkalis and acids.


 e. Resilience - Fair


 f. Static resistance - Fair


 g. Soil resistance - Fair


 h. Cleanability - Fair. Yellows with age. Water marks form because of sizings.


 i. Spot removal - Fair. Problems with water base. Perspiration causes water marks and makes the fabric brittle.