Polyester, Propylene or 80%wool/20% nylon Carpets

[Advocodo]

Went to a carpet shop today and couldn’t believe how many carpets were either 100% Polyester or Propylene! The choice of 80% wool /20 nylon was minuscule! Totally confused as to what to buy now. We have always had 80%/20% carpets. It’s to re carpet the whole house so want to get it right,

I was carpet shopping a while back and was also surprised how few wool carpets there were. Apparently people are using wool less because of moths and carpet beetles.

We have had a huge problem with moths in our house. I'd never ever buy wool again

I would rather have bare floors than wool carpets, but I'm allergic to wool (and married to a sheep farmer!)

We sell both types at work - the wool still sells well and most are treated to be moth resistant. We've had Axminster and Westex at home without issues. But the polyprops have really come forwards over the last 10 years. They look good, have lost that "shiny" look they used to have and a lot can be cleaned easily or are stain resistant.

The only thing to remember is that wool really doesn't like being cleaned - it does something to the protective oils in it. If you've got a carpet cleaner, get the polyprop.

Never thought of moths and carpet beetles! Apparently sales man said wool carpets are harder to clean and keep clean!

Our last carpets were 80/20 wool/artificial. Looked better after seventeen years than these artificial ones did after two. Never again.

I've always had 80%% wool, but ours hasn't lasted that well and we had an issue with moths. When we replaced the lounge we went for man made and it has been fine. It doesn't get much use though as we rarely use that room since having an extension. We need to replace the stairs and landing and I don't think I'd have wool again.

A lot to think about! The wool carpets are also more expensive.

I get electric shocks from polypropylene. Always get 80/20. Never yet had a moth issue in 30 years. Touch wood.

Wool is more expensive. But I’ve had a cream 100% wool in my lounge for 20 years. Two kids, a cat and a dog and it still looks like it did when it was new. Not for everyone I know, as people like a change, but I’d definitely try to replace with another 100% wool carpet when the time comes. It’s even had lucozade and lily pollen spilt on it but it sort of cleans itself 🤷‍♀️

I went with Polypropylene in the end as didn't want to take the risk of Moths with wool and Polyester seemed to be more expensive but was softer fabric. I went to www.Carpetright.co.uk and https://carpets-online.co.uk and both said Polyester feels better but for a high traffic household who wants something hard wearing and easy to clean, a good Polypropylene was the way to go. If you want to go for a Wool mix just check out the density of it.

In my experience a lot of carpet salespeople don’t want you to buy wool because it’s so long-lasting.

I’ve gone with 80-20 wool, mainly because in the case of a fire they don’t ignite in the same way. They smoulder, whereas man made apparently just burst into flames

That's interesting, didn't know that! I prefer the feel of natural products and put 100% wool all the way through in 2012 up two flights of stairs and one bedroom (hard floors downstairs) but have struggled with carpet moths, don't understand why, always had wool in previous houses and never had a moth problem. Pretty convinced they came with the carpet, funnily enough there is one bedroom with 80%/20% and they don't seem to favour that room, mustn't be as tasty😋 so maybe the mixed is wiser.

Man made melt. Wool burns.

Wool/nylon mix is the best. The plastic from the nylon stops the wool burning.

I’ be always had wool/nylon mix. Nylon makes it more hard wearing. Never ever had moths..

Moths ate all of our carpets, plus a chest full of wool kelims - there was a pile of dust there and lots of moths. There’s an infestation in London. I wouldn’t have wool carpets again.

justvfeplace an 80/20 wool carpet after 20+ years. We went for the same again. No infestations of moths.

Perhaps you are in an area where moths are prevalent? Or you went to a big chain like Carpet Right or Tapi, which I think find the synthetic carpets more profitable. We have recently changed a few carpets and went with a small, local independent, who had loads of wool mix options - not 100% because the moths are terrible in this area.

We have some very old carpets in our house. One of the bedroom ones needs replacing and is threadbare by the doorway. But it's about 35 years old, maybe more, and the rest of the carpet is in excellent condition. It's not as plush as it once was but is soft and the pile is good. The cheap six year old polyester one downstairs looks shit already (but was very cheap). When I can I will also get wool mix carpets, having seen the longevity.