Author: mynewfloor

What to Know About Carpet Face Weight

Posted on by mynewfloor

The first thing to know about carpet face weight: It’s not as important as you might think.

Surprised? Stay with us.

A carpet’s face weight is a measure, in ounces, of the weight of the carpet pile per square yard. 

It’s solely a measure of the carpet’s fibers. This is not the same as the carpet’s total weight, which also includes the weight of its backing.

Though face weight is a factor to consider when shopping for new carpet, in most instances, it’s not the factor because it needs to be considered in context.

To truly understand a carpet’s construction and potential for longevity, you need to consider six key elements of the manufacturing process, including the material and manufacturing of its fibers, as well as the carpet’s twist, density, heat setting and tufting.

A high-performance PET carpet (named for a type of polyester fiber) might have a lower face weight than a lower-quality carpet. A 40-ounce carpet with a 25-year wear warranty, for example, will outperform a 60-ounce carpet with a 5-year wear warranty.

Said another way: A higher face weight does not necessarily indicate a more durable carpet. It’s only useful to use face weight as a selection consideration when every other factor – such as whether the carpets you’re comparing are made from the same fiber, use single-ply or two-ply construction, feature the same pile height and texture, etc. – is equal.

Otherwise, using face weight to compare carpets is just comparing apples to oranges.

SHOP OUR CURATED CARPET COLLECTION

Ready to add value, softness and comfort to your home? Shop our curated carpet collections:

The ECHO COLLECTION features nine carpets in a stunning range of loops, patterns and twists providing a variety of textures and shapes including squares, chevrons or swirls. Each carpet is available in a range of 10 to 12 colors.

The VERSO COLLECTION of texture carpets offers a luxurious feel that’s made to last. Each carpet in this collection is specially selected for its balance of softness, style and performance, and comes in a range of 12 to 23 colors.

What Is High-Performance PET Carpet?

Posted on by mynewfloor

So you’re shopping for new carpet for a high-traffic space like your living room, family room or playroom, and you’ve heard a bit about the benefits of high-performance PET carpet.

Wondering what it is, how it’s made and whether it’s right for you? Read on.

WHAT IS HIGH-PERFORMANCE PET CARPET?

While high-performance PET (short for polyethylene terephthalate) carpets are designed to last longer than nylon carpets, you should know they’re not all made the same.

HOW HIGH-PERFORMANCE PET CARPET IS MADE

The hand-selected texture carpets in our VERSO COLLECTION are high-performance PET carpets created using a six-step process that ensures they stand up to your busy home now and for years to come:

Manufactured with longer, pull-resistant fibers

PET carpets start in the form of a polymer pellet that’s melted down into a solution. That solution is drawn into long, continuous strands of a single-ply fiber called bulk continuous filament (BCF). Unlike the staple fiber in regular polyester and nylon carpets, BCF resists shedding and pulling – the latter of which is especially attractive if you have pets at home.

Colored throughout

The polymer in PET carpets has built-in stain resistance because it’s solution-dyed. This means the color goes all the way through the polymer so it won’t fade, wear off or stain.

No matter how careful you can be, spills happen. Check out our tips for how to remove nine common carpet stains to keep your flooring looking like new.

Twisted for form and function

The high-performance PET carpets in our VERSO COLLECTION feature two cones of a BCF single-ply fiber that are twisted together to create a two-ply fiber. This creates a stronger, more durable carpet and allows for various fiber color combinations.

Heated for longevity

Heat is applied to the two-ply fiber to lock the twist in place. This process increases longevity by preventing the fiber from unraveling, which, in turn, maximizes its wearability.

Tufted for texture

The cones of twisted, heat-set fiber are tufted with needles into the main carpet backing. This is when the manufacturer customizes carpet features like pile height, density and weight, and creates different textures, patterns and loops.

Coated for stability

The last step is to attach a secondary backing to the tufted primary backing using a thin, smooth layer of latex to reinforce stability and ensure easy installation.

Our VERSO COLLECTION combines these two layers of backing with SpillGuard carpet padding for extra water- and stain-resistance.

PET CARPET’S FEATURES AND BENEFITS

High-performance PET carpets are a great choice for any high-traffic area in your home, or homes with pets and kids. They are:

  • Easy to clean, even with a bleach solution
  • Fade-resistant in prolonged exposure to sunlight
  • Resistant to coffee, red wine, mustard, chocolate and other tough stains
  • Backed by an industry-leading, 25-year wear warranty
  • Pet-friendly and worry-free
  • Environmentally friendly, using 30% less energy, 87% less water and emitting 42% fewer greenhouse gasses during manufacturing than ordinary carpets

SHOP HIGH-PERFORMANCE PET CARPET

Shop our thoughtfully curated VERSO COLLECTION or contact us to schedule your complimentary in-home estimate with a professional flooring expert today.

Flooring FAQ: Is Soft Carpet Weak?

Posted on by mynewfloor

You love the idea of soft, plush carpet underfoot as you step out of bed in the morning or snuggle up with your pup on the living room floor after a long day, but maybe you’re hesitant to invest in a floor covering you’re not confident can stand up to the normal wear of everyday life.

If you’ve ever second-guessed soft carpet because you thought it was a weak material, you’re not alone – but we have good news.

WHAT MAKES CARPET SOFT

To understand how carpet gets its super-soft feel, we first have to understand how it’s made.

The building blocks of carpet are tiny threads called filaments. Filaments comprise fibers, and fibers, in turn, are bundled together to make carpet.

Filament thickness is measured in a unit known as denier. The finer the filaments, the softer the carpet.

The denier for “normal” carpet is 20 to 24, while carpets considered “super-soft” have a typical denier of 10 to 12. Some carpets, though, can be even softer, as today’s manufacturing technologies have created filaments as small as 3 to 4 denier.

A single strand of silk, for reference, is 1 denier.

HOW CARPET CAN BE BOTH SOFT AND STURDY

Think of your favorite linen top or set of sheets: the higher the thread count, the stronger the fabric.

In the case of carpet, the more filaments per square inch, the stronger the floor covering – so for soft touch and durability, look for carpets with a high number of filaments per square inch and a low denier.

SHOP SOFT CARPETS WITH DURABILITY

Our thoughtfully curated VERSO COLLECTION of texture carpets offers a luxurious feel that’s made to last. Each carpet in this collection is specially selected for its balance of softness, style and performance, and comes in a range of 12 to 23 colors to suit your home.

Contact us to schedule your complimentary in-home measure with a professional flooring expert and shop our curated collection today.

How to Remove 9 Common Carpet Stains

Posted on by mynewfloor

Let’s face it: No matter how carefully you sip or how faithfully you remove your shoes, if your home has carpet, there will likely come a time when a stubborn spill, splatter or pet stain threatens to keep your floor from looking like new.

You shouldn’t have to choose between a swoon-worthy space and a practical place to live with kids and pets. That’s why the carpets in our ECHO and VERSO collections feature long-lasting, leading-edge soil- and stain-resistant technology that makes cleanup quick and worry-free.

Here’s how to spot clean and remove nine of the most common carpet stains:

BLOOD STAINS

How you remove blood stains from carpet depends on whether it’s wet or dry.

If the blood is WET, first blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water. A spray bottle works well. Repeat until the stain is removed.

ALSO WORKS FOR

This method of carpet stain removal also works well for other water-soluble stains such as alcoholic beverages, beer, berries, butter, cosmetics, excrement (poop), food dyes, furniture polish, grease (food), ink (washable), milk, mustard, paint (wet latex), soft drinks and tea.

If the blood is DRY, spot clean as detailed above, but treat with a household ammonia before using detergent.

ALSO WORKS FOR

Use this extra step with other water-soluble stains with heavy colors like chocolate and wine.

COFFEE STAINS

For coffee spills and other water-soluble stains with odor, start by blotting thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, treat with white vinegar, followed by a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water (a spray bottle works well). Repeat until removed.

ALSO WORKS FOR

You can also use this method to remove urine (pee) or vomit stains.

INK STAINS

Like blood stains, how you get ink stains out of carpet depends on the type of ink.

For WASHABLE ink, first blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water. A spray bottle works well. Repeat until the stain is removed.

For BALL-POINT ink, first blot as much as possible with a white cloth or paper towel. Apply a volatile solvent such as perchloroethane (dry cleaning fluid) or a citrus-based solvent to a white cotton cloth. CAUTION: Do not apply the solvent directly to the carpet pile as permanent damage WILL result. Use it with rubber gloves and adequate ventilation.

ALSO WORKS FOR

Use the directions for removing ball-point ink stains above for other grease stains like asphalt, crayon markers, furniture polish, grease (auto), lipstick, paint (dry latex) and paint (oil).

OIL STAINS

Treat oil stains from paint, lipstick and other spills as you’d treat a grease stain.

Blot as much of the stain as possible with a white cloth or paper towel. Then apply a volatile solvent such as perchloroethane (dry cleaning fluid) or a citrus-based solvent to a white cotton cloth. CAUTION: Do not apply the solvent directly to the carpet pile as permanent damage WILL result. Use it with rubber gloves and adequate ventilation.

POOP STAINS

Have a stubborn spot from a dog with diarrhea, or a baby blowout?

Treat it as a water-soluble stain: First, blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water. A spray bottle works well. Repeat until the stain is removed.

RED STAINS

The trick to treating red stains is less about the color and more about the type of stain.

To spot clean a red stain from BERRIES or WET BLOOD, for example,  follow the directions for removing a water-soluble stain: Start by blotting thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water (a spray bottle works well). Repeat until removed.

If your red stain is from NAIL VARNISH, blot it with nail polish remover.

Finally, if your stain is tinged with the rich red of your favorite WINE, first blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a bit of household ammonia. Then, spray a solution of liquid dish detergent to 1 quart of water. Repeat as needed until the stain is removed.

RUST STAINS

Most rust stains can be removed from carpet with a 10% solution of citric acid.

More stubborn stains will require professional cleaning, as restricted chemicals may be needed. The use of citric acid is not recommended for solution-dyed products, as damage may result. Certain household cleaners contain citric acid and should be used with caution.

TEA STAINS

Like several of the stains above, you can remove tea stains from carpet by first blotting thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, use a spray bottle to apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent to one quart of water. Repeat until the stain is removed.

WINE STAINS

To get wine stains out of carpet, first blot thoroughly with a white cotton cloth or paper towel. Next, apply a bit of household ammonia. Then, spray a solution of liquid dish detergent to one quart of water. Repeat as needed until the stain is removed.

CARPET CARE TIPS

The best way to treat carpet stains is to prevent them before they happen. Here are a few of our favorite carpet care and maintenance tips from Engineered Floors:

  • Always have clean walk-off mats at all entrances to capture outside soil before it’s tracked inside.
  • Vacuum regularly with a Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval vacuum cleaner.
  • Hire a CRI Seal of Approval professional to deep-clean every 12-18 months.
  • Blot accidents and spills immediately with a damp, white absorbent towel.
  • Have professionals remove stains caused by markers.
  • Only use CRI Seal of Approval spot cleaners.

For more spot-cleaning tips, see our VERSO COLLECTION warranty, care and maintenance guide.

Waterproof, Stain-Resistant, Worry-Free Carpet

Posted on by mynewfloor

When it comes to creating cozy living spaces, nothing quite beats the comforts of carpet. It reduces sound, can help lower energy bills and provides the perfect plush base for playtime, fetch and family movie night.

But is there really such a thing as a worry-free carpet that fits your design style AND stands up to the “oopses,” “uh-ohs” and “oh nos” of a kid- and pet-friendly space?

There is – and you’ll find it in our ECHO COLLECTION.

Each of the pattern carpets in this thoughtfully curated collection is available in a range of colors and features:

WATERPROOF CARPET BACKING

Whether it’s a near-full glass of red wine, a tipped-over cereal bowl or a mess from a potty-training pet, the ECHO COLLECTION’s spill-proof carpet backing keeps wetness from soaking through to your carpet pad or subfloor. This not only makes cleanup easy, but also prevents problematic odors, mildew and deeper, long-term damage to your home.

STAIN-RESISTANT CARPET TECHNOLOGY

It isn’t enough to just trap spills at the surface – our worry-free kid- and pet-friendly carpets make cleanup easy.

Every carpet in our ECHO COLLECTION is made with leading-edge soil- and stain-resistant technology that won’t wear off, even after years of use and repeat cleanings. Spills stay on top and won’t seep deep, so all you have to do is wipe things up and get back to the fun.

The pattern carpets in MyNewFloor.com’s ECHO COLLECTION are perfect for pets, active families and entertaining. They feature waterproof backing and StainGuard technology that make them easy to clean, plus they’re CRI Green Label Plus certified for indoor air quality and come with an industry-leading 25-year wear warranty – which means the only thing you’ll have to worry about is picking your favorite pattern and choosing the right color.

GET STARTED

Ready to install worry-free, kid- and pet-friendly carpet in your home? Contact us to schedule your complimentary in-home measure with a professional flooring expert today.