Carpet cleaning isn't one-size-fits-all. Different fibre types respond differently to water temperature, pH levels, and agitation — and using the wrong approach on the wrong fibre can cause damage that can't be undone. Here's what you need to know about the most common carpet fibre types found in Calgary homes.

Nylon

Nylon is the most common residential carpet fibre in Canada — durable, resilient, and highly receptive to professional cleaning. It responds well to hot water extraction at standard temperatures and tolerates moderately alkaline cleaning solutions. Nylon holds its colour well and bounces back from heavy foot traffic better than most other fibre types.

  • Cleanability: Excellent — most stains lift with proper pre-treatment
  • Heat tolerance: High — standard truck-mounted temperatures work well
  • Special considerations: Nylon can crush under heavy furniture; rotating furniture periodically prevents permanent indentations

Polyester (PET)

Polyester is popular in newer builds and mid-range carpets because of its soft feel and good initial stain resistance. However, polyester is oleophilic — it attracts and holds oil-based soils tenaciously. Cooking oils, skin oils, and petroleum-based tracked-in soils bond to polyester fibres and are harder to extract than with nylon.

  • Cleanability: Good for water-based soils; challenging for oily soils
  • Heat tolerance: Moderate — excessive heat can cause fibre distortion
  • Special considerations: Requires solvent-based pre-treatment for oil-based soiling; polyester matts more permanently than nylon in high-traffic areas

Olefin / Polypropylene

Olefin is extremely stain-resistant and moisture-resistant — it's commonly used in commercial settings, basements, and indoor-outdoor applications. However, like polyester, it attracts oily soils. Olefin also has a tendency to "wick" — moisture drawn up through the backing can bring deeply embedded soils back to the surface as the carpet dries, causing stains to reappear.

  • Cleanability: Good for surface soiling; wicking is a known challenge
  • Heat tolerance: Low — olefin can melt or distort under high temperatures; requires lower-heat extraction
  • Special considerations: Aggressive agitation can cause fuzzing or pilling; slower extraction passes recommended

Wool

Wool is a premium natural fibre found in higher-end area rugs and some broadloom. It's warm, luxurious, and naturally soil-resistant — but it requires careful cleaning. Wool is pH-sensitive: strongly alkaline solutions (common in budget cleaning operations) can cause browning, shrinkage, and fibre damage. Excessive heat causes similar problems.

  • Cleanability: Good when cleaned correctly; damaged easily by improper chemistry
  • Heat tolerance: Low — temperatures must be carefully controlled
  • Special considerations: Requires pH-neutral or mildly acidic cleaning solutions; always inform your technician if your carpet or rug is wool; slower drying required to prevent shrinkage

Triexta (SmartStrand)

Triexta is a newer fibre type (Mohawk's SmartStrand is the best-known brand) that offers excellent stain resistance and softness similar to polyester but with better durability and cleanability. It responds well to standard hot water extraction.

  • Cleanability: Very good — stain resistance built into the fibre (not a coating that wears off)
  • Heat tolerance: Moderate
  • Special considerations: Generally straightforward to clean; performs well after repeated professional cleanings

How to Find Out What Fibre You Have

Check the carpet's installation tag (usually stapled to the back of a stair riser or inside a closet), the original purchase documentation, or contact the flooring retailer. If you have an area rug, the care label on the back should specify the fibre content.

Before every appointment: Tell your technician what fibre types are in your home, especially if you have wool rugs or older olefin broadloom. This lets them select the right pre-treatment chemistry and temperature settings before they start — not after a problem appears.

Call (403) 299-0299 or book online — our technicians are trained to identify and clean all common residential fibre types.