What type of carpet is best, wool or manmade?

RedFraggle

Polypropylene

p00hsticks said:

not wool if there is any chance of carpet moth infestation - they're a right pain to get rid of.

Agree, I'll never have wool carpet ever again. I panic at the sight of them after a previous wool mix carpet brought them into a previous home. 

koalakoala

Wool every time for me. Had them all my life and never had a problem, nor do I know anyone else who has, and I’ve lived quite a long time!

twopenny

Yup same.
Had an all wool Axminster carpet circa 1929 from a relative. Was still fine when I sold it with the house in 2018.
Had another made in India for the same number of years 
A Turkish rug too.

Wool will hoover clean and when washed.

I've not had a mixed one but plan to.

Labtebricolist

Always had 100% wool and never had any issues with moths.  This is despite moths eating the devil out of all of my merino jumpers…

XzavierWalnut

RedFraggle said:

p00hsticks said:

not wool if there is any chance of carpet moth infestation - they're a right pain to get rid of.

Agree, I'll never have wool carpet ever again. I panic at the sight of them after a previous wool mix carpet brought them into a previous home. 

Same here. Had them a few years ago in 2 rooms.

LoopyLoops

Polypropylene

MattMattMattUK said:

TimeLord1 said:

If you have young kids go for polypropylene it's easier to clean and fairly hardy.

It does tend to collapse over time though, especially with the wear of children, where as wool seems much more resilient. I have found that wool pretty to spot clean with sprays, either cleans up well with a carpet cleaner (something I use annually). 

p00hsticks said:

not wool if there is any chance of carpet moth infestation - they're a right pain to get rid of.

I have seen horror stories about them, but never actually known anyone have the issue in the real world, any idea how prevalent they actually are? 

We just had a carpet moth infestation in our rental. They were there before we moved in. They are a complete pain to get rid of. I’m not young and this is the first time I have encountered them in my own home, but don’t want them ever again.  I’m on constant watch in our new house for any evidence.  I had heard of them from my grandparents, but never encountered them.  I know someone else who had them and they also had trouble getting rid of them.  But couldn’t say how common the problem is.

Effician

I'll not vote because it's a horses for courses question.

Having cleaned carpets for 30+ yrs i've seen all sorts good & bad but it really is a case of the correct choice for the situation.

We've had 2 lounge carpets in the 37yrs here ,

The first was a cheap trade price high thread count polyprop ( Ege diamond) which was really badly treated for 22yrs while the kids grew up , it always cleaned up well even after i spilt wood stain on it but as with all plastic carpets there is very quick wear fading & pile flattening.

The current carpet is a Axminster super dartmoor 100% wool ( no i didn't pay anywhere near retail for it ) & been down 15yrs , not needed to clean it as it looks after itself with the occasional hoover & don't worry about the occasional spit from the log burner , no need to worry about moth either as it's factory treated with formaldehyde e1.

I wouldn't have wanted & wool carpet for our early years as much as i wouldn't want a polyprop now,

35har1old

Wool

RedFraggle said:

p00hsticks said:

not wool if there is any chance of carpet moth infestation - they're a right pain to get rid of.

Agree, I'll never have wool carpet ever again. I panic at the sight of them after a previous wool mix carpet brought them into a previous home. 

You mustn't mind the house mites then

uk2009

Wool

Over many years you and anyone else in the family including kids and pets will be breathing in a lot of those fibres. Would you rather they were natural wool ones or man made ones? I'd go for wool. 

RedFraggle

Polypropylene

35har1old said:

RedFraggle said:

p00hsticks said:

not wool if there is any chance of carpet moth infestation - they're a right pain to get rid of.

Agree, I'll never have wool carpet ever again. I panic at the sight of them after a previous wool mix carpet brought them into a previous home. 

You mustn't mind the house mites then

https://flooringmatters.org/wool-carpet-vs-polypropylene/

Or maybe not.

Having a cat we're likely doomed on that front!