Which carpet can shrink after cleaning and how to avoid it?
"I am so scared to have my carpets cleaned... They will shrink!" We heard this so many times in the past!
Let's start by explaining the 2 types of carpet available in the UK: Tufted Carpet and Woven carpet. There are then a number of types of carpet pile (loop pile, cut pile, Berber...)
Tufted Carpet:
This type of carpet is mass machine-made for a value carpet product, often created using a man-made fibre such as nylon or polypropylene. The carpet making making machine threads carpet fibre through a backing where the thread is caught on a loop before the needle descends. The top loops of fibre are either left to create a Loop Pile (also known as a Berber Pile) or cut down to create an even leveled pile called a Cut Pile. The reverse of the carpet is glued to hold the fibre in place, and a secondary layer of backing is attached to cover this. This carpet type should not shrink!
Woven Carpet:
Woven carpet is a high quality product that it is produced in large part from wool or a predominantly wool blend. The carpets are produced in a similar way to the traditional carpet producing method using a loom. The carpet fibres are woven into the backing, this creates a strong durable product that doesn't require gluing or secondary backing. Woven carpet is said to last up to 3 times longer than tufted carpet due to the strength of it's construction.
There are two types of woven carpet:
In general, the woven carpets (Axminster and Wilton) are the carpets that can shrink after cleaning.
Axminster
The Axminster carpet is a woven carpet produced of high quality wool, they are known for their detailed designs and large array of colours. Because they use the durable woven method to produce their carpets they are able to use finer yarns, and create finer details to their designs. Axminster carpets are characterised by a wool face fibre and a jute backing yarn interwoven together.
Wilton
Wilton are also recognised for being high quality woven carpets, however they are created in a different way to the Axminster. Wilton carpets, or more specifically, Belgian Wiltons, are made from a polypropylene face fibre and jute backing, unlike better quality Wiltons, which are made with wool. Due to the fact that the polypropylene is unable to hold much moisture at all, it seeps straight through to the backing, shrinking the carpet.
While these carpets (Axminster and Wilton) are the most susceptible to shrinking, the truth is that they shouldn’t shrink at all with the proper cleaning equipment, technique and knowledge. It is also very important to mention that the carpet should be installed property in the first place!
If the carpet cleaning machine is cheap (and small), it will not remove a sufficient amount of water from the carpet, causing it then to shrink.
Why these carpets can shrink?
It is the jute backing responsible for the shrinkage, as when it gets wet it swells, expands so causing stress to the structure. It is not the wool that shrink! It is the backing.
How to avoid your carpet shrinking?
Ensure you use a carpet cleaning company that have extensive knowledge and training as well as possessing the most advance and powerful equipment for cleaning your carpets.
If you have any doubt or would like some advice or more information, please give us a call on 01223 863632.
