The basic ingredient in carpet is fiber. The type of fiber used and the way the carpet is constructed determine how well the carpet will stand up to spills, pets, and daily traffic. Some fibers and fiber blends perform better than others but often there is a trade-off between performance and price.

Synthetic Fibers

Approximately 97 percent of all carpet is produced using synthetic fibers that are designed to feature style, easy maintenance and outstanding value.

• Nylon: is the predominant fiber material in use today. Nylon's greatest strength is its resilience or ability to bounce back making it a sensible choice for heavy traffic areas. Because of its outstanding durability, about 80% of all fiber used in carpet is nylon. Nylon also dyes easily, which makes it easier for carpet manufacturers to work with. Plus it's basically resistant to water-soluble stains.
  
  Advantages: Nylon is extremely strong and resistant to matting, it absorbs little moisture, is stain resistant and easy to clean. It's also available in a wide price range.
  
  Disadvantages: Nylon degrades and fades in the sunlight and is stained by oil and grease.
  
  
• Olefin (Polypropylene): When it comes to colorfastness, olefin just can't be beat. Unlike nylon's color, which is added on after it has been made into carpet, olefin's color is actually a part of its chemical makeup. Because of that, olefin is also almost totally resistant to any kind of permanent staining. The only quality not found in most olefin carpets is the resilience and lush feel that nylon carpets offer. But for all their performance characteristics, olefin carpets can be well worth considering - especially when cost is a concern. Berber carpet is an example of olefin fiber carpet. It is virtually stain proof and is relatively inexpensive. However, it is the least resilient of carpet fibers. The large loops of olefin in a berber will crush down in a high traffic pattern and usually cannot be revived by carpet cleaning. Many modern berbers are a blend of olefin and nylon which improve the resilience but also make the carpet more expensive.
  
  Advantages: Olefin is a colorfast, strong fiber that is easy to clean and is soil, water and stain resistant. And it resists moisture, mildew and static electricity.
  
  Disadvantages: Olefin is the least resilient of carpet fibers and is missing that lush feel that nylon carpets offer. Dry cleaning solvents degrade the fibers and olefin also tends to mat and grabs onto oil and grease.
  
  
• Polyester: Polyester fiber can be manufactured from recycled plastic soda bottles. It averages $3-5 less per square yard than nylon and looks great. Polyester has greater stain resistance than nylon and is the second least expensive yarn. It comes in vibrant colors and resists fading. However, it is the second least resilient yarn next to olefin, and is the most oil absorbent.
  
  Advantages: Polyester has a soft, luxurious feel and is less expensive than nylon. It has good stain resistance and excellent resistance to mildew and abrasion.
  
  Disadvantages: Prolonged exposure to sunlight weakens the fiber and it grabs onto oil and grease.
  
  
• Acrylic: Although you won't likely find a 100% acrylic carpet, these fibers are blended with other fibers such as wool because they approximate the look and feel of natural wool but are less expensive. Acrylic offers many of wool's characteristics and provides resistance to static, moisture and mildew. But since acrylic fibers may begin to "fuzz" or "pill" with wear, carpets made of acrylic fibers are best used in lower traffic areas.
  
  Advantages: Acrylic has a wool-like appearance, it is resilient, resists sunlight damage and it has good stain resistance and cleans easily.
  
  Disadvantages: Acrylic is not as strong as other synthetics, has poor resistance to matting, and is stained by oil and grease.

Natural Fibers

• Wool: Wool has been the most prestigious of carpet fibers for decades. It has a rich look and feel with excellent resilience and durability and it is naturally stain resistant.
  
  However, it is the most expensive fiber by far and it requires a high level of maintenance, including mothproofing.
  
  Advantages: Wool is crush resistant and durable with limited pilling problems
  
  Disadvantages: Expensive

Blends

• Blends: A wool/nylon blend combines the superior look and comfort of wool with the durability of nylon. Acrylic/olefin and nylon/olefin are other popular blends, offering the best characteristics of each fiber. A wool/nylon blend combines the superior look and comfort of wool with the durability of nylon. Acrylic/olefin and nylon/olefin are other popular blends, offering the best characteristics of each fiber.