Synthetic Rug Materials
Our last post was all about Natural Rug Materials: Wool, Silk, Jute & Sisal and the semi-synthetic Viscose. Today, we’ll dive into details on manmade rug materials.
NYLON
Nylon had been one of the most popular synthetic rug materials - it’s very affordable, it’s durable and it cleans very well. It is more frequently seen in wall to wall carpets - known as cut goods, which can be cut down and serged or bound into an area rug.
POLYPROPYLENE
Polypropylene has surged in popularity over the last decade or so, and is becoming more popular than nylon, especially where low-cost area rugs are concerned. It’s very affordable and is considered durable, though it does break down over time. An unfortunate negative about low-cost polypropylene rugs is that they are considered “throwaway rugs” - they only last a few years. Because they are a petroleum-based product, they are not environmentally friendly and cannot be recycled and will not break down quickly in a landfill.
POLYESTER
Polyester is a lesser-used material, in my opinion. Similarly to nylon and polypropylene, it is affordable. Two unique perks to polyester from the previous two materials is that it can be made from recycled materials and can also be hypoallergenic, so if those are concerns for you and your family, this may be the best route for you. One downfall is that the material may flatten over time which may not make it the best option for high traffic areas, where the path that gets walked over the most will show after a while with little recourse.
ACRYLIC
Acrylic is a newer material in the industry, however it is one that is changing the game. Its incredibly durable - so much so that this material is a top indoor/outdoor material. It’s colorfast, highly cleanable - with bleach, in fact, regardless of the color of the carpet. Acrylic can be fabricated into various rug styles, but when it’s tufted, it feels exactly like a luxurious wool carpet. Such carpets cannot be left outdoors completely exposed, but they can be outdoors under a covered patio for example. As the technology is becoming more established and widespread, high costs are fortunately starting to drop on acrylic area rugs, and availability is also becoming greater. Acrylic area rugs are easily my top recommendation for synthetic fiber rugs.
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