Nylon vs Polyester Carpet

Comfort

When shopping for the best flooring material for your home, comfort is usually one of the first things to come to mind. A lot of elements can factor into how comfortable a style of carpet is, but every type of carpet is more comfortable underfoot than hardwood, linoleum or luxury vinyl flooring.

Density and twist both affect how cushy your carpeting is along with the texture. With that in mind, polyester is softer than nylon, although the gap has closed considerably. If you love the type of carpet your feet can sink into, you’ll want to invest in polyester carpeting.

Du​​​​​rability 

Nylon is durable and used in a wide variety of consumer goods today. It’s also an excellent choice for carpet fibers due to its durability. This synthetic material is known for its resiliency and its ability to bounce back after it’s been walked on. That makes it ideal for any high-traffic areas in your home and rooms that take a lot of abuse on a daily basis.

While polyester may be softer than nylon, it is not nearly as durable. It will still hold up well with proper care but will begin to show wear quicker than nylon if the carpets are of the same grade. You can still use it in any room of your home; just keep foot traffic in mind if you choose a budget-friendly carpet. The warranty can make a difference however along with the overall quality of polyester carpet you choose.

Stain Resistance & Upkeep

Do you have pets? If so, polyester may be the best option for your home. This hydrophobic fiber can repel water instead of soaking it in, so it’s not absorbent and works well against liquids that can leave stains behind. Pets can be responsible for both, and so can children. As for soiling, it doesn’t handle that quite as well although stain-resistant treatments can help in that regard.

By comparison, nylon is not naturally resistant to liquids or soiling like polyester. Just like with polyester carpeting treatments can make a considerable difference in how easy stains are to clean or remove. Overall, we feel polyester is a better option for stain resistance this is another area where the difference is minimal if you stick to top-tier options. Neither are as pet-friendly as flooring with a slick surface when it comes to pet hair or allergies, however.

You’ll need to take a similar approach with maintenance when it comes to the upkeep of nylon or polyester carpeting. A good vacuum cleaner is a must-have along with recommended products for spot cleaning when needed. A steam cleaner is also an essential tool for nylon carpet as it helps the fibers stay firm and resilient over time.

The Green Factor

Nylon isn’t exactly the most eco-friendly carpeting around considering it’s a by-product of petroleum.  Manufacturing aside, it was known as being difficult recycle although several companies have made significant strides in that area over the past decade. It’s not as hard to recycle as it used to be, and you can even find nylon carpet made from recycled material if you’re willing to pay a premium.

Polyester carpet is greener, although still a synthetic product. That said, there are a variety of styles and color made from recycled plastics including Continuum from Mohawk, which contains an average of 64 reclaimed bottles per square yard. If you want “green” carpet in your home, polyester is an ideal choice unless you opt for Cradle to Cradle certified nylon fibers.

Carpet Concerns 

The issues you can experience with carpet in your home are generally the same whether you choose nylon or polyester fibers. Excess moisture can be a major concern along with flooding, so carpet isn’t the best option for areas like the kitchen. It is commonly found in finished basements and bathrooms, however, so it all comes down to where you’re comfortable having carpet installed.

Both styles of carpet are prone to static, but nylon can build up static electricity easier than polyester. You may experience a few shocking surprises depending on the conditions inside your home, although it won’t shed and pill like polyester.

Installation

Out of all the styles of flooring we cover here at Flooringclarity, carpet and hardwood are the most difficult for homeowners to install themselves. There is no “easy” way to install carpet despite what guides or online videos may lead you to believe unless you have experience w installing flooring or general construction. This will give you a rough idea of what to expect.

Nylon and Polyester Carpet Cost

Polyester carpet is cheaper than nylon, but how much you save depends on the overall quality of the product and a number of other factors. A plush polyester carpet from Shaw may outlive and outperform a mid-tier nylon carpet from Stainmaster. The carpet style, texture, and even the pattern can play a part with pricing as well.