Finishes and Treatments of Carpets and Rugs

How well the carpet performs over a period of time depends a great deal on the treatments and finishes applied to the carpet and the way the fiber has been modified to reduce soiling, staining, and a buildup of static electricity.

Some of the new fibers called fourth generation fibers have been modified to offer extra soil resistance, anti-static properties, and stain resistance.

Many different treatments and finishes are used to make carpets perform better. The anti-static, anti-soil, anti-stain, and anti-microbial are the most common.

Anti-static features are applied during manufacture or after manufacture as a coating on the carpet surface. Antistatic sprays can be applied at home, but these are not as effective as those applied during manufacture.

The anti-soil and anti-stain features of a carpet can be achieved by modifying the carpet fiber so it does not show or cling to dirt and stains. Treatments are applied in two ways: during manufacture and after the carpet has been made. During manufacture anti-soil and anti-stain features may be incorporated into the production of the carpet yarns.

After thecarpet is made, anti-soil and anti-stain finishes are applied to the carpet surface. Not all of these finishes last forever. Some wear off and some breakdown when the carpet is cleaned.

The new anti-microbial treatments prevent growth of bacterial organisms that cause odor. This treatment is applied during the manufacture of the carpet fibers.