Wool Or Polypropylene Carpet? Pros And Cons Of Natural vs Man Made Types

Make the right choice when choosing carpet for your home.

Wool or polypropylene? That's the question we all ask when it comes to choosing the right carpet for our home.

But according to Cormar Carpets, the wool versus man-made carpets debate is no longer important. Why? Because both have a rightful place in the market, says the carpet manufacturer.

'When times are tough and purse strings are tightened, it can be tempting to go for the least expensive flooring option,' says David Cormack, marketing director at Cormar Carpets. 'But consumers should be aware that while it may cost less, it might not last if it's not the right type of carpet for the room.

'How a carpet looks and performs is dependent on the fibre content. It has a bearing on durability, resilience, appearance, retention, feel, practicality and price. Where in the home it is used is important too: talk to your retailer about where you want your carpet to go and how long you expect it to last. A good reputable retailer will discuss the options with you and should clearly explain the benefits of one carpet over another.'

If you want to know the differences between wool and polypropylene carpets and the benefits of both, then you've come to the right place.

Wool is a great natural fibre that offers superb resilience to wear and general soiling. It's most commonly used on its own in pure 100 per cent form for loop pile carpets, or in 80 per cent blends with nylon and polypropylene in cut pile to improve its wear properties. For the hallway, stairs or landing, a hardwearing practical carpet, like a wool mix blend, is ideal. These areas get a lot of footfall and soiling, so in the long term it pays dividends to spend slightly more for higher quality carpets.

On the other end of the scale, polypropylene is a great 'family friendly' fibre, suggests the team at Comar. It's ideal for children's bedrooms or playrooms where sticky fingers and spills are common.

But remember, bedroom carpets don't receive as much regular use, so carpets with more luxurious qualities can be used. Comar suggest a polypropylene fibre that has been made to feel super soft and ultra-luxurious.

For the living room or dining room, look for either a wool mix or a heavier weight polypropylene.

Benefits of wool carpet

Benefits of polypropylene carpet

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