Organizing Home – Best Carpet If You Have A Pet

Pet owners looking for the best carpet have two main priorities: stain resistance and durability. After all, pet accidents and wear and tear from four-legged traffic can really take a toll on your carpet and shorten its life span, though this seems like a fair trade for the health benefits pets bring to their owners. You may just have to deal with the general dirt, fur and dander that come with owning a pet, but sometimes your pet may have a vomiting episode. Many 21st-century consumers have added health and environmental effects to their list of flooring priorities, and finding the best carpet for pets that meets these concerns is getting easier. So you may want some hints on how to deal with this problem, if your carpet is suffering because of your pet.

What makes carpet a good choice for floor covering if you have pets? Wall-to-wall carpeting is more comfortable for pets; after all, many pets spend lots of time lying around on the floor, inspiring spasms of envy in their owners. The best carpet for pets is also a nonslip surface that can be safer for animals, whose footpads tend to slide on tile and hardwood flooring. Lastly, carpet absorbs sound and can make your home a more peaceful place to live.

A common concern with choosing the best carpet for pets is that it may contribute to asthma and allergies by collecting dust and pet dander. Both The Carpet and Rug Institute and the Canadian Carpet Institute claim that wall-to-wall carpeting actually traps allergens until they can be vacuumed up. They say that it’s the best choice for allergy sufferers as long as you vacuum and deep clean your carpet regularly. Most allergy experts, however, still recommend hardwood or tile flooring.

If you have your heart set on carpet, you’ll want to take the following factors into consideration when making your selection for the best carpet for pets:

Materials: Carpeting is usually made from wool, a natural fiber, or from synthetic fibers like nylon, olefin and polyester. Wool carpet is the softest and most luxurious, is naturally flame-retardant and breaks down more quickly in landfills, but it’s more expensive than synthetic fibers and not as stain-resistant. Carpeting made from nylon fibers is the most popular because it’s durable, stain-resistant and affordable, making it the most suitable for households with kids and pets. Olefin and polyester are cheaper than nylon but less durable.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Carpet and other common materials found in homes may contain VOCs. These chemicals can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and have neurological effects. Newer carpets contain lower levels of VOCs, and carpets that carry The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label are certified to be low-VOC. Manufacturing of newer carpets may also require less water and energy, and they’re often made from recycled materials.

Carpets for pets: Some carpets have been specifically designed to prevent pet stains from soaking through to your carpet padding, where the moisture can foster bacteria and mold growth. You might also consider carpet tiles, which make replacing damaged sections of the carpet easier. Some colors or patterns hide pet hair better than others, so consider this when choosing the best carpet for pets, too.

Once you’ve installed your beautiful, new, pet-friendly carpet, be sure to clean it often and well. Keeping carpet for pets clean and dry prevents mold from growing. To best care for your carpet, choose a vacuum approved by The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label program, which can reduce airborne dust by 94 percent.