As winter looms, many of us start to yearn for the comfort and warmth of carpet underfoot. But what should you buy? Here, we answer the tuft questions.

Materials

Wool
It's a durable natural material with a luxurious feel. Plus, it repels liquid spills and dirt due to the structure of the fibres. However, because wool can't be treated for stain resistance, spills need to be cleaned immediately. Over time, watch out for pilling in lower-quality wool carpets.

Tip You can buy hard-wearing wool-blend carpets, which are mixed with other materials.

Nylon
One of the most popular options when it comes to carpets because advances in technology mean this synthetic material is more colourfast and stain resistant than ever. Colour is added to fibres during the production process – rather than the end – which means you can usually remove stains with a bleach-based cleaning product without ruining the colour.

Tip Hard-wearing nylon is well-suited to areas such as hallways, which get a lot of foot traffic.

Polypropylene
Made from synthetic materials, polypropylene is often the most affordable carpet option, and one of the most durable fibres, resisting liquid stains and mildew. However, it feels rougher, wears out faster and marks up more than other products.

Tip Choose a loop pile – it won't flatten as quickly as a cut pile.

Blends
One of the most common blends is wool and nylon. At the higher end of the spectrum you will get carpets with 80 per cent wool, 20 per cent nylon. Blends are durable because individual threads are woven into the backing in contrast to tufted carpets, which are stitched.

Tip Cheaper 50/50 blends of wool and nylon often use a lower-quality wool, which pills quicker.

Maintenance

If you treat your carpet well, it can last for up to 10 years. To maintain the new-carpet look, vacuum at least once a week to remove dirt, which acts as an abrasion on the pile fibres. It's more hygienic, too. Spills should be mopped up immediately. How you do this will depend on the type of carpet and the nature of the spillage, eg, oil, water, wine. It's best to check with your manufacturer or a carpet cleaner.

Tip It's advisable to steam clean your carpets every two years.

Steam cleaning
Recommended by manufacturers. The carpet is vacuumed and sprayed with a chemical, followed by a high-pressure spray of hot water to release dirt, which is then vacuumed out with any excess water. Depending on the size of the carpet area, the process takes about three to eight hours.

Tip Ask anyone quoting a job if they have public liability insurance to cover damages that may occur while they're in your home.

Dry cleaning
While the process is called “dry” cleaning, some water is used to remove surface dirt. The process is faster drying than steam cleaning, but not as effective. One of the most common forms of dry cleaning is bonnet cleaning. This involves vacuuming the carpet, applying a cleaning product to a pad, which rubs the carpet and transfers dirt back onto the pad before vacuuming the carpet again.

Tip Use this method for high-traffic areas in addition to, rather than replacing, steam cleaning.

DIY carpet cleaning
Carpet cleaning machines that can be hired from supermarkets work on the steam, or hot-water extraction, method.

Tip Be careful not to over-wet your carpets as it can promote the growth of mould and stain the carpet's colour

Cleaning resources
Australian Carpet Cleaning Institute; Carpet cleaning consumer guide (jam-packed with info).

Consider this

Price
Carpet pricing is usually based on a broadloom metre (1m x 3.66m). So, if you're comparing the cost to timber flooring or tiles, it's a good idea to convert to sq m. Nylon carpet costs from about $125 to $300 a broadloom metre, wool carpets from about $140 to $500 and polypropylene from about $90 to $180. Hand-knotted wool-silk blends from about $600 sq m.

Underlay
When considering the cost of carpet, factor into your budget the price of underlay, too. It absorbs sounds and provides insulation. Plus, it can help rectify any unevenness in your floor.

Tip If you want to test the quality of underlay, stand on it with shoes on – you shouldn't be able to feel the floor with the heel of your shoe.

Star ratings The Carpet Institute of Australia has an Australian Carpet Classification Scheme, which gives carpet a star-rating out of six. The rating is based on how the product has performed in a number of tests, eg, those that assess anticipated appearance change in the texture and colour of carpets and their propensity for soiling over time.

Cut or loop?

Cut pile Tufts of yarn are exposed at the top of the carpet after the loops are cut, creating a more formal look. Styles include velvet/plush carpets (cut many times to create a soft and smooth finish) and saxony carpets (not as smooth).

Loop pile Individual strands of yarn are twice pulled through the backing of carpet to create a small loop. Carpets can comprise level-loop pile or multi-loop pile (loops of two or three heights). Short-level loop pile is best suited to high-traffic areas, such as hallways or kids rooms. Loop styles include berber carpets (chunky loop tufts) and sisal-style/cord carpets (tighter loops).