Although many factors go into choosing the perfect carpet, understanding the different types of fiber is one of the first steps to making an educated decision. Fiber producers categorize fibers as staple or filament. Most carpet samples will have this information written on the label placed on the back of the sample piece.
Staple fibers are short fibers that can range from 2-40 cm in length. Most natural fiber, wool for example, is a staple. Because staple fibers are then spun into yarns, and the yarns then manufactured into carpet, the short fibers of various lengths protrude from the yarn. Therefore, carpets made of staple fibers often have an over-all matted and fuzzier look. Carpets made of staple fibers also have a tendency to "shed" or "pill", if vacuumed regularly the shedding should slow and eventually cease.
A filament (also known as BCF or bulked continuous filament) is a continuous fiber of unlimited length. Most filaments are manufactured products, with silk being the only exception. Manufactured filaments may be smooth to imitate silk or crimped/bulked to imitate wool products. Filament fibers, made into filament yarns, are smoother with no protruding ends so they will not "shed" or "pill" and will resist soil more readily. When comparing synthetic fibers, BCF is the more desirable of the fiber types.
Fiber type can affect the look, feel, and over-all satisfaction of a product but should not be the only consideration when shopping for carpet.
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