Polyester is another good carpet as it is easy to clean and repels water based stains. Polyester is known for the look and feel of wool, although it is much less expensive. The color consideration is also important. Light colored carpets create an effect of a larger space, although they do tend to show stains more easily. Life span The carpets of today are very durable and can outlast most other types of flooring available on the market. All you have to do is select a type of carpet that has a life span of 5 - 30 years or more, which is very common now days. Warranty With most manufacturers, you can get great warranties with your carpet purchase. You should always avoid rental units found in retail and grocery stores that don't have the power to extract the cleaning solution from the carpet fast enough, as it can actually damage the carpet due to over wetting. - Make sure you avoid over wetting the carpet. Any prolonged dampness can lead to mildew growth and bacteria in the carpet, or cause a seperation of the backing. Frieze offers you a lot of benefits without having to compromise anything. The following are points that you'll want to consider when you evaluate the durability of the carpet: 1. 75% twist 2. 15% fiber type 3. 10% density Twist The twist type of carpet has a spiral shape. It is used via heat method that twists the yarn into its permanent shape. Tip An easy way to test fiber for the presence of a fluorochemical is to cut a couple of fibers from a non traffic area and apply a few drops of oil and water mixture. If it beads up, then there is an active fluorochemical present. Whenever testing for the presence of the acid dye blocker, you should again cut a couple of fibers from a non traffic area, then immerse the fibers in a red kool-aid mixture and wait for 5 minutes or so. You'll also need to look and see if the edge and borders are there in the antique carpet you intend to buy, as the end and edge borders are sometimes lost or even cut out on purpose. Keep in mind that the borders will determine the overall value of your carpet. 4. Keep an eye out for holes and moth attacks that are both common when dealing with antique carpets.