Just about every week we have someone come in the shop that has been referred to us by a local carpet installer because the vacuum they used on their new carpeting caused significant damage.   In almost every case the damage is caused by one thing:  an overly hard bristle in the brush of their upright or canister vacuum cleaner. As American tastes shift from synthetic to natural fiber materials, carpet damage or premature wear has become a more common problem. Some carpet manufacturers have even gone so far as to stipulate that the warranty is void if a certain vacuum brand is used.  Most of the time, the damage can be repaired through reweaving or de-pilling the surface, but many times the carpet is never again like new. Carpet is still one of the biggest household investments for people, and since we’ve had more than one customer come to tears over wrecking ten grand of New Zealand wool, we think it’s a good idea to start spreading the word about of which brushrolls are appropriate for which types of carpeting.

The key to choosing the right brush system for your carpet is knowing the material and the weave.  It’s all about the fiber and how it’s woven. Usually carpet is made of wool or synthetic yarn (or a blend of both).  But there are many different types of weaves. The most common are loop, cut pile, twist and sisal. First of all, if your home has a standard cut-pile carpet made of nylon or other synthetic material like Olefin, you may be excused from class.  is bagless vacuum cleaner goodThe brushes on standard vacuums from any manufacturer will perform well and not damage your carpet.order miele vacuum cleaner bags But if your carpet is made of wool, cotton, silk, seagrass or any combination of these – or if your carpet is a looped, berber, frieze twist, shag or any other unusual combination –  read on.  used canister vacuum cleaner

It could save you a big hassle and a lot of money. The natural materials above require a very soft, long bristle.  Think of it like a hair brush. At one end of the spectrum you have hair brushes that are very fine and soft and gentle.  On the other you have hair brushes that are very hard, stiff and tough, the kind you would use on a shaggy dog. When vacuuming natural fibers, you need a lot of suction and a very gentle brush action.  Brushes that are longer and softer work best on natural materials. When they sweep across the carpet, the soft bristle flexes and gently brushes up any hair or lint, letting the suction do most of the work to clean without causing any damage. Standard vacuums do just the opposite of this.  They actually transfer very little suction down into the carpet.  Instead, they use an extra hard bristle that scrapes across the surface of the carpet and very aggressively pulls up the carpet fiber.  This aggressive scraping and pulling at 2000 rpm can cause pilling or premature wear, and may even start a snag in the thread that pulls though the whole carpet as it wraps around the spinning brush.

For any cut-pile natural fiber or blended carpet, a motorized brush with a medium soft bristle is recommended.  Here are a few recommendations: For twist, shag or frieze carpet, it’s very important to have a height-adjustable brush that can be raised off the carpet to prevent pulling.   Also, if the yarn on the shag is two inches or more, a suction-only rug tool is recommended. The following vacuum cleaners all have height adjustable brushes with moderately stiff bristles:Karastan’s legacy of enduring quality and stylish sophistication began almost a century ago. Today, every Karastan carpet and area rug is still a finely crafted work of art— and new innovation also makes Karastan floors softer and more luxurious than ever. Available in a variety of fiber types, all Karastan premium soft carpets offer specific inherent advantages to accommodate your discerning standards and personal lifestyle. Whether you prefer highly durable and beautiful nylon, easy-to-care-for and worry-free SmartStrand or the rich, deep luster of natural wool, you’ll find Karastan makes the absolute softest—and finest— carpets available.

Over the past several years, many manufacturers have focused on creating vacuums with extremely high suction. These vacuums perform excellently on low-pile carpets and hard surface flooring, but most do not work well on thicker, high-pile carpets, like Karastan’s softest offerings. So your current vacuum may not be the right match for your fabulous new soft Karastan carpet. A quality carpet deserves a quality vacuum. Many exceptional vacuums are available, but it’s important to note that one size does not fit all. Selecting the Right Vacuum If you are selecting a new vacuum, and you’ll be using it on Karastan’s premium soft, high-pile, wool or wool-blend carpets, look for these features: Adjustable Height Use the highest setting where appropriateideally, suction strength can be increased/decreased Large Wheels Vacuum should glide easily across the carpet As well, the ability to disengage the brush for “suction-only” cleaning when needed is ideal.

This is especially important on all-loop-pile wool products, as using brushes on the face of an all-loop-pile wool carpet may cause fuzzing of the wool fibers. If you’d like more specifics on which vacuum you should purchase, Karastan has conducted in-depth vacuum testing and noted the feedback from other soft carpet customers to create an updated list of recommended vacuums. As a Karastan customer, you are important to us and we value your feedback. Please share your vacuum experiences with us; you’re also welcome to offer advice for other premium soft carpet customers. Proper care and maintenance of your new soft carpets will ensure that they stay beautiful longer, and frequent vacuuming is an essential part of carpet care. Karastan has created a Vacuum Buyer’s Guide to simplify the vacuum selection process. Karastan has compiled vacuum recommendations based on the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval, thorough internal testing and feedback from our customers.

For specific information pertaining to vacuum models, please contact the manufacturer directly. Click here to see the full selection of recommended vacuum's Upright and Canister Vacuum Models Lift‑Off Multi Cyclonic Vacuum 89Q9, 18Z6 Airspeed AS2013A, AS2030A, AS1001A S2 Series Compact Canister “Delphi”, “Titan”, “HomeCare” ** S5 Series Full Size Canister “Callisto”, “Earth”, “Capricorn”, “Gemini”, “Leo” ** S6 Series Deluxe Canister “Topaz”, “HomeCare” ** S7 Series Upright S7210, S7260,S7280, S7580 S8 Series Premium Canister “Kona”, “Marin”, “HomeCare”, “Cat &Dog”, “Uniq” ** Magnesium LW1500 RS (Swivel) ** MIELE CANISTERS MUST BE USED WITH SEB 228 ELECTRO PLUS BRUSH HEAD Central Vacuum and CanisterVacuum Power Brush Heads CVAC Kit PT 250 LS central vacuum kit Electro Plus SEB 228 Powerhead with Telescopic Wand UH70205 Windtunnel T Series AS2030A AirSpeed One Pet