Olefin has several distinct characteristics as compared to other synthetic carpet fibers such as nylon. It is far less expensive but it doesn’t last as long as other fibers.
Olefin’s greatest challenge is appearance retention because it lacks resiliency and is susceptible to abrasions.
It may also have resoiling issues from sticky residues, and it may become stiff and darken if it is a fine-denier velvet.
Follow these cleaning guidelines:
- Use SOA-approved vacuum cleaners.
- Clean with care; of all these fibers, olefin is the most sensitive to heat, it can be permanently damaged when heavy objects such as desks are moved across it, and it can also be distorted by hot hoses from truck mounts.
- Expect resoiling issues from sticky residues, more so than with Triexta.
- This fiber is the most sensitive to ultraviolet light, so employ those technologies with caution.
- Prepare for a challenge in terms of texture retention and appearance retention.
Olefin is the least resilient of all petroleum-based synthetics, and apparent soil from scratches on the filaments will be worse than with polyester.
As with polyester and nylon, olefin is suited to all cleaning methods, but know that absorbent pad extraction may void the manufacturer’s warranty.
Reference: Fiber Cleaning Challenges
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