While triexta carpet has only been around for a few years, it has quickly earned its place in homes across America. Here, we explain why and share some important information about triexta carpet.
What is Triexta Carpet?
Triexta is a synthetic (manufactured) material developed by DuPont. While it shares many characteristics with polyester, triexta has several important differences in its chemical makeup that makes it a subclass of polyester.
You might hear triexta referred to by three other names: polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), which is its technical name; Sorona, partially made from renewable corn sugar; and SmartStrand, the brand name you’ll most often encounter at carpet and home improvement stores. In addition to eco-friendly, Sorona is known for being soft, long-lasting and stain resistant. This makes it a popular material for apparel as well as carpet.
Today, DuPont continues to be the sole producer of triexta and Sorona. Mohawk Industries uses triexta/Sorona to make the SmartStrand carpet marketed to consumers.
Triexta Carpet Pros
Stain resistant: Triexta carpet is engineered to resist stains not on its coating, but within its very fiber. To prove its point, Mohawk Industries let 10 large zoo animals and 43,000 zoo visitors trample on SmartStrand for two weeks. The result: The triexta carpet was totally cleaned with just hot water extraction.
Relatively inexpensive: Triexta carpet averages between $2.29 and $4.48 per square foot. That offers savings over nylon, the most popular carpet material, which averages between $3.25 and $7.50 per square foot
Water, mold and mildew resistant: Triexta carpet does not absorb water, making it perfect for basements and any other area that could get damp.
Soft feel: Because triexta carpet doesn’t need a chemical application to achieve its famed stain resistance, it tends to be softer underfoot than nylon and polyester.
Can be eco-friendly: Corn glucose is used to produce up to 37 percent of most kinds of SmartStrand carpet. This makes it an environmentally friendly flooring option.
Triexta Carpet Cons
Can be hard to vacuum: Triexta carpet fibers are more dense than other carpet materials. The best way to get your triexta carpet good and clean (without tiring out your arm!) is to choose a high-quality vacuum cleaner that lets you adjust the beater brush height.
Short track record: As a relative newcomer to the market, triexta lacks a long history to substantiate some of its claims.
Check out our guide to choosing the best carpet for your home.
Learn more about Berber carpet and frieze carpet.
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