Shedding Pile shedding of new woollen carpet is the term used to describe the release from the carpet yarn of very small fibres that collect on the surface of the carpet. You may also know it as ‘fluff’. This usually occurs during the first six to nine months following installation. Shedding is activated by foot traffic and vacuuming and is usually only seen in new carpet installations. As a carpet ‘settles’ or ‘beds down,’ shedding becomes increasingly less noticeable. However, the thicker and heavier the pile, the greater the shedding can be. Shedding is not a manufacturing defect but rather a characteristic feature of a new, quality pure wool carpet. The best and most effective way to remove shed fibres is to use a quality vacuum cleaner with good suction and a rotating soft turbo brush regularly. The brush must ONLY skim the top of the carpet; if it is ‘brushing’ the carpet, it may cause the carpet to fuzz and permanently damage it. Colour Variation Because each carpet is unique, shade or pattern may vary slightly from the sample. This occurs between dye lots and within production runs due to normal dye lot variations but will be within recognised textile industry standards. Colour appearance can also vary depending upon the type of light under which a sample is viewed and the light sources where the carpet is installed. Geometric Printed or Patterned Carpets While EC uses the very best available techniques to minimise pattern distortion during manufacturing, the extensible nature of textile products means that some distortion due to shrinkage or stretch during and after manufacture is unavoidable, such that a perfect pattern match cannot be 100% guaranteed. Installation of patterned carpet will require more time, effort and skill and a competent carpet layer should be able to obtain a close pattern match in most circumstances though some irregularities may still be visible, particularly over multiple-width installations. Fading Carpets, like all other dyed textiles, will slowly lose colour over time when exposed to direct sunlight and should be protected from prolonged periods of direct sunlight. Colour change can also occur as the result of ozone, emissions from heating fuels and air conditioners, pesticides, cleaning agents, benzoyl peroxide and other household items. The occurrence, known as ozone damage, is largely unexplained but appears to be more prevalent in coastal areas with a high ultra-violet content.
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