What is Sisal Carpet and Why Does it Require Specialist Cleaning?
Sisal carpets are crafted from natural fibres extracted from the leaves of the agave plant, making them a highly durable and sustainable flooring option. However, sisal carpets require specialist dry cleaning or very low moisture cleaning methods due to their sensitive nature. Exposure to moisture can easily result in permanent staining, and DIY cleaning attempts often cause more harm than good.
What is Sisal Carpet?
Sisal carpets are made from 100% natural fibres found in the agave plant, native to regions such as America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The leaves are crushed to extract the fibres, which are then spun into yarn and woven into carpets known for their strength and eco-friendliness.
Durability and Suitability
Sisal carpets are renowned for their durability, making them ideal for high-traffic areas like offices and hallways. Unlike other natural carpets such as wool, sisal’s tough fibres can withstand daily wear and tear.
Specialist Cleaning is Essential
Due to their absorbent nature, sisal carpets are highly susceptible to moisture damage. Any exposure to water can lead to permanent stains, and improper cleaning techniques often worsen the issue. It is essential to use specialist dry cleaning or very low moisture cleaning methods to maintain the appearance and longevity of sisal carpets.
For expert sisal carpet cleaning, trust professionals like Prestige Carpet Care, who understand the delicate nature of these carpets and use the correct techniques to avoid permanent damage.
Advantages
Sisal carpets have many advantages over other carpets in high footfall areas such as commercial retail or office spaces. The advantages of sisal carpets are that they are durable, eco-friendly and have a long lifespan of up to 15 years if properly maintained.
Advantages of a sisal carpet
- Durability: One of the key characteristics of sisal carpets are their ability to withstand heavy footfall.
- Natural Look: Sisal carpets look more natural than other carpets and fit into workplaces with office greenery and natural colour schemes.
- Eco-Friendly: Sisal is one of the few carpets made with 100% natural and renewable materials.
- Hypoallergenic: Sisal carpets are great for people who suffer from allergens, as the fibres stay bound to the carpet.
- Easy to Clean: Regular maintenance of the carpet with a hover and quick clean-ups of spillages will maintain the natural look of the carpet.
- Versatility: Sisal carpets are versatile, and their natural look can be applied to many different commercial and residential settings.
- Cost-effective: Sisal carpets are cheaper than the more traditional wool carpets and their long life span make them a great cost-effective carpet.
- Non-Slip: Sisal carpets have natural grip due to the roughness of the fibres in the spooled yarn, making it a safe carpet to use in a high traffic area.
Disadvantages
The natural fibres and characteristics of the sisal carpet provide many advantages. However, these same features can also be a disadvantage depending on the location and requirements of the carpet. The fibres in the sisal carpet and the way the wool is spun into yarn results in a rough feel. This rough feel may be less desirable, again, depending on the location and requirements of the carpet.
Here is a list of potential disadvantages of sisal carpets:
- Less Softness: Sisals natural fibres make it a rather hard feeling, rough carpet, as opposed to a soft wool carpet.
- Not Suitable for High-Moisture Areas: Sisal carpets, similar to other types of carpets, are not suitable for areas with high moisture or humidity. As Sisal is not moisture-resistant, if exposed to water or humidity and not dried properly, it can lead to discolouration, warping, and shrinking.
- Limited Colour and Pattern Options: Due to the natural properties and the way sisal is produced, there are only a limited amount of colours that can be applied to the carpet.
- Requires Regular Maintenance: Like most carpets, in order to ensure a quality look and a long lifespan, a regular deep clean is advised.
- Not as durable as synthetic carpets: Sisal is a durable carpet and possibly the most durable natural carpet available. However, if durability is a key factor in the requirements of a carpet, synthetic carpets like bolon have been shown to be more durable over time in high traffic areas.
- Cost: Sisal carpets on average cost more than synthetic carpets like bolon. This coupled with the fact they require regular maintenance might not make it the most cost-effective carpet solution for your workplace.
Where to Use Sisal Carpet in the workplace
Sisal carpets are hard wearing, durable carpets that are well suited to high traffic workplaces. This natural and renewable carpet ads an element of eco-friendly design to any office or indoor space. Some of the best places to use a sisal carpet in the workplace are:
- Reception areas
- Conference Rooms
- Private Offices
- Hallways
- Break rooms and common areas
Where ever you choose to use a sisal carpet in your workplace, a regular maintenance plan should be in place to take care of the carpet throughout its life.
How to Care for Sisal Carpet
Sisal carpets should be kept clean on a daily basis with light hoovering and quick spillage clean-ups by in house staff.
A professional carpet cleaning company should also be used for a deep clean on a regular schedule. This mix of in-house reactive and daily maintenance with deep cleaning by the professionals should ensure your sisal carpet looks great for the lifespan of the carpet.
Is a sisal carpet the right choice for your workplace?
Sisal carpets are one of the most eco-friendly and durable carpets that are available for any workplace. They are easily cleaned and can last a long time if properly maintained. Sisal carpets add a natural touch to any eco-friendly designed office space and are hard wearing enough to be used in high footfall areas.
The design of sisal carpets mean that they do not blend well into colour schemes that are outwith the natural colour pallet. The natural fibres of the sisal carpet are not moisture resistant and if left wet can distort and warp the carpet.
Sisal carpets need to have regular maintenance or else they are likely to fray and distort over time. Ensuring proper care and maintenance of a sisal carpet is vital to ensuring a long lifespan.
Ultimately, having a sisal carpet can be a great addition to the workplace, however, this is depending on the specific requirements of the workplace and which rooms and areas the carpet will be used in.
