This week, I’ve been in class learning all about SmartStrand® by Mohawk®. Partnering with DuPont™, Mohawk® began making carpets with this fiber in 2004. It has since become the number one selling carpet in all of Carpet One, our parent company. There are plenty of good reasons why.
Customer’s surveyed after installation gave rave reviews on: comfort, durability, easy maintenance and spill, stain and crushing protection.
From the field to the floor
SmartStrand® is also much kinder to the environment than most carpets. Sugar produced from corn is processed to become a key ingredient in SmartStrand®. We learned that every seven yards of Smart Strand® carpet used in a home saves enough energy and resources to equal a gallon of gasoline. That’s 10 million gallons a year!
Why now?
You’re thinking, “It’s been around for 6 years. Why all the fuss now?” Fair question. First off, we have now had time to see that it’s tried and true. They said it would resist stains, soiling and crushing. We’ve seen it in action. It does.
The bigger news is that the Federal Trade Commission recently determined that the Dupont™ fiber used in Mohawk SmartStrand® carpets, previously classified as polyester, now merits its own subclass. It’s superior to nylon. Wow! The fiber got a new name, “Triexta” which DuPont™ markets under the trademark Sorona®.
The FTC based its decision on testing of residential carpets, which demonstrated that triexta significantly outperforms carpets made from polyester in resilience and durability.
The 3 main things that set the SmartStrand® carpets apart.
- Instead of being a coating, the stain protection is built into the fiber. It doesn’t wash or wear off.
- The molecular structure of the fiber is much like a spring. It bounces back, reducing crushing.
- This is one of the few carpets that has a pet stain warranty. That’s a rarity in this industry!
And the cost?
Well, it’s just like your mama said, you get what you pay for. SmartStrand® is a premium fiber and the price tag reflects just that. Weigh the added cost with longevity when deciding if this carpet is right for you. I can say we just installed SmartStrand® carpet in my parent’s home and they absolutely love it!
Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 17 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.
