Identifying Carpet Shedding and Fuzzing
Is the Cut Pile Carpet Fuzzing of Shedding?
- Rub your hand across the carpet in a brisk tempo to check for loose or attached fuzz. If fuzz develops do not jump to any conclusion as yet.
- Is the fuzz short and releasing or minimally attached? This type of fuzz is not unusual on cut pile constructions with spun yarn systems. Staple yarn filaments, which are cut during the tufting process and not bound at the backing by latex, are free to be pulled to the surface by traffic and abrasion. This type of surface fuzzing is known as shedding and it diminishes and becomes less noticeable with time. Shedding is a characteristic and not a defect.
- Check for long fiber that is not releasing. Grasp fibers between the thumb and forefinger and pull upward on them. If this results in a lot of long strands that are not releasing this is called fuzzing or bearding and may indicate inadequate latex saturation on the yarn bundle. If the latex penetration into and around the yarn bundled is inadequate the fuzzing is a manufacturer-related condition. Fuzzing and bearding can also result from improver vacuuming and maintenance.
Testing of an unused piece of carpet or an on site evaluation will usually be required to determine the cause and responsibility.
- Consumer: Embedded dirt and grit is cutting fibers but leaving them still bound at one end.
- Manufacturer: Poor latex penetration and or encapsulation.
- Fiber: Poor yarn spinning, twisting or heatsetting. Need sample for testing.
