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Carpets, Rugs and Mats
Functions and features of each material
Carpets are decorative and they enhance the livability of homes, feel pleasant underfoot, control noise and preserve warmth. The material of a carpet and the way its pile is processed greatly affect these functions. Explanations of typical materials and two piles follow.
Carpet materials
Wool
Not only is wool warm in winter and cool in summer, a combination only possible for a natural fiber, but its soft texture ensures its popularity. It absorbs substances such as formaldehyde, which is reportedly a cause of “sick-house syndrome.” It helps to reduce room humidity. But it absorbs dirt, so we recommend that you choose a wool carpet with a stain-resistant finish.
Nylon
Nylon carpets are more reasonably priced than wool carpets and are more colorful. Nylon accumulates less static electricity than wool. It’s also more hygienic, because it resists absorption of dust. Its other strong points are its resistance to mold, insect pests and oily substances. A nylon carpet also resists wear, making it a valuable floor covering in corridors and other places where durability is needed.
Acrylic
Texture of acrylic fabric - fluffy softness, elasticity, and highly hygroscopic - resembles that of wool. It is also chemical resistant and is free from mold and insect pests. Its colors are vivid and fast. Its disadvantages are susceptibility to flame and heat, and to napping. It’s also slightly less durable than other materials.
Polyester
It resists wear and wrinkling. The most heat-resistant of the artificial fibers, it is unaffected by sunlight and chemicals and is free from mold and insect pests. It doesn’t take dye or absorb moisture as well as acrylic and nylon, and it tends to accumulate more static electricity.
Polypropylene
This material is so light it floats, but it’s strong. It’s highly resistant to acid and alkali liquid, and immune to attack by mold and insects. But its moisture absorbency and resilience are poor, and it’s susceptible to heat. It also feels hard on your skin.
Piles
Cut Pile
The tips of the loops are cut to equal length, making them soft and fluffy to the touch. Neither as resilient nor as durable as loop pile, it is suitable for carpets in bedrooms and other places where it isn’t subjected to frequent walking.
Loop Pile
This pile consists of loops similar to the surface of towels, the source of its smooth texture. It is resilient and easily recovers its original feel, so we recommend this material for corridors, stairways, living rooms, and so on.
Basic carpet sizes and room floor areas
Carpet generally refers to a floor cover that covers the entire floor of a room, but in Japan, room sizes vary from region to region according to local traditions. Nitori carpets are made with the Edo-ma (Tokyo region) sizes as the standard.
| Kyo-ma (Kyoto size) |
Chukyo (Nagoya size) |
Edo-ma (Tokyo size) |
Danchi-ma (invented for Govt. subsidized Apartments) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mat (cm) | 95.5×191 | 91×182 | 88×176 | 85×170 |
| 6 mats (cm) | 286.5×382 | 273×364 | 264×352 | 255×340 |
| 3 mats | 4.5 mats | 6 mats | 8 mats | 10 mats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitori carpet sizes | 176×261 | 261×261 | 261×352 | 352×352 | 352×440 |
Basic rug sizes and room floor areas
Rugs are not installed to cover the entire floor area. They’re laid in parts of rooms: under the living room sofa and chair set, under dining room tables, and beside beds. Sometimes they’re laid directly over the flooring and in other cases, over the carpet. The following table shows relationships between typical rug sizes and room floor areas when a rug is laid in almost the exact center of a room.
| Room size | 4.5 mats (264×264) |
6 mats (264×352) |
8 mats (352×352) |
10 mats (352×440) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The rugs as it fits in the room |  |
 |
 |
 |
Features of carpets and rugs
Below we explain the main features that a carpet or rug provides to improve the quality of daily life.
Antimicrobial deodorization
This feature controls unpleasant odors, such as the smell of cigarettes and urine, which are part of daily life. Carpets and rugs also protect homeowners from the odors of gasses such as formaldehyde, which is a cause of sick-house syndrome, by completely absorbing these gasses throughout the house and transforming them into harmless, odorless substances. They also inevitably encourage the accumulation of dust and waste material on room floors and tend to become breeding grounds for mold. But normal care and cleaning can easily maintain comfortable conditions.
Mite control
When large quantities of food crumbs, human hair and other organic materials become lodged in the pile of a carpets, rug or mat, it is sure to encourage the propagation of mites. Processing a carpet to prevent mite infestation is done by applying a mite repellent. This ensures a clean environment by repelling more than 70% of mites, protecting the health of children and pets.
Stain resistance
The surfaces of fibers are coated with fluorine resins to prevent the adhesion of dirt. Carpets that resist staining are made by processing their fibers so that they repel water and oil just like a Teflon frying pan.
Sound-proofing
Sound-proof flooring is now popular, increasing the noise heard on the floor underneath yours and resulting in disputes over noise. Carpets provide cushioning that absorbs and reduces the impact noises of a dropped spoon or other small object. Flooring or carpets with good sound-proofing properties not only prevent noise. Their cushioning also protects people’s feet, ensuring more pleasant home life.
Carpet and rug care
Dampness doesn’t build up
Make your carpets last longer by keeping your entire home well-ventilated. On sunny days, open your windows to let in as much fresh air as possible. Another good trick is to turn your rugs over or lift them up by putting a chair under them to expose their underside to the air. When a carpet or rug is dry, its dust is more easily removed, and even cleaning it with a vacuum cleaner causes little damage. Of course, drying it keeps down any mites.
Vacuuming against the nap
Some people try to remove stubborn dust by pressing down on it from above or by pounding the carpet with the vacuum cleaner. Not only are these methods ineffective, they can damage the carpet. You can remove dust from the pile without difficulty by moving the vacuum cleaner head against the nap while gently lifting the strands of the pile.
If a liquid has spilled, dab the carpet to absorb it
The liquid will become increasingly hard to remove as time passes, so it’s important to promptly remove it. But rubbing it will spread the stain. The best way to remove it is dabbing it directly from above with tissue paper or a dry towel. Moist stains are easily removed by also applying a little water. To easily remove oily stains, add benzene or nail-polish remover to the tissue or towel.
You can clean washable carpets in your home washing machine.
You can clean a washable carpet in your home washing machine. Before doing this, remove dust and other dirt by using a vacuum cleaner or by shaking it out on your veranda, then fold the carpet 1/3 or 1/4 of its length, place it inside the washing machine along the sides of the drum, add plenty of cold or lukewarm water, and wash it gently by setting the washer to “delicate.” After several rinse cycles, spin-dry it after adjusting it to prevent uneven removal of the water. After spin-drying, spread it out on two drying poles and dry it with its surface well exposed to the sunlight.
