Berber Carpets From Past to Present
Long lasting floor coverings with every manner of style are always sought after.
Traditional Berber carpets have been filling this role since prehistoric times when they were first invented by the Berber people of Northern Africa.
Today's modern berber carpets fill the same role in our society that they have been filling for thousands of years.
A traditional Berber carpet is handmade or homemade and usually comes from Morocco and other Northern African countries.
There are still families who make their living manufacturing and selling these carpets entirely on their own.
They will do this out of their home, and sell them to locals and tourists at local markets, as well as to art merchants.
They are usually very colourful and ornate in design.
They are very different from their mass produced counterparts that are commonly sold in the West as they are made from natural fibers and are very individual.
The common thread (yes that pun was intended) between traditional and modern Berber carpets is the particular kind of knot used when the rugs are being made.
Modern Berber carpets are sold in traditional carpet stores, unlike their more artistic traditional predecessors.
They are also made from synthetic materials more commonly.
These can include nylon, and olefin fiber.
Wool is still used, but olefin is used often as it is the most affordable material.
There are the options of other blends of material, of course, but these are the most common.
Today, Berber carpeting is found in offices, schools, stores, and any other area with high traffic.
This is due to its strength and resistance, while being more affordable than thicker plush carpets.
The thickness and pile of the carpet will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but for the most part they are always the longest lasting carpet you can buy.
This is due to their commonality with the traditional Berber carpets knot.
The disadvantage to them is that they can be difficult to clean if dirt becomes lodged in the fibers.
They may need to be dry cleaned, or get specialized cleaning procedures done to them.
Most professionals will recommend that olefin Berber carpets be dry cleaned, or cleaned in a low moisture setting.
Using a method like traditional steam cleaning can create large yellow or brown splotches.
These splotches are the result of pH burns caused by high alkaline detergents.
They can also be tannin bleeding from the sugars in natural fibers that occur during drying when they are too wet.
If this does happen to your carpet there are chemicals that can eliminate most yellowing and browning that has occurred, but they are commonly expensive and are best to avoid altogether.
As with most all carpets, they should be cleaned every 6 to 12 months in order to avoid permanent wear patterns.
All that you really have to do to enjoy one of these for as long as possible is to follow the recommended cleaning and care instructions.
This will ensure that your Berber carpets will last many years.
Traditional Berber carpets have been filling this role since prehistoric times when they were first invented by the Berber people of Northern Africa.
Today's modern berber carpets fill the same role in our society that they have been filling for thousands of years.
A traditional Berber carpet is handmade or homemade and usually comes from Morocco and other Northern African countries.
There are still families who make their living manufacturing and selling these carpets entirely on their own.
They will do this out of their home, and sell them to locals and tourists at local markets, as well as to art merchants.
They are usually very colourful and ornate in design.
They are very different from their mass produced counterparts that are commonly sold in the West as they are made from natural fibers and are very individual.
The common thread (yes that pun was intended) between traditional and modern Berber carpets is the particular kind of knot used when the rugs are being made.
Modern Berber carpets are sold in traditional carpet stores, unlike their more artistic traditional predecessors.
They are also made from synthetic materials more commonly.
These can include nylon, and olefin fiber.
Wool is still used, but olefin is used often as it is the most affordable material.
There are the options of other blends of material, of course, but these are the most common.
Today, Berber carpeting is found in offices, schools, stores, and any other area with high traffic.
This is due to its strength and resistance, while being more affordable than thicker plush carpets.
The thickness and pile of the carpet will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but for the most part they are always the longest lasting carpet you can buy.
This is due to their commonality with the traditional Berber carpets knot.
The disadvantage to them is that they can be difficult to clean if dirt becomes lodged in the fibers.
They may need to be dry cleaned, or get specialized cleaning procedures done to them.
Most professionals will recommend that olefin Berber carpets be dry cleaned, or cleaned in a low moisture setting.
Using a method like traditional steam cleaning can create large yellow or brown splotches.
These splotches are the result of pH burns caused by high alkaline detergents.
They can also be tannin bleeding from the sugars in natural fibers that occur during drying when they are too wet.
If this does happen to your carpet there are chemicals that can eliminate most yellowing and browning that has occurred, but they are commonly expensive and are best to avoid altogether.
As with most all carpets, they should be cleaned every 6 to 12 months in order to avoid permanent wear patterns.
All that you really have to do to enjoy one of these for as long as possible is to follow the recommended cleaning and care instructions.
This will ensure that your Berber carpets will last many years.
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