There are a lot of drawbacks to this kind of carpet that the average consumer is not aware of and it is one of the carpets that retailers like to push the most, simply because they know that you will be back within the next couple of years wanting to purchase new carpet for your home.

Berber is not a type of fiber, it is a weave of carpet that is characterized by a series of loops. This is not the same as a cut pile carpet and it is much harder to take care of, depending on what material it is made of.

It can be purchased in a few different materials, but the only ones that you ever want to purchase are wool or nylon. Whenever you purchase Berber carpet, these are the only two materials that you want it to be made of for a few different reasons.

Berber carpet made of any other material has a high flashpoint and even dragging heavy furniture across it can cause it to burn. Warm or hot items like heaters should not be put into contact with it for this reason. Due to its natural moisture content, wool carpet has a higher flashpoint and thus, will not set on fire as easily as some other fibers.

The loops cause problems when it comes to cleaning the carpet and keeping it clean over time. Vacuuming or shampooing Berber carpet effectively is not easy and even professionals will have a difficult time with this. Wool Berber is easier to clean, but is expensive.

Unfortunately, a problem with all Berber carpet is that the loops tend to get snagged on things with sharp edges that are drawn across it. Once Berber becomes snagged, crushed, or matted, it cannot be fixed. This carpet does not have very much memory and it will be nearly impossible to put it back the way it was.

If you want the true feel and look of Berber carpet, you need to purchase wool, if you can afford it. Nylon is a bit less expensive and almost as good, but wool is the best that you can buy. Never purchase anything but carpet made of 100% nylon or wool.