For many homeowners, carpet just feels like home.  Even though hardwood floors are becoming a popular trend in homes today, carpet is still used by many to create that "home sweet home" feeling.  Homeowners with children are especially drawn to carpet because of its soft touch and safety.  So when you choose a carpet, how soft should you go?

Who wouldn't want a carpet that's cushiony, smooth, and feels like a cloud on your bare feet?  You may be drawn to the softest carpet you see first, but you may want to think about what it means to have an extra soft carpet. You may face some challenges when it comes to cleaning the plush surface.

Lots of soft, little clean

Extra soft carpets have fibers that are thicker and denser than standard carpets, which are why they feel so great.  In order to properly clean the carpet, you need to limit the amount of suction and raise the height of the powerhead – no easy feat.  Without doing this, the vacuum can latch onto the fibers and remain on them too long.  This can cause your vacuum to burn out and can also ruin your brand new carpet in the process.  So, what happens when your carpet is not cleaned properly?

Unfortunately, dust, debris, pet dander, and other allergens can settle at the base of carpet fibers.  So, if carpets cannot be cleaned properly, they can remain dirty, odorous, and can even affect the health of the family members in your home.  This can get especially messy with kids and pets in the mix.  Of course, this may only be an issue for extremely soft, plush, carpets. Many carpets that homeowners can choose from are easily cleaned with one swipe of the vacuum.

Generally, cut pile carpets are the softest carpets available.  Saxony is a popular cut pile carpet choice if you're looking for a more plush carpet.  You can easily tell a plush carpet from other styles of carpet, as it will easily show footprints and vacuum marks.  If that sounds too soft for you, a textured cut pile carpet may be a better option.  Textured, cut pile carpets aren't as dense as Saxony styles but still have a soft feel to them and a casual look.

If you have an extra soft carpet that you can't seem to keep up with, it may be time to look into different styles.  There are many options for carpets that are still soft to the touch but not too soft and a nightmare to clean.  You never know, a carpet could help make your house a home!