TRACKING
In the early life of the carpet, tracking is very often evident when certain areas have been subjected to traffic while others have not. This feature tends to disappear with normal use and regular vacuum cleaning.

SHADING
Shading, i.e. where some areas can appear lighter or darker in colour to the rest of the carpet, can sometimes occur in normal use.  This effect is caused by light reflected from the carpet. The cut surface of yarn reflects less light than the sides of the yarn and, in use, some areas of carpet may assume a greater or a random pile slant to the rest of the carpet, caused by a possible permanent alteration to the pile lie. A specific type of traffic flow may also contribute to this feature. This phenomenon sometimes can create a 'wet patch' appearance and is common to all pile fabrics - including upholstery fabrics - and its occasional manifestation is a feature which is never regarded nor accepted as a manufacturing fault. Carpets with a cut pile finish tend to become slightly lighter in colour during use, again due to the effect of light and the normal effect of traffic.

FADING
Carpets, in common with other textile materials, cannot be dyed absolutely fast to light. The greatest care is taken to ensure that only dye stuffs of the highest dye fast standards possible are used so that in normal use, carpets should not fade to a very marked degree unless, of course, they are subjected to direct sunlight or very strong light for a prolonged period.  
The judicious use of blinds or some other form of protection is recommended during periods of strong sunlight, especially in rooms with a southerly aspect.  Colour alteration due to wear and tear, and sometimes due to surface soiling, is often incorrectly attributed to fading.

As already mentioned under the heading Shading, the carpet pile appears considerably lighter when viewed on the side as opposed to the cut surface and any distortion of the pile yarn at the tips of the tufts can produce an obvious apparent reduction in colour.  This, coupled with light top soiling which tends to obscure the colour, can give the appearance of fading.  Not being a manufacturing problem and is beyond the control of any carpet manufacturer, this cannot be considered a genuine cause for complaint.

SPROUTING IN CUT PILE CARPETS
Sometimes referred to as shooting, a single tuft may appear protruding from the pile surface. Using a sharp scissors, this strand should be trimmed to the level of the surrounding pile. Never pull or twist the strand in an effort to break the tuft, such action could damage the carpet.  DESIGN "HIGH POINT"

An optical illusion observed in some patterned carpets when certain elements of the design, viewed over a large area, creates the appearance of lines or "patches" which may appear in a straight, diagonal or other symmetrical sequence. This is not a manufacturing or design fault and once furniture is positioned in the area concerned, the feature generally is no longer observed.

BERBER CARPETS
Called after the Berber tribes of North Africa, "Berber" yarns are usually of a natural type and flecked in appearance. Because of the irregularities and random effect of the "flecking", the illusion of lines or tracking may sometimes be apparent in areas or all over the carpet. This is a feature of carpet design common to all Berber type products and is not a manufacturing fault

LOOP PILE/UNCUT PILE PRODUCTS
Sharp objects, metal heel tips, furniture without castors or with damaged castors may cause damage should snagging of the carpet pile occur. Loop pile carpets, particularly of the Berber type, should be vacuumed only with the cylinder type of cleaner or a vacuum cleaner using the "suction only" type of dirt extraction method. Rotary brush types can, with time, cause surface fibres to form a web over the top of the pile.

FLUFFING OR SHEDDING
This is normal in the early life of the carpet and one should not be alarmed when this occurs. It is caused by tiny fragments of loose yarn fibres, which do not reach the backing of the carpet, working up to the surface of the carpet. This feature disappears in time.