The Double Rub: An Abrasion Testing

Have you ever heard our flooring team mention the term “double rub” and wondered what that meant? Double Rub refers to how durable a carpet is when it goes through intensive abrasion testing, also known as the Martindale test.

The Martindale Test

The Martindale test is a method for assessing the durability of fabrics, including carpets, by measuring their resistance to abrasion. A small strip of carpet is placed onto the based of an abrasion test. The machine then creates rubbing and friction back and forth, known as double rubs, against the material. The double rub count, which ranges anywhere between 3,000 to 30,000, is tracked until any sign of wear and tear I shown on the carpet.

Abrasion resistance: The Martindale test measures how well a fabric resists abrasion, meaning the surface wear caused by repeated friction during use.

Standardized rubbing motion: The fabric is subjected to a consistent rubbing motion, often using sandpaper or a wire mesh, until visible damage appears.

Martindale score: The number of rubs the fabric withstands before showing wear is recorded as the Martindale score, with higher scores indicating greater durability.

SCORE RANGES:

• Low scores (e.g., 10,000 or less): May be suitable for decorative items or light domestic use.
• Mid-range scores (e.g., 15,000-25,000): Generally considered suitable for general domestic upholstery.
• High scores (e.g., 30,000 or more): May be suitable for commercial settings or heavy-duty use.
  
  
  

Double Rub count is just one element to consider when choosing carpet for your home, and our team is well informed about which choice of flooring would be best for your specific needs. So don’t worry if you aren’t familiar with carpet terminology or lingo, we do the heavy research so that you don’t have to!