The SmartStrand Challenge & the Legacy of Ricko the Rhino
Everyday the carpet in your home must withstand the rigors of children, pets, spills, and constant foot traffic. To prove that SmartStrand is the choice for your household, Mohawk traveled to the Birmingham Zoo in 2009 to put this carpet up against one of largest animals on the planet—a 2,800 pound rhino named Ricko!
HGTV craftsman extraordinaire Chip Wade designed a special rhino-inspired bachelor pad for Ricko complete with 1,040 square feet of beige SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona renewably sourced polymer carpet. Additionally, four web cams equipped with night-vision capabilities were installed to allow visitors to see Ricko romp around at any time of the day or night during a two-week period. The entire online world and Birmingham Zoo visitors were able to watch the action unfold as Ricko quickly became enamored with the luxurious softness of his SmartStrand. Would a mess-maker of this magnitude provide more rough and tumble antics than SmartStrand carpet’s built-in stain resistance could handle?
In the end, not even the rambunctious Ricko and his daily mudbaths could challenge the durability and resiliency of the Triexta carpet fiber. Simple hot water extraction and regular maintenance removed Ricko's mud-caked tracks and bodily waste to reveal a carpet as sparkling as the day it was installed. The flooring industry may never be the same as Mohawk & DuPont truly created a unique experience, The SmartStrand Challenge.
Whether you are seeking exceptional durability, easy cleanability, or incredible softness, rhinos everywhere will attest that SmartStrand is a cut above any other carpet!