« Alpaca Rugs | Main | Coir Doormats to Coir Rugs »
Sisal Rugs
Sisal rugs and carpets are a sustainable option for the home and office. The sisal floor covering market is not big, but looking for your sisal area rug, matting or flooring is worthwhile if you want something different, biodegradable, and durable.
If you have no idea what sisal rugs and sisal carpet are, then you're not alone. But interior designers are in on the secret of sisal, and so should you. A sisal floor covering is environmentally friendly because of its sustainable growth habits, and because it doesn't off gas, it can't pollute your home or office environment.
>
Sisal is a plant that is grown in semi-arid regions of the globe. The most common locations to grow sisal are Brazil and Africa, due to adequate environment conditions. Sisal is a natural fiber that is derived from the agave sisalana cactus plant. The fibers, up to three feet long, can be harvested by hand from the plant, and are considered to be much stronger than jute or coir. This strength allows it to be a great material for carpeting and rugs. So what pros do you find with sisal carpets? The pros of using sisal:
- durable
- anti-static
- non-toxic
- colorfast
- easy to clean
- biodegradable
And the cons of sisal carpeting are:
- can not be used outdoors
- is not comfortable for sitting on
When choosing natural fibers, you are choosing to provide a healthier environment for youself and your family. Sisal rugs and carpets allow those prone to allergies a lessened chance of sneezing and other reactions. And since they are not produced with carcinogenic chemicals and materials, you don't have to worry about exposing your family and friends.
Because of the natural fibers, a sisal floor covering will provide natural humidity in the area that it is used. Static to build up is uncommon with sisal, or other natural fibers. In an office setting with computers, this can be a terrific addition.
Since there aren't any artificial colors used in sisal floor coverings, you don't need to worry about the overall appearance fading. Any sunlight will only help to subtly change the color. Items sitting on sisal area rugs and carpets won't stain.
Caring for sisal flooring is quite simple as well. Although you should not introduce any moisture to the floor, you can vacuum it regularly. Steaming the sisal is not recommended. If you should have a spill, cleaning sisal rugs with a small bit of club soda should do the trick. Follow that up with a nice shot of hot air from a blowdryer or fan to dry the area.
Again, the introduction of moisture is not good for sisal rugs, so outdoor use is not recommended. Moisture can build up in the rug and damage the overall integrity, as well as lead to mold.
The natural fibers may not be the most comfortable surface for sitting, but your feet will love the instant massage as you walk over the surface. If you still want to use sisal, then sisal area rugs might be an option, having your guests in chairs instead of directly on the floor.
Sisal flooring is becoming a design element, as well as a sensible choice for a sustainable environment. Many retailers will send you a sample of the material so that you can be sure that it meets your needs, but with all that has been described, you're sure to look into sisal rugs and carpeting.
Comments
This topic has been covered before. Please read through the thread.
The Flooring Lady at November 29, 2008 12:14 PM
Hi, I read all 19 comments and couldnt find anything on how to clean mold from the carpet. I read comments on how the mold could have started and can be prevented. Should I follow advice on how to clean sisal in general (misting with cleaning agents and dabbing)? I also read alot about drying with a hair dryer. Is there a possibility the mold would spread or is it safe to assume that once cleaned it will be ok?
Anonymous at November 30, 2008 09:04 PM
The mold shouldn't spread so long as the carpet is kept dry and what mold is there is destroyed. Follow general cleaning advice. Sisal carpeting is relatively new, and there isn't much info widely available yet on cleaning it. It might also help to call the manufacturer to see what they recommend.
The Flooring Lady at December 1, 2008 08:00 AM
How can I clean up vomit from my sisal rug?
Laurie at January 2, 2009 05:07 PM
Hi Gilly, If you look over the posts, you'll find some good ideas. Don't forget to use the search engine in the upper right hand corner of the page.
You need to clean up as much of the vomit as you can without rubbing it into the carpet fiber (use a spoon, butter knife, whatever). Afterwards you could try a product like StainSolver -- it would be better than OxyClean because it's got more bleaching action. Be sure to test it first - I don't think it'll bleach the carpet fibers. It's not recommended to saturate the carpet, so try misting it with water and dab it on, blot dry, repeat, repeat, repeat. If it doesn't seem to have stained the carpet, I would only use water. Only saturate if you must and pray for the best.......... Good luck!
The Flooring Lady at January 4, 2009 01:54 PM
I have 2 cats. Do you think sisal is strong enough to withstand cat scratching? I would like to get sisal for my sun porch, but I don't want it destroyed by my cats. What kind of padding is recommended for sisal? I am thinking of wall-to-wall.
Liz at January 19, 2009 11:40 AM
With sisal, you must not place it anywhere where it gets wet. So..... so long as your sun porch stays dry it should be ok. I would recommend some sort of padding that will let the sisal carpet breathe, as moisture (even in the form of very high humidity) isn't good for the carpet. It should withstand cat scratching to a point - I don't know how vigorous would cat would scratch at the carpet.
The Flooring Lady at January 24, 2009 10:53 AM
I have a very large sisal rug. We moved two weeks ago and it got left outside all rolled up. This wouldn't have been such a problem if it weren't for the fact that it keeps raining and it hasn't been able to dry properly... Now the rug is completely soaked. I unrolled it and let the rain fall on it today. There is mold all over it.
Do you recommend blotting the entire thing with the cleaning treatment? I have read the thread but I haven't seen anyone else that has such a HUGE problem. Or do you think the solution to this problem is throwing it away? I appreciate any advice! Thank you.
Katie at September 14, 2009 05:12 PM
Katie,
Mold is never something to ignore or wait to clean. I would call a professional cleaning company as soon as possible and inquire as to the best course of action to get the rug clean and ready for use again.
The Flooring Lady at September 15, 2009 09:04 PM
Will my new sisal rug finally lay flat? I've had it for two weeks and the roll lines are still there. Would a pad under the rug help? The sisal rug is on a wood floor. Thank you.
Sally at November 17, 2009 06:27 AM
