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Wool Rugs
Wool area rugs come in a variety of styles, not just cut loop. You can buy woven wool rugs, braided wool rugs, and hand-tufted wool rugs too. Though New Zealand wool rugs have a good reputation, you can find quality from other areas too. Wool rugs have a reputation for being easily stained, but cleaning wool rugs is easier than their reputation would let you understand.
Most of us think of wool for sweaters and hand knot mittens, but for high quality flooring, wool rugs and wool area rugs are great for your home and office. It's a durable and beautiful floor covering that enhances the charm of your home.
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As with any other wool, the material is shorn from lambs and goats and then processed into strands. Historically, these pieces were spun together by hand on a spinning wheel until there was a long enough piece to weave or knit with. Today, machines are taking over that job, but the essence is still the same.
Why you should buy wool rugs:
- long lasting durability, naturally elastic
- water-resistant, fire-resistant
- resists static and softens noise
- sustainable resource
Why you might not buy wool area rugs:
- more expensive than synthetic fibers
You already know that wool is versatile, ranging in uses from clothing to coats, so it can be safely said that wool rugs can stand up to most challenges. Wool area rugs have been known to last twenty to thirty years when they're woven by a machine, while hand tufted wool rugs can last up to sixty years. Not only do wool rugs last long, but also their appearance remains as new as when you first bought it, if you take proper care of it.
The inherent structure of wool creates a safe material. The scales and natural lanolin on the outside of the wool fibers creates a liquid-resistant surface. Even if you do spill something on wool rugs, it takes a some time before it sinks in and stains. Thus, cleaning your wool rug just takes a little blotting. For a deeper clean, you will need to vacuum the wool rugs weekly and be sure to remove any stains as soon as they occur.
Having wool area rugs is also in investment in your safety. The material does catch fire, but it doesn't support the flame. Instead, it will go out once wet or suffocated. You may notice that firefighters wear wool -- that's why.
Just like other natural materials, wool rugs create an atmosphere that does not support static buildup. And the thick texture and weave is perfect for noisy areas. You may notice that wool carpeting is used in concert halls and airports where noise levels can be overwhelming. Wool rugs help to dampen noise.
And also like other natural fibers, wool is able to be harvested and then re-grown on the animal. If we continue to take care of sheep and goats, then the supply will not become depleted. This is an ideal material for a sustainable environment. And the long life of braided wool rugs also guarantees you won't need to keep re-buying them.
While it's true that wool rugs and New Zealand wool rugs cost more than artificial floor coverings, when you look at the length of their life, you'll see that over time, a wool rug purchase brings you out ahead.
Another thing to note is that wool is a porous material and can trap stains if they are not treated quickly. The best advice is to gently and immediately blot at a stain with something absorbent and then follow the manufacturer's instructions for removing any resulting stain. The sooner you clean anything up, the better.
So wool isn't just for keeping you warm in the cold winter months; wool flooring and wool area rugs makes great covers for the floors of your home, and they will both last for a long time and help keep your home warmer as well.
Comments
I bought a round hand tufted wool rug. I received it in the mail rolled tightly. After unrolling it and laying it out, I noticed an area in the center that was popping up. I tried to smooth it out, but that didn't work. On one edge it was also coming up from being rolled, I put some heavy books on that edge, but it is still coming up off the ground. The center of the rug with this area creased so to speak is really bothering me. Is there any way to fix this? I will return the rug if it is a flaw, but I hope it can be fixed as I love the rug. Thanks for any help!
MariBeth at March 3, 2009 08:24 AM
Hi MariBeth, Gee, I hope it isn't a flaw...... Have you tried misting the crease with water and then laying something heavy on it? It's worked for me in the past with area rugs.
The Flooring Lady at March 5, 2009 11:54 AM
Hi,
We just moved into a new home with loads of windows. I was contemplating purchasing New Zealand wool rugs for my living room (east) and foyer (west). The rugs would cost about $5,000. After reading about all the difficulties with sun bleaching, would I be better off trying to find a synthetic rug? And, if so, what should I look for? Margaret
Anonymous at April 28, 2009 06:53 AM
I think you might still be able to find something natural so long as it is very colorfast. You can find more info on different types of rugs (natural and synthetic) by reading up at the carpet section of the site.
Good luck!
The Flooring Lady at April 28, 2009 11:29 PM
Hi there, I just bought a second hand wool rug that is about 15 years old. It is in pretty good shape and about 10 X 13. The only problem is that the center section (4 X 5 center part of rug) is wrinkled up in many areas. I think this was a dining room rug and I am using it as an area rug with two chairs, table and settee. The center is the part that will show. How can I get the bumps out of the rug without making it worse or ruining it? Thanks, Vicki
Vicki at June 4, 2009 08:54 PM
Hi Vicki, Not much you can do, but you can try to dampen it (use a spray bottle) and lay something heavy on it until it dries - like books???? Have some towels under them though. Having it professionally cleaned might take care of the wrinkles. It just depends on what caused this to happen to begin with. If it has had spills and then the rug got out of shape in the middle, the whole thing should be cleaned in hopes it can be gotten back into uniform shape.
The Flooring Lady at June 6, 2009 01:07 PM
Hi,
About two years ago, I purchase this rich chocolate jug rug, the color more than the jug was what sold me on the carpet. However the sun has taken a told on most of it, it is now orange on one side and the other is still that rich brown. Can I paint if so what type of paint do you recommend?
Haide at August 19, 2009 12:22 PM
Haide,
It is Jug rug our Jute?
The Flooring Lady at August 19, 2009 03:42 PM
We have an 8x11 wool area rug that had stains. We took the rug outside and washed it with water and carpet cleaner, and sprayed the cleaner off with a power hose. Out mistake was then to place it over chairs and deck railings to dry, where it ended up getting stretched out of shape - in the center, sides... bumps all over. Is there ANYTHING that can be done to fix it? Steam?
Thanks.
Babs at September 11, 2009 07:10 PM
Hi Babs!
Why not tackle this again and this time reshape the rug to your liking while drying out.
Roll up the rug in dry towels to remove remaining water. Lay the rug flat to dry this time!
The Flooring Lady at September 14, 2009 10:58 AM
