Wool

If there is a rug material which can provide warmth, comfort, and style, it has to be wool. No wonder why it is a commonly used “ingredient” in rugs. It is counted among the strongest rug fibers and lasts a lifetime if properly cared for. Here we will walk through the important details about wool as a rug material as well as other interesting pieces of information. 

WOOL HAS BEEN IRREPLACEABLE RUG MATERIAL FOR 8000 YEARS!!!

Wool has been an important carpet material since the beginning of rug making among civilizations. It is said that it was started with the domestication of animals. The wool was obtained from the sheep. Legend has it that the court of Cyrus the Great, a founder of the Achaemenid Empire in the middle 6th century B.C., was bedecked with woolen carpets. Persians were credited to be the first community to make woolen carpets as they possessed herds of sheep. 

How Wool is obtained for a Rug

The wool used in a rug is generally obtained from sheep living in green pastures. These sheep are sheared only once a year as they completely grow their hair in 10 months. Wool is renewable and poses no threat to the natural circle of life, unlike synthetic fibers. Keratin is an organic protein found in wool which lets it fully dissolve into the earth. 

Benefits of Woolen Rugs

Aesthetic Appeal:

Woolen rugs are beautiful and enhance home décor. They add a touch of warmth and luxury to your home. 

Comfort:

Another striking benefit is that woolen rugs are high on comfort, whether you walk, stand or lie on the rug. 

Hygienic and Non-Allergic:

Wool is a natural material. It is hygienic and non-allergenic, making a great choice for asthma patients and people with sensitivities or allergies. 

Stain Resistance:

Wool fibers have a 30% higher rate of stain resistance than synthetic fibers. This is because of their natural light lanolin coating that prevents dirt and stains from going deeper. 

Rotate your rugs frequently to equalize the damaging effects of the sunlight. Continual direct exposure to sunlight will damage a rug over time, use window shades, shutters, or heavy curtains to safeguard your investment.

Protect your rugs from Fumes and Dampness from furnaces, stoves, chimneys and auto exhaust can mix with humidity in the atmosphere to form an acid that fades and deteriorates the appearance of wool. Over time, dampness will rot the threads and destroy the fibers of a rug. Keep them in a dry environment.

Wear and tear If a rug is cut or torn, have a competent person repair the damage as soon as possible. Holes can expand very quickly and ruin an otherwise repairable carpet. With ordinary use, the selvage edges tend to fray as they are not as compressed as the rug pile. Worn edges can easily be re-darned. Fringes can be replaced. Worn or damaged areas in the middle of a rug can be re-knotted. Even large holes can be restored.

Moths can cause extensive damage to Oriental rugs; however, a carpet in normal use is rarely in danger from moths. Frequent rotation and regular exposure to light and air usually keeps moths at bay. Eliminate these pests and safeguard against their return by spraying the front and back of a carpet every six months with moth spray.

Padding an Oriental rug the life can be doubled with the use of good-quality padding. Padding protects the rug, especially in heavily-trafficked areas. The best padding is made of hair or fiber with a rubberized surface to prevent moving and wrinkling. Avoid synthetic pad that takes on the appearance of rubber as it turns to an abrasive powder after several years.

Cleaning The beauty and life of Oriental rugs are vitally dependent on their cleanliness. Lack of maintenance will contribute to loss in the potential investment.

Sweeping the rug with a broom at least once a week removes loose soil and brings out it's natural sheen

Beating is one of the best methods for cleaning a rug. It should be beaten several times on each side, always in dry weather.

Vacuuming Try to use a low suction level and a new bag. Never vacuum against the nap, as this presses dirt back into the rug. (Run your hand across the pile from fringe to fringe to determine the direction of the nap.) Do not vacuum the fringes. The suction of a powerful vacuum cleaner can tear the fringe.

Washing Oriental rugs should be washed every three to five years, depending on their use and the amount of traffic they endure. Using steam-cleaning or chemicals on an Oriental rug removes the natural oils from the wool. The pile becomes brittle, and the carpet wears out sooner. Do not, unless absolutely necessary, submerge an Oriental rug in water. Surface cleaning is usually all that is required.

Crushed pile Revive carpet pile that has been crushed by heavy furniture by brushing the indented area with a soft brush. Moisten with a spray bottle, and brush again.

Storage If a rug must be stored, it must be inspected regularly. To store a rug, wrap it in fabric. An Oriental rug needs to breathe. It can rot or mildew in plastic. A rug can be rolled up and stored in a chest with some paradichlorobenzene crystals, which make the wool inedible to moths. DO NOT lay carpets flat on top of one another for any length of time. A rug stored in a damp or humid area will mildew, which discolors and weakens the fibers. A hot or poorly ventilated storage area will dry out the base of the rug, making it brittle, destroying strength and durability. If you act immediately, you can prevent virtually any spill from becoming a stain.