Wool is most often associated with sweater, scarfs and mittens. However a wool area rug is a great addition to your home or office. They can warm up a hard floor like wood, tile, travertine tiles, concrete or other carpet. These rugs are durable and long lasting.
Wool comes from lambs and goats and is then processed into strands. In the old days wool were spun together by hand on a spinning wheel until there was a long enough piece to knit or weave with it.
Why you should buy wool rugs:
- They can last a long time
- very durable
- fire and water resistant
- warms up a cold or stale environment
- beautiful
- softens noises
Reasons not to buy a wool area rug
- More costly than synthetic fibers
- You may not like their look
- They are fire resistant. If you want to burn your home down and make it look like an accident these rugs won’t work.
Wool is a very versatile material. That is why you see it used in clothing, coats and rugs. If properly maintained and clean a wool area rug can last for decades. Rugs woven by a machine have been know to last 30 years while hand tufted wool area rugs can last fifty years or longer. When property maintained these rugs can look just as beautiful after 10 years compared to when they were originally made.
Wool fibers have natural lanolin which makes it resistant to liquids. If you spill orange juice or any other kind of liquid on a wool area it will be awhile before it gets absorbed because of the lanolin. If you catch a spill early all you have to do is blot it and there is a good chance of no staining. For regular maintenance it is best to vacuum it frequently. Prevention is the best way to keep these rugs in tip top shape.
Although, probably not a major concern but a wool area rug is also fire resistant. It might catch fire but the fire won’t spread. If you need a rug in front of a fire place then wool is your choice. Occasionally, a hot piece of wood or bark from the fireplace shoots out from the heat. If it lands on your wool are rug the rug wonlt go up in flames like a tinder box. If you notice firemen wear wool. That is because the wool won’t stay lit if the flame is suffocated.
You will often see wool rugs in rooms with loud acoustics. The natural fibers help dampen sound and are widely used in loud places. In a large living room with hard walls and say hardwood floors a wool rug will soften the noise and help prevent echoes.
There are many reasons to own wool area rugs. If you don’t own one yet and are considering a purchase I believe that you will be extremely pleased. Most people enjoy them for many years.
