Wool Rug Care & Maintenance
Wool rugs are arguably the most durable types of rugs because wool fibers are strong, and tend to repel stains and water. They also hold up well in high-traffic areas— whether it’s a wall-to-wall rug in your living room, or a long, welcoming runner rug in your hallways. If you want to keep dirt at bay in high traffic areas, implement a “shoes off” policy in your home to keep outside dirt from being tracked in. Wherever you place your rug, make sure you use a rug pad underneath. Rug pads help buffer rugs from wear and tear, provide traction so your rug doesn’t slide out of place, and offer extra insulation.
PLACEMENT:
VACUUMING:
When it comes to vacuuming your wool rug, easy does it. Use a vacuum with no beater bar to gently clean your wool rug 2-4 times a month. While beater bars are great for lifting dirt out of synthetic fibers, they’re very harsh on wool, which sheds easily.
PILE FLATTENING:
Some rug piles may flatten in heavy ware areas such as in front of sofas, alongside beds or underneath dining tables. Synthetic rugs are more prone to this. To prevent and help this please use a vacuum cleaner with a rotating bristle bar weekly to keep the pile standing upright.
SHEDDING:
If you’ve invested in a beautiful new wool rug only to be faced with tumbleweeds of shedding wool fibers, do not be dismayed! Shedding for wool rugs is very normal, and does not indicate a poorly-made or low-quality rug. Your wool rug will shed the most when it is brand new, and then shed less and less after a few months of being in your home. Remember: over-vacuuming will only increase rug shedding and damage the wool fibers.