Choosing the right rugs for your home can be challenging sometimes. There is a huge range of material options to choose from. Polypropylene, nylon, acrylic, polyester, and wool are the most popular ones. Each has its own advantages depending upon the usage, style preference, and budget. Here we’ve got you covered with a quick guide to determining the pros and cons of woolen rugs. So, let’s get started;
Advantages of Woolen Rugs
- Durability
Made from short lengths of wool derived from sheep, woolen rugs are an excellent choice to opt for. If properly maintained, its resilience can be rated as excellent. Another notable feature of woolen rugs is their good resistance to heavy foot traffic. Unlike other fibers, these rugs will not lose their original shape when exposed to heavy foot traffic and/or heavy furniture.
- Color Retention
Woolen rugs will not lose their colors for years because of their molecular structure that accepts dye very well. This is the reason why woolen rugs come in an exclusive range of color patterns.
- Easy to Clean
The overlapping structure of wool fiber acts like roof shingles. It is one of the greatest benefits because it helps repel liquids and dirt by shielding the fiber’s inner part. As a result of this, spilled liquids will remain on the top surface rather than seeping through making it easier for you to clean.
- Environmentally Friendly
The insulating features of woolen rugs are just outstanding. They keep the room more comfortable during the winters by effectively reducing the heat loss. These rugs can moderate high humidity levels because of their capability of absorbing water vapors. So, we can say that woolen rugs are the best choice—both for summers and winters.
- Flammability
- Unlike other synthetic materials, wool possesses a higher ignition point. Therefore, it is more resistant to dropped cigarettes, matches, and other fire sources. For these reasons, woolen rugs are mostly used in outdoor facilities.
Disadvantages of Woolen Rugs
- Cost
The cost of every woolen rug varies, depending upon the source. However, the most desirable woolen type can cost you twice than polyester and nylon.
- Cleaning Issues
It’s very easy to remove water-based spills from the wool. However, it can be problematic with oily or greasy spills. Woolen rugs are more likely to permanently stain if the stain didn’t remove immediately.
- Water Absorbency
While absorbing water vapor is a good feature of wool, larger amounts of liquid water would result in the growth of mildew. So, sometimes, it can be beneficial but other times, it can be problematic.
- Wool is Insect Food
Some insects like beetle larvae and moths naturally feed on wool fibers and cause damage to your woolen rugs. Therefore, it’s necessary to permanently pre-treat the wool with Permethrin—a mild insecticide. You may feel uncomfortable with chemically treated rugs. Fortunately, WHO (World Health Organization) did research and report that rugs treated with chemicals will not negatively affect anyone.
Hence, wool is a classic rug material that synthetic materials only wish they could be. It will deliver all the benefits you’ve been previously looking for!
