Shedding is a very common problem associated with wool rugs. Let’s take a look at some ways by which this unwanted shedding can be minimized.
A beautiful rug is a great addition to your home. It imparts color and warmth to a room and gives a cozy feel to the decor. Rugs are made up of different kinds of fibers, which can be of synthetic or natural origin.
Synthetic fibers include polypropylene and nylon fibers, while natural ones are mostly made up of wool. People having wool rugs often complain of shedding of wool fibers from the rug. Rugs made up of natural fibers like wool have a higher tendency of shedding as compared to the ones made up of synthetic fibers.
The degree of shedding also depends on the quality of fibers used. Good quality fibers have less chances of shedding as compared to poor quality fibers. Another reason governing shedding is the method of rug construction. Handmade rugs shed less than machine-made rugs because when rugs are handmade, each pile of fiber is carefully secured and knotted, which may not be the case in machine-made wool rugs. Whatever be the reason of shedding, it surely causes frustration to homeowners who eagerly look for ways to tackle this problem. Given below are a few tips to stop shedding of a wool rug.
♦ Frequent Dusting
A wool rug is bound to shed when it is new. A reasonable quality rug is expected to shed for almost six months, after which the shedding of fibers is reduced. To keep your rug from shedding fibers that stick to the upholstery of your room and give it a bad appearance, it is necessary to dust the wool rug once everyday. If time permits, you can also dust it as frequently as possible. To dust the wool rug, take it outside the house and give it a vigorous shake to shed loose wool fibers. Removing loose fibers and placing the rug in a low traffic area will protect it from excess shedding.
♦ Rug Placement
When a new wool rug is brought home, make sure you don’t place it in an area where movement is high like at the door or in the living room, where kids spend most of their time playing. Excessive movement over the rug will result in increased shedding of wool fibers. Therefore, one must place the rug in such a place where friction is minimum, so that the fibers do not shed as much as they would. One such area where there is less friction is below the dining table. Placing your wool rug there will definitely reduce shedding of fibers.
♦ Regular Vacuuming
Vacuuming helps in controlling shedding of fibers and preventing them from spreading all over the place. For a new rug, vacuuming once a day is recommended which can be continued till shedding is significantly reduced. Later on, vacuuming can be done once or twice in a week till the time the problem has completely stopped. It takes around six months for shedding to stop completely. If it still continues, there is probably an issue with rug quality. In such cases, contacting the rug manufacturer and complaining about the problem can fetch replacement if the warranty period is still on.
♦ Keeping Pets Away
Pets like cats and dogs love to knead wool rugs, and if you have placed your rug in such an area where they can approach it easily, it will surely have a lot of shedding. To stop this nuisance, it is better to keep your pet away from the rug or place the rug out of the reach of your pets.
♦ Avoiding Dirt Accumulation
If you have placed your rug at the door, it is advised that your footwear should be thoroughly clean before you step on the rug. Placing dirty footwear on the rug will lead to dirt accumulation, which will not only make the rug dirty, but the dirt will also act like sandpaper and the friction produced due to walking will loosen the fibers and cause shedding.
♦ Sticking to the Purpose
Not all rugs are meant to be placed on the floor. Expensive hand-woven rugs made of natural fibers are also used as wall hangings. So, know the purpose before buying a rug and invest accordingly. Using a rug in a way that does not suit its purpose will lead to unnecessary shedding of fibers. Therefore, use your wool rug wisely.
Rug pads are also available in the market which can be used to reduce shedding of rug fibers. Cleaning wool rugs carefully, without using harsh methods can also lessen the degree of shedding. This problem is something you cannot avoid. By using the tips mentioned above, one can definitely minimize it and make a clever move of choosing a wool rug that matches the color of your furniture upholstery so as to conceal rug fibers that stick to the furniture.