Resistance to Dirt and Soiling
Wool is a completely natural fibre containing natural oils. These oils are resistant to dirt and will repel other oil-based soiling. Plus, as wool is an opaque fibre, dirt will be harder to see so your carpet will naturally appear clean.
Strong and Durable
Wool is the most durable carpeting option. Although it is more expensive than synthetic fiber/nylon carpets, the value that it adds to your home – plus the fact that it will outlast any nylon carpet – actually makes it a very good option for your budget!
You can expect a wool carpet to last for 20–25 years. They are one of the hardest-wearing types of carpet available.
Wool carpets, on the other hand, are well-known for their long-lasting good appearance, based on their excellent “bouncebackability”, great response to cleaning – both dry and wet – and resistance to soiling and therefore retention of colour.
Q: How can you tell good quality carpet? A: one of the main signs to look for when identifying a high-quality carpet is its density. Carpets made from premium grade materials tend to be a lot denser than those made from low-quality textiles.
The biggest downside of buying a wool rug is that they are a big investment. In addition, if you are putting one in a nursery, or someplace where you plan to spend a lot of floor time they can feel itchy (just like a wool sweater) if you are laying on them.
Wool carpets are natural and can be severely damaged by excess water seeping into the carpet. Many types of synthetic carpets however, may not be subject to permanent staining by water.
It may be more dramatic when you first purchase the rug, but it should stop or decline after a few months. During this time, wool rugs will settle down, and you should eventually notice that rugs shed less and less.
Dust mites cannot live on wool carpets. They eat flakes of human skin. Wool carpets generally contain very low levels of permethrin, a naturally occurring substance that kills very small insects. Installing a wool carpet is a very good thing to do if there are asthma sufferers in your home.
Resilient: Wool carpets are very resilient to a high volume footprint, and will take a lot longer to sink, flatten and wear down, making them perfect for high traffic areas of the home.
Water Absorbency
While wool's natural tendency to absorb water vapor out of the air is a plus in moderating indoor humidity, larger amounts of actual liquid water may saturate and waterlog the fibers. As wool tends to retain liquid, this can result in mildew.
The main advantage of wool carpets is their longevity and excellent appearance retention compared to synthetics. Their timeless appearance is enhanced by their durability. The natural fibres (a big plus for environmentally conscious buyers!) make wool a very strong and durable floor covering.
Carpet materials – Some carpet materials dry out pretty quickly while others can take a little bit longer. For example, wool carpets are very absorbent and will require more drying time than nylon or polyester. Carpets made out of 100% wool can take up to 24 hours to dry and even longer if the weather is cooler.
Techniques for Removing Old Stains From Carpet
One of the simplest and most effective ways to remove old stains from your carpet is by using a combination of baking soda and vinegar.
Cellulosic browning may cause the brown discoloration of a carpet or rug after cleaning. Cellulose carpet fibers in jute carpet are susceptible to discoloration when exposed to moisture, come cleaning chemicals, and slow drying.
Wool is one of the best carpets for allergy, asthma and eczema sufferers because it has natural hypoallergenic properties, and absorbs common airborne contaminants, like cooking fumes, deodorants, cleaning chemicals and smoke, which helps improve the air quality.
Snip and Burn
Take them outdoors and clamp them with a pair of tweezers. Light the fibers with a lighter. If they melt and smell like burning plastic, you have a synthetic rug. If they crumble and smell like burning hair, you have a wool rug.
Both wool and cotton will fade in sunlight, but these rugs can also become brittle due to repeated sunlight exposure. The best thing to do no matter the material of your rug is to prevent heavy sun exposure. No matter what material your rug is made from, it will fade with time when placed in the sunlight.
Nylon is the most durable and stain resistant carpet fiber available, when treated with stain protection. It is the fiber of choice for homes with pets and children and for those who entertain a lot. Because of it's durability, nylon carpet is perfect for heavy foot traffic areas like hallways and stairs.
"A higher face weight means more yarn," says Grable, "And more yarn makes for a longer-lasting product." As an example, within one product line the "good-level" carpet has a face weight of 40 oz.; the "best-level" weighs in at 63 oz.
Twisted pile carpet is the most popular style of carpet and comes in a large variety of colors. The yarn has been tightly twisted and the loops are cut to become this style of carpeting.