Your new wool rug has just been delivered, and you’re really excited. It fits your home as it’s the perfect color, design, and size; however, there’s one minor snag. Your wool rug has started shedding.
There are many advantages to buying a wool rug, yet they suffer from this shedding problem right at the start. Unfortunately, a wool rug sheds, yet it isn’t a long-term thing, and you can quickly learn how to stop a rug from shedding.
You can learn why your rug sheds and what you can do to help stop a rug from shedding in our guide. (Learn How To Get Rid Of Rose Bushes)
Do Hand Hooked Wool Rugs Shed?
Rugs aren’t all made equal, and you’ll discover that hand-knotted rugs made of 100 percent wool don’t shed, but they’re expensive.
Synthetic fibers like acrylic, viscose, or nylon will shed more frequently because they are weaker and more sensitive to the pressure of foot traffic and wear and tear, resulting in a lot of shedding.
So long as they are put in low-traffic locations, a good-quality, standard-pile height hand-knotted wool rug should not shed. To keep shedding under control, use a vacuum on low and ensure you don’t use a brush or beater bar attachment. Even when made to high-quality, all-natural wool, natural shaggy wool rug shedding is common.
Do Wool Rugs Get Softer Over Time?
In the beginning, many rug owners question the hardness of their rugs. Although synthetic fibers can remain firm, some rugs won’t stay this way.
Sheepskin rugs are made of fine, soft wool and will keep you warm from the moment you lay them on your living room floor. To keep long wool’s natural ‘loft,’ you may need to brush it with a wire brush over time. (Read Do Deer Eat Sweet Potatoes)
Why Does My Wool Rug Shed So Much?
A 100% pure wool rug won’t shed excessively and contain chemical compounds harmful to your health. However, you often find wool rugs are now a blend of wool and one or two synthetic fibers.
It’s excellent advice to use a fiber protector on your rug when you first buy it. Fiber protectors spray on and coat your rug’s wool surface while leaving the texture and color unaffected.
A good fiber protector can help a rug fight off stains and also reduce the amount of shedding. When you purchase a rug of this type, you’ll wonder why it sheds so much. There isn’t one reason, rather a several reasons that compound into one effect.
A wool rug subjected to lots of stress is more likely to shed. The woven fibers on the bottom weaken and work free if there is too much friction and what we see as wear and tear. Placing your rug on a rug pad can help absorb this shock as people stand on your rug.
However, it is good to understand the other reasons that lead to wool rugs to shed and have a fuzzy appearance in the first place. The amount of shedding is determined by three key factors: the rug’s material, construction, and age.
Rug Material
Even though wool is high quality, wool quality varies between rugs and is based on the sheep. Sheep from a higher altitude offers better quality wool.
Make
The amount of shedding can be influenced by the manufacturer. A wool rug can be made in various ways, such as the rug being handcrafted or made using modern processes. Hand-knotted rugs are less likely to fall apart and shed. This is because they comprise many knots stitched into the wool’s base.
A tufting gun shoots fabric tufts into a plastic grid in hand-tufted rugs. Here, the rug is backed with glue or polymer to keep these tufts in position. The backing can, unfortunately, disintegrate, causing it to shed.
Machine-made rugs are problematic as they are made from synthetic materials that break down and shed.
Rug’s Newness
If you just purchased a wool rug, it will shed, regardless of the quality. Because wool fibers are chopped to the correct pile height and thickness, you will find little pieces of wool caught in the rug because of this cutting. These bits fall out and over the first six months when the shedding will stop.
How Do I Stop My Wool Rug From Shedding?
Here is all you need to know about how to stop a wool rug from shedding.
Vacuum Carefully
Many folks think that vacuuming is the best approach to making with a shedding rug; however, vacuuming might worsen the shedding. Vacuuming draws the strands away from the rug, leading to even more shedding.
If you must vacuum your rug, use a strong suction instead. The hand-held suction piece is the ideal option because it puts less strain on your rug. Dirt and debris can also be removed from your rug with a broom.
Place Rugs in A Low Traffic Area
Make sure you don’t put your wool rug in a high-traffic area when you first get it home. Even more, the shedding will occur if the rug is subjected to excessive traffic. Instead, place your rug in an area with little foot traffic, such as a spare bedroom or an infrequently used dining room table. You can move your rug to a greater traffic area after a few months. (Read Why Won’t My Peppers Turn Red)
Use a Quality Rug Pad
Walking on a wool rug with your feet can cause it to shed more. Consider getting a rug pad to help with this. Pads help prevent shedding, but they also make rugs more comfortable to walk on because of their enhanced softness.
Minimize Gathering Dirt
Naturally, rugs will develop dirt and dust over time, but the less dust, the better. This is because dirt and particles are abrasive. Walking on a dirty wool rug generates friction, which leads to even more shedding. Make sure you don’t walk on the rug with dirty feet for the first six months.
Limit Exposure to Pets
Try to keep your pets away from your wool rug. Cats and dogs both enjoy kneading wool, which can result in excessive shedding.
