Interested in one of the oldest types of carpet pile used by man? Yes, wool rugs and wool carpets date back over two thousand years. Today, fleece shorn from the coats of sheep or lambs is still considered one of the finest yarns available for carpet fibers.
Wool is obviously a natural fiber. It?s a top choice among the environmentally-conscious, as it?s made from a sustainable (and willing) source. Itsproduction doesn?t require much energy, and its?s biodegradable and recyclable. Furthermore, unlike some synthetic carpets, it won?t take up much space in a landfill.
Wool carpeting behooves your indoor environment, too! Wool carpet fibers can absorb about thirty percent of their weight in moisture, without getting damp. This makes wool carpet a cheap and efficient natural dehumidifier. A bonus benefit here is that moisture causes wool?s fibers to swell, thus releasing dirt! Plus, wool rugs? natural fibers can absorb and retain chemicals such as formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide, thereby filtering out unwanted byproducts of heaters, fireplaces, and stoves.
Now let?s talk about wool?s fiber structure. It hasthe benefit of thousands of years of evolution (yes, sheep have roamed the Earth that long), meaning wool is naturally engineered to withstand quite a lot. For starters, wool fiber is naturally coiled (go look at a flock of sweet, curly sheep!), lending it built-in ?bounce-back,? or resiliency, that outlasts synthetic fiber carpets. Wool fiber?s outer, cutaneous structure is built to shield the inner part of the fiber, allowing it to naturallyrepel dirt and liquids, and holding spills near the surface of carpet, which makes everything a lot easier to clean. What?s more, wool?s layered cuticles render it able to withstand plenty of bending. And, because wool is naturally white, it readily accepts dyes, locking in color intensely and quickly. You can go as vibrant and statement-making as you like with wool?check out these examples ofbeautiful wool rugs over at Houzz.
Wool, quite strong and elastic, can withstand the heaviest of foot traffic (think hotel lobbies) and still look gorgeous. Also, wool is flame-retardant and won?t melt. Need something soft to cover the floor near your fireplace? Burning embers have nothing on wool?you?ll be able to simply brush off any charred wool fibers. Plus, thespiral structure of wool?s fibers makes them excellent insulators. Wool carpeting also has top-notchsoil-hiding capabilities. This is because it?s an opaque fiber (as opposed to synthetics, which are transparent), meaning it doesn?t refract or reflect light. The property makes soil much less apparent to the human eye.
Remember how we mentioned that wool absorbs dye so well? The flip side is that it stains easily. It?s also prone to distortion (think jet streaks), and sensitive to high-alkaline chemicals. This means exposure to substances such as chlorine bleach tends to make wool brittle, discolored and prone to dissolve. The take away here: be sure you use water-based cleaning solutions!
Other cons of wool? Like the animals it comes from, it?s rather prone to shedding and fuzzing?meaning you might be covered in fibers after a wrestling session with Fido. And if you?re a moth or a carpet beetle, then boy, are wool fibers delicious! This bears the question: do you want chemical substances (i.e., insecticides) on your carpeting? And of course, wool is typically the most expensive carpeting choice?processing, cleaning, and preparing this type of carpet pile runs manufacturers a pretty penny.
However, wool rugs made with quality dye tend to age beautifully, like healthy, shiny hair. And of course, the feeling of walking on wool in bare feet is unparalleled?its fibers are oh-so-soft. Tempted to join the flock of wool lovers? Our experts would love to tell you more. Give us a call today at (910) 685-7353.