Is your wool rug shedding? Here's what you can do
Wool rugs create a cozy atmosphere at home and add warmth to any room. Unfortunately, lint and fuzz can dampen that enthusiasm a bit. But lint is actually a completely natural occurrence. Learn everything you need to know about wool rugs today and take advantage of the tips we’re sharing with you.
What is a wool rug?
Wool rugs have a long tradition. They are made of a comfortable natural material and lend rooms a cozy and inviting atmosphere. For several centuries, rug manufacturers have been using sheep’s wool, virgin wool, and other types of wool in their rug production. Wool has many beneficial properties. Its dimensional stability, durability, and thermal insulation are major advantages. Wool fibers have a loose, wavy structure. Air pockets within the fibers ensure that the carpet stores not only heat but also moisture. In addition, wool neutralizes many odors, thereby improving the indoor climate.
Why Do Wool Rugs Shed?
Even though it may not seem so at first glance, lint is an important indicator of quality. Especially when a wool rug is new, it sheds fine hairs in the beginning—what we perceive as lint. These hairs get caught between the individual rug fibers during the spinning of the wool, that is, during the rug-making process. As we walk on the wool rug regularly, the fine hairs loosen due to the vibration and emerge as lint and fuzz. The longer a wool rug is in your home, the denser it becomes and the less lint it sheds. All it takes is a little patience.
My wool rug is shedding: What should I do?
Lint can really get on your last nerve. Find out what you can do about it from our wool rug experts.
"Walking" or rolling out the wool rug helps
If your wool rug is pilling, you have several options for dealing with it. We recommend the 2 W’s: walking or rolling. Walking simply means walking over your wool rug regularly. Walking on it initiates a natural felting process, during which the surface of the wool fiber layers forms a firmer, more compact structure. One way to speed up the felting process is rolling. In this process, the roller’s metal casing applies pressure to the wool carpet fibers, which accelerates the settling of your wool carpet.
Can you vacuum or brush out lint?
Under no circumstances should you vacuum or brush lint off a wool rug. This is a mechanical process that damages the wool fibers and actually causes more lint to come loose. Even if it’s well-intentioned, it doesn’t really help solve the problem. Pulling and tugging deteriorates the structure of the wool. This can lead to a reduction in quality as well as damage to the rug. Note: Never brush a wool rug, and vacuum only in exceptional cases when the soiling is very heavy. Even then, please remove stains immediately, gently, and only with a smooth vacuum nozzle or an extra-soft brush.
Tip: Avoid mechanical cleaning methods
As previously described, mechanical cleaning methods can damage the delicate fibers of wool rugs. Natural materials should always be treated gently; otherwise, the wool’s structure—and thus the rug’s quality and texture—will suffer. Gentle cleaning methods offer an alternative to mechanical ones. Shake out your wool rug regularly to remove as much coarse dirt as possible. Always tackle stains immediately after they occur, and blot up any liquid or dirt with an absorbent paper towel. Avoid soapy water and chemical cleaning agents, as these not only damage your rug but also compromise its elasticity and firm surface structure. If a strong cleaning agent is truly necessary, you can instead use an acid-based product that preserves the positive properties of the wool fibers. However, here too, before using it on a large area, test the acidic cleaner on a less visible spot to see how it affects the natural fiber.
Dealing with Lint Season: Cover Your Carpet
To wrap things up, we’d like to give you a few tips on how to get through the shedding phase of your wool rug and what you can do to minimize the annoyance of loose fibers. Above all, be patient. Shedding always happens with new rugs and will decrease over time. Walk on your rug regularly and don’t forget to beat it to loosen fine fibers. If any strands stick out significantly but won’t come loose from the pile, you can trim them with small scissors. But be careful not to damage the delicate wool fibers in the process. You can also get rid of annoying lint with a lint roller. By the way, this also works with adhesive tape if you don’t have a lint roller on hand. Special lint shavers available in stores can provide another solution. However, use them with caution, as there’s a risk of cutting into the carpet fibers. As you can see, the safest approach is—and always will be—our initial tip: be patient and trust that the lint phase will be over in no time.
With the right care and attention, you’re sure to enjoy your wool rug for many years to come. You’ll find a wide selection of modern designs in high-quality wool rugs in our online store. Choose your favorite wool rug for cozy moments at home and enjoy a carefree, comfortable atmosphere.