Why Buy Wool Carpet?

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What are the pros and cons of wool carpet?

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Wool Carpet Pros

• Wool is a natural fiber.  Wool carpeting is completely safe for your home and the environment.

• Wool carpet hides soil.  Due to its scaly surface, wool carpeting has an opaque matte finish that helps to hide soiling. The scales also help to keep dirt from embedding in the carpet.

• Wool carpet stays new looking.   Wool fiber has natural resiliency due to its three dimensional spiral crimping.  This elasticity gives wool carpet the ability to withstand heavy traffic and spring back to its original appearance.  With proper maintenance, good quality wool carpet can last a lifetime.

• Wool carpet is naturally flame resistant.  Wool burns slowly and self-extinguishes once the flame is removed.  Wool’s natural chemical structure requires more oxygen to burn than the atmosphere can provide, making it extremely fire retardant.   Wool carpeting is often used in public spaces such as hotels, theaters and aircraft and is the safest flooring you can select for your home.

• Wool carpet improves air quality.   Wool absorbs contaminants in the air such as sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide.  Wool is also a natural humidifier absorbing excess moisture in the air when it’s humid and releasing moisture when it’s dry. 

• Wool is hypoallergenic.  Wool resists mold, mildew and dust mites making it an excellent choice for people with allergies.  Wool is a protein fiber that contains no allergens.

Wool Carpet Cons

• Wool carpet is expensive.  Compared to its synthetic counterparts, wool carpet is more costly.   Pricing varies based on quality and construction, but plan to spend at least 40% more for wool carpeting vs nylon.

• Wool carpet is absorbent.   The hydrophilic quality of wool makes it easy to dye and produce a rich depth and tone of color, but also makes it more vulnerable to staining. Most stains can be removed if treated promptly.

• Wool carpet sheds.  Wool is a staple yarn meaning its short fibers make it prone to shedding.  The shedding will dissipate over time, but can be annoying at first.

• Wool carpet can pill and fuzz.  The short fibers of wool can slough off causing the appearance of pills and fuzzing. Proper vacuuming can avoid this problem to a great degree.

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Is wool carpet eco-friendly?

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Sheep continually grow their fleece, making wool one of the most sustainable fibers. Each spring, the sheep’s fleece is sheared, which causes no harm to the sheep. Unlike synthetic yarns that require petroleum in their production, sheep only need farmland for grazing and grass to eat.  Wool is also naturally biodegradable, so it does not contaminate our landfills.  In addition, as wool degrades, it releases nitrogen, a natural fertilizer.   Unlike nylon and other synthetics, wool carpeting does not have to be recycled.

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Is wool carpet easy to clean?

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The complex structure of wool fiber makes wool carpet very easy to clean and maintain, but there are guidelines you should follow:

•  Vacuum regularly to keep soil from accumulating.  If using a vacuum with a motorized rotary brush, keep the brush at the highest setting so only the tips of the bristles touch the carpet.  More aggressive vacuuming could damage the wool fibers and/or cause excessive shedding.

• Remove stains immediately using a clean, colorless cloth and blot the stain to remove excess moisture.  Continue to spot clean using the guidelines in our wool cleaning chart, but always test in an inconspicuous place first. Remember to Blot - don’t Rub!   If necessary, call in a professional rug cleaning company experienced in cleaning wool carpet.

•  When allover cleaning is needed, generally every year or two, a professional carpet cleaner experienced in cleaning wool carpet is the best choice.  It’s important that the water used in hot water extraction is not too hot or shrinkage could occur.  Over wetting can also cause problems.  Also, using fans and opening windows (weather permitting) will help speed the drying process. 

 

Maintaining the beauty of your wool carpeting is easy.  With regular care, your carpet will last many years and stay new looking.   For more information on caring for wool carpet, check out www.woolsafe.org

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What are the best brands of wool carpet?

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K. Powers & Company is proud to represent Louis A. Dabbieri, a line of fine floor coverings that include the Dabbieri Naturals Collection.  Curated from manufacturers around the world, they exemplify the finest levels of quality and craftsmanship.  Dabbieri Naturals provide discerning buyers the best wool carpet options.

 

Where can I find more information about wool carpet?

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The following world organizations market and promote wool products and contain a plethora of information:

 

• The New Zealand wool growers association Wools of NZ assures consumers carpets labeled with their brand are of the highest quality.  www.woolsnz.com

• The British Wool Bureau is a non-profit organization championed by HRH Prince Charles of England.  It’s the only organization in the world that grades, promotes and sells British Fleece. www.britishwool.org.uk

• The American Wool Council is a non-profit organization that works to improve the American wool industry. www.americanwool.org

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