Difference Between Wool and Synthetic Rugs

For high traffic areas, the most common choices for rugs are wool rugs and synthetic rugs. Both have the qualities that can endure the usual stress that rugs get from the frequent dirt and walks of shoes and feet. However, it is also important to note that wool and synthetic rugs have differences.

WHAT ARE WOOL RUGS?

Wool rugs are usually hand-made and are a popular choice of homeowners for their living room, dining room and other high traffic areas because:

1. Wools are water repellent. It will take quite some time before water penetrates the fabric of the wool rug.
2. Wools are fire-resistant. Wools rugs are naturally fire-resistant and don’t require special treatment to be non-flammable. When it gets close to a light, it doesn’t flare up and cause damage to anyone or anything in your home. This is also the exact reason why firemen wear wool uniforms.
3. Wools are static-resistant. In an area where there are more feet walking, static is more likely to become present. This can also be associated with wools being fire-resistant -- if one is walking across a wool-carpeted area, he or she is less likely to get shocked when his or her skin gets direct contact to a grounded object that may cause fire.
4. Wools are durable. Wools are resistant to the stresses and strains compared to other types of rugs because it is resists friction. This is because wool consists of fibres that are made up of rather stretchable coil springs that are less likely to break.

Aside from being water-repellent, fire-resistant, static-resistant and durable, wools are also considered as a good insulator if you want to avoid noise in an area. Wool rugs absorb sounds and reduce the level of noise. This is the same reason why wools are used in offices, restaurants and other establishments were a number of people are always present.

WHAT ARE SYNTHETIC RUGS?

Synthetic rugs are the convenient version of wools, only they are machine-made and comprises of plastic. If you want to cut down on your budget and yet want to achieve the same results that wool can offer, synthetic rugs are the best option for you. However, it is important to take note that synthetic rugs will require you to tend to your rugs more for cleaning and maintenance. Unlike wools that are made of natural fibres, synthetic rugs are made of plastic that hold odour like no natural fibres can.

WHAT SHOULD I BUY, WOOL RUGS OR SYNTHETIC RUGS?

The answer will depend on your budget. Logically, hand-made rugs such as wool rugs will cost you more than machine-woven rugs like synthetic rugs. Another factor to be considered is the environment that you have at home. If you have pets that are not potty-trained, it is expected that you will have a problem with synthetic rugs because it contains jutes.

For a wide variety of wool rugs and synthetic rugs that you may want to choose from, visit Fantastic Rugs and browse our products.

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Extend the Life of Your Wool Rugs

Just like any other investments, rugs should be taken care of if you want them to last longer. Fortunately enough, your wool rugs are easier to clean because wool rugs are dirt-resistant in composition. Wools fibres are opaque and dirt doesn’t show as much as with some clearer, brighter man-made fibres. It’s true that wools are probably one of the most cost-effective types of rugs because they are easy to maintain. However, that fact doesn’t exclude the need of cleaning them once in a while.

Some people say that vacuum has the most damaging effect on rugs. High powered vacuums can even pull the threads out of the back of rugs and cause sprouts to appear. But for wool rugs, that is not the case. Vacuuming your wool rugs twice a week will save you the penny to buy new one. However, for other rugs, it can still be advised to use vacuum cleaners for as long as the beater bars in the cleaner are removed.

Another way of taking care of your rugs is by becoming sensitive about the dirt that your rugs get. If your kids or pets had soiled your rugs, be sure to clean the dirt rightaway. Or in other cases, if the stain is caused by foods, scoop up the food residues and try to absorb the liquids the moment they spill onto your rug. It’s important to note that you should only use a paper towel or cloth to blot stains. Letting the stain dry on your rug will cause you extra work will only damage your rug -- both causes additional bother to us.

Steaming can be a very effective way for wool cleaning. By letting the steam get into the fibres of your wool, the residues or dirt will let loose on the fibres of your rug. This can make your rug extra easy to clean. Furthermore, it is strongly discouraged that you rub your rugs because it can cause pilling and matting. It’s not advisable to soak your wool rugs in water. Wool rugs have fibres that can absorb more water than synthetic fibres. Soaking them and then letting them dry would take time. Wool rugs will become evidently heavy as well. Excess soap and water can ruin your rug, too.

Every rug owner should know the practice of rotating their rugs 180 degrees every six months to ensure even wear. Exposure to direct sunlight will always be a factor to consider when placing a rug in a room. Rotating the rug will help your rug looks balanced in colour. Besides, all fibres, dyed or un-dyed will normally change over time.

But above all these, it’s safe to say that the easiest, safest and effective deep cleaning solution for any type of area rugs is to have them rolled up and taken away for cleaning by experts.  Not all wool rugs are the same for they have different fibre thickness. The best way to extend the life of your rugs is by reading the cleaning instructions for your rugs carefully before setting up the piece of art in any area of your room.

Keeping It Classy with Traditional Rugs

By now, we are all aware that rugs play different roles in making our homes more comfortable to live in. The fabric contributes to the design of our abode, while making the place look larger. It keeps our feet warm. Rugs come in all different sizes, textures and materials. For some, the best rug is still the traditional type.

WHAT ARE TRADITIONAL RUGS?

Traditional rugs originated from central and western Asia. This type of rug was used to cover beaten-earth floors. As time moved on, the fabric was utilised to cover the floors of houses and tents. Gradually, traditional rugs were also used to cover floorings of mosques and palaces, which are considered holy places. By then, the rug was already considered as a piece of fabric that symbolised status in society.

To date, traditional rugs are used to define luxury. Using a traditional rug inside your home will give everyone the impression that you are a person of great taste. In fact, traditional rugs are often included in wills and are considered as an item of fantastic value.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE TRADITIONAL RUGS?

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  It’s needless to say that traditional rugs are classy. The colours used in making these rugs are subtle enough to create a refined look in any room or hallway. Any area will surely look sophisticated when accented with a traditional rug. Furthermore, the rug is designed to look timeless. The design of traditional rugs can blend with any kind of furniture, complimenting any area to create a statement of its own.

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    They are a piece of art. A truly traditional rug is meticulously made by hand. The fabric is intricately produced, giving attention to fine details. The design of these rugs is often associated with nature and geometric motifs. Some traditional rugs are now machine made. Nevertheless, the rugs still tend to boast more intricate details and colours over their modern counterparts.

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They are very versatile. Traditional rugs can be used as a centrepiece in any room or strategically placed to blend with other designs around the home. Traditional rugs can offer the perfect accent to any room.

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They provide multi-sensory comfort and relaxation. Most traditional rugs are made with the finest fabrics. There is no doubt why these rugs provide a different kind of softness underfoot. The fabric tends to be thicker and can be contributory in making any room sound-proof. Furthermore, the thickness of traditional rugs can also retain the temperature in a room, keeping it cosy.

TRADITIONAL RUGS AT FANTASTIC RUGS

Traditional doesn’t necessarily mean old fashioned. Our Traditional Rugs are hand crafted, yet made from modern fabrics. We can ensure that the traditional rugs we have to offer will blend seamlessly into the latest designs and popular trends.

Wools: High-Traffic Area Rugs

Rugs do not only give warmth and cosiness to our rooms – rugs also connect us to our space. When buying this piece of art, we should always remember that rugs should be treated as a textile product.  Thus, the furry things under our feet should also be cleaned and maintained. However, one may formulate an argument about the real purpose of rugs. Of course, rugs do not need to be flawless and they are meant to be used. Perhaps, the best way to answer this juxtaposition is to put the perfect rug in the best area.

Choosing the right rug for your home’s high-traffic areas such as living room, where you entertain your guests, and dining room, where you serve your specialities to your guests can be considered as an investment. Doing so means that you choose a rug that is durable and will surely last. For us, wools are the best material that can be used in areas where people walk to and fro. Why? Because:

• Wools can be easily cleaned.  Wools are stain resistant. Furthermore, they contain natural oils that can prevent dirt from adhering to the yarn. However, using it for a long time may change its appearance. Using a vacuum cleaner, you can already get rid of the dirts and residues that are stuck in a wool rug. But if you feel that using a vacuum cleaner is not enough, you can try using dry extraction powders. On the other hand, it is not advisable to use cleaning solvents when cleaning a wool rug. Scrubbing the rug excessively and letting it be soaked for a long time in a cleaning solvent will damage its quality.
• Wools make us feel luxurious. If luxury is the only consideration in choosing the perfect rug for your high-traffic areas, perhaps, silk is the best answer that you may think of. On the contrary, people should avoid using silk rugs in their living room because of a number of reasons. Aside from the fact that silks are not durable, silks are too soft and smooth that it may cause an accident to the person who would walk over it.
• Wools are fire resistant. You may wonder why this quality of the wool is included here in the list. I will explain why. Most of the time, our living rooms and dining rooms have several windows. The windows let the rays of sunshine pass through our house. By using a rug that is fire resistant, you can be at peace that nothing bad will happen to your house while you are away.
• Wools are cosy. Lastly, wools are made of continuous fibre loops that provides warmth to our feet. Naturally, our reason for buying a rusg is to treat our feet and avoid the feeling of stiffness.

Now that we know that wools are the best rugs for your living room and dining room, let us take a quick look at these fantastic wool rugs that will perfectly suit your taste:

It is also good to take note that it’s better to choose dark-coloured rugs for your high-traffic areas. A plain black rug is good but a patterned rug is better because the illusions of the fabric will definitely hide the dirt.

If  you want to  know more about rugs and what rugs are best for the other areas of your home, you may find this article interesting.