Home décor, like fashion, has its trends. And the current trend toward rugs and carpets made from renewable fibers like bamboo and hemp has blown up on the pages of trade magazines. If you Google the term “renewable resource,” you may find the following definition: “A resource that can renew or replace itself, and, therefore, with proper management, can be harvested indefinitely.”

Home décor, like fashion, has its trends.  And the current trend toward rugs and carpets made from renewable fibers like bamboo and hemp has blown up on the pages of trade magazines.  If you Google the term “renewable resource,” you may find the following definition:  “A resource that can renew or replace itself, and, therefore, with proper management, can be harvested indefinitely.”

With the rug market placing much focus on plant-based renewable materials, you may be surprised to read that the traditional fiber used to weave handmade rugs, wool, is indeed a renewable resource.  The wool shorn from domesticated sheep grows back each season to be harvested again as it has for thousands of years.  And the remnants of wool production, being protein based and nitrogen rich, are a natural fertilizer.

Wool is made of keratin protein, which is also present in human hair.  Keratin’s helical mollecular structure gives wool its natural crimp, making it a highly resilient fiber that resists crushing and flattening.

Lanolin, the naturally occurring fatty wax coating sheep's wool, gives it a slightly antibacterial quality.  As a result, under normal use conditions, wool rugs will resist odors and bacterial growth.  Lanolin also provides the fiber with some soil and moisture repellancy.

However, when wool does become saturated with water, it pulls the moisture to its core, a property sometimes referred to as “wicking.”  This unique way of managing moisture means that wool can help regulate humidity in rooms where it is used as a floor covering.  This same property of wool helps it to accept dyes, resulting in the deep, rich colors found in Oriental rugs.

Wool is also elastic and may be stretched up to 50% when wet and as much as 30% when dry.  This quality of wool is employed when a rug is blocked; a process of stretching and starching that is used to bring a rug closer to its intended shape.  Due to the elasticity of wool, it is best to dry a wool rug (or garment) flat, at room temperature so that the item will retain its shape.

Unlike synthetic rugs made from petroleum based fibers that are highly flammable, wool is difficult to ignite and slow to burn.  Its high moisture content also makes it less likely to conduct static electricity, reducing the occurrence of those uncomfortable little shocks.  Wool-blend Axminster carpets are commonly installed in hotels, casinos, and banquet halls for these very reasons along with their durability and ease of cleaning.

The synthetic fibers used to make some rugs may contain toxic substances like formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene, which are also found in pesticides, lacquers, and paint thinners.  Wool rugs contain none of these potentially dangerous chemicals and are 100% biodegradable.

Providing insulation from heat, cold, and sound due to air pockets formed between the fibers, rugs made from wool are the ultimate floor coverings for longevity, appearance, and comfort, while being gentle on our environment.  The list of wool's benefits seems almost endless...