Caring for wool carpet and wool rugs

Wool carpet and wool rugs resist soil naturally because of the fiber's structure and lanolin content, hold color beautifully and last for decades. They also shrink, brown, felt and bleed if cleaned wrong, and most of the wool rugs we see damaged were damaged by a well-meaning cleaning.

Wool must be cleaned with a neutral or slightly acidic solution. The alkaline pre-sprays that work on synthetic carpet strip lanolin, roughen the fiber and cause browning as the rug dries. Wool must be cleaned with controlled moisture and dried quickly; a wool rug left wet on the back can develop dry rot in the cotton foundation.

Rugs vs. wall-to-wall

Wool wall-to-wall carpet is cleaned in place with wool-safe chemistry and low moisture. Wool area rugs should go out to a wash floor where they can be dusted (which removes pounds of grit that vacuuming misses), washed flat, rinsed until clear and dried under controlled conditions. In-home cleaning of a wool rug risks dye bleed onto the floor beneath.

Do this at home

Vacuum wool without the beater bar, or with it raised. Rotate rugs yearly so wear is even. Address spills immediately with cool water and blotting. Never use an oxidizer (peroxide, OxiClean) on wool; it dissolves the fiber. Have wool rugs washed every two to three years and wall-to-wall wool cleaned yearly.