What is and how to identify a wool carpet
Wool carpets are classed as the most sustainable and eco-friendly carpet that you can purchase. Produced from soft sheep wool and spun into hard and long-lasting yarn, wool carpets are one of the most durable carpets on the market.
As synthetic carpets are designed to look near identical to wool carpets, the only real way to tell the difference is to burn them. Take a small piece of the end of your carpet and light it with a match or lighter in a safe area. Wool when set on fire produces an orange flame with hardly any smoke. A synthetic carpet when burnt will produce lots of black smoke and have a more yellow flame.
Pros of Wool Carpet
There are many pros of choosing a wool carpet in your office or workplace over a synthetic manufactured carpet.
Fire resistance
Unlike most carpets, a wool carpet has a high fire resistance and an extremely slow ignition rate. This makes them one of the safest carpets to have in terms of fire prevention. In the worst case scenario of a fire, rather than adding fuel, wool carpets are known to melt, which can slow and sometimes stop the spread of fire.
Eco / sustainability
Wool carpets are essentially grown on the backs of sheep, which makes wool carpets an extremely renewable material. Synthetic carpets on the other hand are made using materials such as nylon, which is a material that is chemically made from coal and oil. Synthetic carpets are produced from a finite source which is not environmentally friendly. If eco choices are important to you and your company, choosing a wool carpet instead of synthetics is a very green choice to make.
Stain resistance
Wool carpet as mentioned is a renewable natural resource with natural occurring oils in the fibres that help to prevent staining when oil based liquids are spilled. Non oil based liquids do have a tendency to stain the wool, so things like coffee and wine if not cleaned immediately may result in staining.
Lifespan
Wool carpeting is some of the most durable and long-lasting carpets you can buy. Compared to synthetic carpets that last around 10 years in light traffic areas. Wool carpets can last up to and over 20 years in medium to heavy traffic areas.
Hypoallergenic
Wool carpets are highly hypoallergenic and can absorb some irritants like deodorants and cleaning agents that may be in the air. For people that suffer with allergies, asthma and even some skin conditions, a wool carpet is the best carpet to choose.
Cons of Wool Carpet
Cost
The cost of a wool carpet reflects the durability and life span that comes along with it. Although wool carpets are generally more expensive than their synthetic counterparts, they last longer and look better for longer than nylon or polyester carpets.
Fades in sun
Wool carpets come in a natural style with no colouring of the fibres, which looks amazing. However, you can opt for a bright, eye-catching wool carpet with deep dark colours. If however, your carpet is exposed to direct sunlight, overtime the colours will start to fade. One way to protect the carpet is to make sure any areas of the carpet that will be in direct sunlight can be shaded as much as possible.
Absorbs water
The natural materials in wool have the ability to absorb water and moisture. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. The reason that absorbing moisture can be a good thing is that a wool carpet will actually absorb and release moisture based on the environment it is in. This means that a wool carpet can help your office or workplace maintain an even temperature. The bad side of absorbing moisture and water is that if the moisture stays for too long and the wool carpet is not regularly maintained, then it can lead to mould growth.
Moths and other insects
One con that is important to mention about wool carpets is that they can be a breading ground for moths and other insects. Keratin proteins are what moth larvae feed on, and these proteins are found in the natural fibres of the wool. The best way to make sure your wool carpet does not become a breeding ground for moths and insects is to have the carpet regularly maintained and vacuumed.
100% vs 80/20 Wool Carpet
When choosing a wool carpet for your office or workplace, you may see 100% or 80/20 wool carpets. 100% wool carpets contain no synthetic material and are made only from sheeps wool. 80/20 wool carpets have 80% natural wool and 20% synthetic material, usually nylon. 100% wool is usually the more expensive option, however it should outlast an 80/20 carpet in terms of durability and lifespan.
Maintenance of Wool Carpeting in an office or workplace
Wool carpets can last up to 20 years, providing that they are properly cared for and maintained. In our article “how to clean a wool carpet” we take you through step by step on how to clean and maintain a wool carpet. The gist of the article is that stains should be removed immediately using a combination of water and baking soda. It’s best never to rub stains into a wool carpet, blotting / dabbing on the stain with a paper towel is the preferred method.
Wool Carpet FAQ
Are wool carpets hard to maintain?
Wool carpets can be easy or hard to maintain, depending on its location. Wool stains easily with non oil based liquids such as wine. A wool carpet in a wine bar would be a lot harder to maintain than a wool carpet in an office. Generally carpets like Bolon carpet are one of the easiest carpets to maintain as they are made from recycled plastics which are hard to stain.
Does wool carpet stain easily?
Wool does not stain easily with oil based liquids such as ink, however, non-oil based liquids like coffee will stain wool easily.
Does wool carpet shed
Wool carpets don’t shed, however, you may find that a brand-new wool carpet will shed a lot in the first few weeks after its installation. Upping your maintenance contracts for a few weeks after your new carpet installation is often advised.
How to stop moths eating wool carpet
The best way to stop moths is by preventing the larvae from resting in the carpet long enough to hatch. The best way to do this is with a proper maintenance contract so that you can ensure insect free and amazing looking carpets.
