The Pros and Cons of Wool Rugs

Wool has been used to make rugs for centuries, so it’s only natural to look at wool rugs as the best and the default option when buying a new rug. But wool rugs are also very expensive, so you want to make sure you won’t regret your purchase later on. So let me guide you through the pros and cons of wool rugs to make sure you end up with an informed decision, one that best suits your needs.

What are the pros and cons of wool

Wool is a 100% natural raw material, so if you prioritize having organic and natural fabrics and materials in your home, a wool area rug seems like a perfect choice.

As a fabric, however, wool has its own, specific characteristics, and perhaps not all of these fits you equally. In some aspects wool rugs beat synthetic-fiber rugs, in other aspects, it’s vice verse.

And so it should be. Going through the pros and cons, the advantages and disadvantages of wool rugs will help you make a better-informed decision when purchasing your next rug.

Pros and cons of wool carpet

Wool carpets have quite similar qualities to wool rugs. Not all of these qualities will please everybody, so it’s up to you to decide whether the package wool carpets have to offer is the right package for you or not.

Wool carpets are among the most popular, and for a good reason too. When assessing whether they are the best choice for you, you need to compare wool to other popular and widespread fabrics that are used to produce rugs and carpets. These materials include:

Wool area rugs pros and cons

With the basics covered. Let’s now have a look at the Pros first. What are the benefits and advantages of wool rugs, and why would you want to have a wool rug in the first place:

Why are wool rugs better?

#1 – Pros of Wool Rugs: Durability

Durability and strength are among the most popular characteristics of wool rugs. High quality wool rugs, if maintained properly, can last for decades if not centuries on end.

Wool is a fabric whose piles are both flexible and robust: its elasticity provides for an unparalleled durability.

Its flexibility also ensures that the piles will bounce back after compression, so legs of furnitures, and other, heavy items with long-lasting, and focused pressure won’t leave permanent marks on the surface or on the texture of the wool rug.

This means that even with everyday use, and with relatively heavy foot traffic, your wool rugs are to last for many years to come.

#2 – Pros of Wool Rugs: Stain- and Dirt-Resistance

Wool fibers are naturally coated by natural oils that will automatically repel any oil-based contamination. This means that regular vacuuming will suffice to keep your wool rug in pristine shape, without any need to apply chemicals in the cleaning process.

To make things even better, wool is a naturally off-white material, that will make any visible dirt, well, less visible.

#3 – Pros of Wool Rugs: Softness

If you toddler a toddler, who often falls, you want her to fall on a soft, wool rug.

Wool can also act as a cushion when a grown-up or an elderly man falls, and this can, quite literally be life-saving.

The benefits of a soft and cushy rug are not necessarily restricted to potentially saving lives. You will, in all likelihood more often enjoy the soft and cozy atmosphere these rugs radiate.

#4 – Pros of Wool Rugs: Comfort

Speaking of atmosphere and being soft and cozy: wool rugs are about comfort and warmth.

It’s difficult to say whether it’s the natural material, whether it’s the color, or whether it’s up to other qualities, but wool rugs are just comfortable to be around.

You know what’s even better? Being on them.

#5 – Pros of Wool Rugs: Natural, sustainable, and Earth-friendly

Comfort is, of course, appealing to our emotions. But wool rugs are also beneficial when we look at them from a rational angle.

Wool, being a 100% natural resource, is sustainable (shearing the sheep is a crucial part of caring for these animals, so it’s a win-win), and also environment-friendly, as it is biodegradable, and it will dissolve into materials like water, sulphur, carbon-dioxide, and nitrogen. In other words: plant food.

#6 – Pros of wool rugs: Fire resistance

Wool has an extremely slow ignition rate, meaning that wool is practically (and naturally) inflammable and fire-resistant.

This is why wool rugs are very popular in commercial settings, such as in Hotels and office buildings.

In case of a fire, wool carpets and wool rugs will slow, if not stop the spread of a fire, because their fibers will just not burn.

#7 – Pros of wool rugs: Hypoallergic

Not only is wool natural, environment-friendly, and comfortable.

It’s also user friendly: its fibers will store just enough dust to cleanse the air, and they will also just enough water to keep the air’s humidity optimal. When the air is more humid, they will absorb more, only to release it back in the air when it gets overly dry.

In other words, wool is a hypoallergic material, and wool rugs are extremely beneficial for those who suffer with asthma or allergies.

Disadvantages of wool rugs

So far, so good. But as we’ve seen before, wool rugs come in a package. And while the above benefits are nothing to sniff at, there are also a few disadvantages involved.

#1 – Cons of wool rugs: Cost

You have seen that coming, right?

Good things in life usually come at a cost, and wool rugs are no exception.

While the price of wool rugs vary wildly, depending on the quality and origin of the wool used, the technologies involved in the production, the brand of the rug, the design of the rug, and others, it is safe to say that wool rugs are generally more expensive than synthetic-fiber rugs.

And that’s okay, too, because generally speaking wool rugs are better than synthetic rugs.

Whether or not you are willing or able to pay this premium, however, is completely up to you.

#2 – Cons of Wool Rugs: Moths

Wool rugs are an all-natural resource. …and bugs love that!

Unfortunately, like with your old pullies, moths will also love a good, hearty wool rug – for breakfast.

While that’s just simply a part of the deal when you buy wool rugs, it’s important to highlight that regular and proper maintenance will ensure that your rug remains bug free.

Some brands will opt for chemical solutions, and will treat their rugs with a material called Permethrin, which works all okay – but not if you want an all-natural, untreated, chemical-free rug in your home. Depending on the formulation, permethrin is a non-toxic to moderately toxic pesticide, so if you want to ensure your rug is fully non-toxic, opt for an untreated rug, and vacuum it regularly!

#3 – Cons of Wool Rugs: Absorbency

Blessing when it sucks out the excess humidity of the air, but a curse when it is regularly exposed to water (like in a kitchen or in a bathroom), and it develops mold or mildew.

It’s best to say that wool rugs are not optimal, if you know that it will frequently have to put up with larger amounts of water. Mold is not the only problem: water will also saturate wool fibers, resulting in a discoloration as well as an appalling smell.

#4 – Cons of wool rugs: light sensitivity

If your rug will be exposed to direct sunlight, you might be better off opting for a different fabric.

While it will not affect the rug’s functionality, wool rugs are sensitive to direct, bright sunlight, and long-lasting exposure is likely to result in the fading of the colors of the wool fibers, and ruin the rug’s appearance.

#5 – Cons of Wool Rugs: chemicals

As we’ve covered before, wool, due to its natural oils, is naturally resistant to oil-based stains and soiling.

When it comes to water-based (or more broadly: non oil-based) liquids, however, the situation is different. And as you’ve guessed it by now: red wine, coffee, and blood stains are the main threats here.

To add insult to injury, wool rugs are also sensitive to strong chemicals (alcalines with a pH of 9.5+), and even a short exposure to these chemicals (read: carpet cleaning solutions) can result in permanent damages in the rug’s fibers.

It goes without saying that this makes it very difficult to clean tricky stains of wool carpets. Our best advice here? Call a professional rug cleaning service to have your carpet cleaned every now and often! Tip: those professionals who specialize in oriental rug cleaning, will be able to handle all kinds of wool rugs, too.

Are wool rugs worth the money?

So, after all this analysis, after going through the pros and cons of wool rugs, the big question remains: are wool rugs worth it?

Are wool rugs worth the premium price you have to pay for them, or will a cheaper, synthetic rug be “good enough”?

While it is only you, who can make the best decision (the decision that is the best for you, that is), after exploring all the pros and cons of wool rugs, I think it is safe to say that, unless you have a very specific reason not to buy a wool rug, wool rugs are definitely worth the investment.

What qualifies as a “very specific reason not to buy a wool rug”? – you ask.

First, if you are really stretched financially, then it is likely that you will have better things to spend the price of a wool rug on. In this case, go with a synthetic-fiber rug, which is, in all likelihood, cheaper than a wool rug.

A second reason I can come up with is when you’re sure that your puppy (cat, kid, whoever) will destroy the rug in no time at all. In this case, don’t bother: chewing on a polypropylene rug will be just as good for most puppies. Make sure you choose a non-toxic one!

Are wool rugs the best?

Generally speaking, and as a rule of thumb, it can be said that wool is the best raw material for producing rugs.

With that said, however, there are a few caveats to point out:

• Not all wool rugs are created equal. A bad-quality wool rug might easily be worse than a premium-quality rug made of synthetic fibers.
• You might have your own priorities and preferences. While generally speaking wool rugs are considered the best, and statistically, they are among the most popular, this says nothing or at least very little about your specific and unique customer preferences. Feel free to follow your instincts, and your priorities when buying a rug, and ignore the imperatives of any broad and theoretical advice.