We have a long history of using wool. We domesticated sheep around 9000 to 11000 years ago and started putting the discarded wool to good use shortly after. The earliest surviving pile carpet (a Pazyryk), originates from around the 5th-4th century BC. At its most basic level, it works; after approximately 2,500 years, we are still using wool and making carpets with it.
The Pazyryk Carpet, the oldest surviving carpet in the world
Here we look at Five Reasons Why Wool Carpets Rule while challenging some of the misconceptions around this versatile and robust fibre.
Wool carpets are sustainable
Wool carpet is 100% natural so therefore sustainable and good for the environment. It, of course, comes from sheep* shorn every 9 – 12 months before they are returned to the fields to eat more grass and grow more wool.
* Herdwick, the Scottish Blackface, the Rough Fell and the South Wales Mountain
A Scottish Blackface sheep
After the wool goes through several stages, it arrives at the factory for construction, using either the tufting or weaving methods. Although carpet manufacturing has come along way in recent years, in reducing their impact on the environment, it still takes colossal industrial machines to make it. However, with a good quality carpet lasting years, even decades, it means the need for a replacement and its manufacture is reduced.
And finally, after it has served a household for many years, wool is biodegradable: wool pile will decompose, leaving no harmful residues.
The look & feel of wool carpets
Lakeland Herdwick from Brockway Carpets
Probably the best selling point for wool carpets is that it’s soft and pleasing to the touch. It’s a popular choice for bedrooms as it’s the first thing your feet will touch on getting out of bed. While ensuring you receive a good start to your day, wool carpets retain their pile shape and height. It means that it quickly recovers from having any weight pressed down on it, like table and chair legs, making it a durable and long-lasting carpet even in the busiest of family homes. Also, with good regular after-care (see the Cleaning section below), a wool carpet retains its colour.
Good for the home
Wool carpets are great for the home too in that perform several tasks. First of wool absorbs moisture, up to 30% of its weight, making it a natural dehumidifier, and it does this without feeling damp either. As a consequence, it has a higher ignition point, so it is less likely to catch fire should a cigarette or match fall on it.
Wool carpets (Audrey) from Crucial Trading
Wool is an excellent insulator, too, for both heat and sound. In winter, wool can trap heat, ensuring your feet or kept warm even if it’s frosty outside. It’s also a sound insulator which can improve the acoustics of a home. And if that’s not enough wool is a hyper-allergenic which is welcome to those suffering from allergies or asthma.
Wool carpets & cleaning
One of the biggest misconceptions of wool carpets is that it is difficult to clean. In fact, with a little moisture soil and dirt can be removed easily. Recently, Rob Reeve from UK Carpet Care came into Archway Carpets and was recently interviewed by Darrell on the importance of after-care. In the video, Rob suggests that a wool carpet can keep its look and feel for years, decades even, with an annual professional clean allowing the carpet to ‘bounce back’.
The Carpet Guy (Episode 24) talks to Rob Reeve
But what about those more stubborn stains, the four horsemen of blood, wine, tea and wee? Synthetic carpets do fair better in this area as they are, more often than not, bleach cleanable. The good news, however, is a carpet specialist, like Rob, can tackle the most stubborn of wool carpet stains. The key is not to panic and take action quickly. Often, Rob can offer assistance over the phone. For more serious stains he will come and attend to the carpet himself.
Watch all the Carpet Guy videos here!
Wool carpet cost…
At one time wool carpets were substantially more expensive than their synthetic counterparts. However, since the cost of the materials to make synthetic carpets have increased they are, Darrell says comparable. “Sure, there are the £4.99 per square metre options available on the market, but these are inferior quality, not just for the touch and feel, they won’t last that long. With a good quality synthetic and wool carpets averaging out at around £25 per square metre there really isn’t much in it any more”.
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That brings us to the end of our blog. If you have any questions about wool carpets please contact us here.