How To Stop A Rug From Shedding?

How To Stop A Rug From Shedding?
  • Author: Amanda Arnold
  • Posted On: January 31, 2022
  • Updated On: August 21, 2023

A magnificent shaggy rug may offer a certain charm to a hard room to find elsewhere. The continual shedding of the rug, on the other hand, drives people crazy! Rug shedding is common, as fibers loosen and shed, especially in rugs made of natural fibers such as wool.

So, what’s the best way to keep your rugs from shedding? Follow the discussed steps and guidelines to get rid of the fluff and other stuff on your carpeting.

If your wool rug is shedding and you’re worried it won’t last long, know that it’s perfectly normal. With proper care and maintenance, most rugs will stop shedding in three to four months, leaving you with a rug to be proud of. So, let’s start discussing the techniques and methods to save a new rug from shedding.

Why Do The Rugs Start Shedding?

There are different types of carpets. Hand-knotted carpets made of pure wool don’t shed, but they are expensive. Synthetic fibers are more prone to constant shedding because they are weaker and more vulnerable to the impact of foot movement, resulting in much shedding.

According to a specialist, shedding rugs can affect your sinuses. The materials can evaporate dangerous fumes, and they’re generally coated with poisonous stain-resistant chemicals and fire retardants.

That’s why professionals recommend selecting rugs made of pure natural textiles that aren’t treated with synthetic dyes, fire retardants, or moth-proofing chemicals to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.

Ways To Save The Rugs From Shedding

A rug’s fibers may be shed early in its life in some situations. This is typical and will subside in a few weeks or months, depending on the rug’s substance and quality.

After light, frequent vacuuming and typical wear, the shedding of a new rug should stop. If your rug continues to shed after a few months, there may be another issue you need to investigate.

1) Vacuum Clean The Rugs

To get rid of the fuzz, carefully vacuum the rug on a low setting, going with the pile’s grain to avoid damaging it. Move the carpet to a low-traffic area of the house if possible. A rug pad can also be used to assist reduce wear and tear. Jute, sisal, and nettle rugs should also be avoided. Rugs made of natural plant fibers shed a lot.

Using a vacuum cleaner attachment such as a brush extension or a beater bar will merely drag the fibers out more. This can happen even if you aren’t using any vacuum attachments and have it set to maximum suction.

Remove any brush or beater bar attachments, make sure any permanent beater bar is barely brushing the rug’s surface, and use a lower power setting on your vacuum cleaner to avoid unnecessarily ripping fibers out of the rug.

Vacuum your rug in one direction, against the pile, and then in the opposite direction, in the pile’s direction. This procedure aids in catching any stray fibers as well as loosening dirt.

2) Avoid Placing The Rug In A Heavy-Foot Traffic Area

If you put a rug in an area with a lot of foot activity, it will wear out faster than if you put it in an area with little to no foot traffic. To try to stop the shedding, position your rug under a coffee table where your feet will not be placed.

If your rug must be placed in a high-traffic area, turning and moving it regularly can help even out any shedding and make the rug appear more symmetrical. Once the rug has ceased shedding, it can always be moved.

3) Use Rake And Pads

Raking your rug instead of cleaning it can help keep it from shedding. Perform this regularly, or more frequently if necessary, using specialty rug rakes to reduce the chance of pulling up fibers. A clean pet brush or broom can also be used, but avoid using short fibers, such as wired-bristled brushes.

Rug pads prevent rug shedding while protecting your rug from wear and tear, wetness, and slipping on wooden floors. For the rug to cover the cushioning entirely, it should be about an inch shorter in width and length.

4) Trim You Wool Rugs

Wool tufts will naturally emerge on the rug’s surface in wool carpets. Resist the impulse to pluck the tufts out of the rug, as this may cause further damage to the fibers and a fuzzing appearance on top. Instead, clip the tufts with a sharp pair of scissors, then wipe the area with clean hands to gather the stray fibers and balls.

Instead, you should be clipping the tufts with a pair of razor-sharp scissors! After that, wipe your hand over the rug’s surface to catch any loose wool fibers or balls, making sure your hands are clean beforehand.

It is very tempting to be lured to the lower-priced synthetic fiber rugs when buying a rug for your house and, more significantly, when picking a rug to fit your floor type.

Conclusion

Only wool area rugs are shed in several situations. Although wool is the hardest and longest-lasting natural fabric available in area rugs, we recommend avoiding a wool rug if you have a high sensitivity to shedding.

Synthetic rugs do not shed; however, they do not last as long as natural rugs. If you have a restricted budget and like to alter your décor frequently, a synthetic rug is a perfect option.

If you’re working on a budget, there’s nothing wrong with buying a synthetic fiber rug. This is all up to your personal preference. However, as industry experts, we would always encourage consumers to get a high-quality natural fiber rug for their room wherever possible.

It will drastically improve the look and feel of your room. Even it will initially cost more, with good maintenance and care, you can extend the life of your rug far beyond that of a natural fiber rug in the same space.

Avatar photo
Author: Amanda Arnold

Amanda has been working with ConstructionHow since 2021. Her experience spans over 5 years in the creative niche such as home decor and trends, landscaping, renovations, and custom architectural values. As a home designer expert, she has a keen eye for the latest home improvement trends with accurate facts that readers find impossible to ignore. Being invested in home-building trends is how she has gained her lucrative expertise exploring more to bring a positive ambiance for all homeowners (and even tenants!). Currently, she lives in a beautiful beach home, a source of fascination for her.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE