Wool Rug Cleaning and Care
Receiving Your New Wool Rug
In order to protect your rug from damage in shipping, we roll it with the face of the rug on the inside. Therefore, when you receive the rug you should open it, unroll it, and re-roll it in the opposite direction, with the face on the outside. Leave it rolled up in the room where it will stay, allowing the rug to acclimate to the humidity and temperature of its new environment. After 24 hours you may unroll the rug and put it in place.
- Merida’s wool rugs are for dry indoor use only. They are not appropriate for excessively moist indoor areas. Constant exposure to the elements will erode the beauty and integrity of any material made of natural fibers.
- Exposure to direct sunlight is always a factor to consider when placing a rug in a room. All fibers, both dyed and un-dyed, will change over time, especially when placed in direct sunlight for several hours a day. If placed in a sunny location, your wool rug should be turned occasionally.
- For many of our wool rugs, the use of a non-skid rug pad is highly recommended to protect against wear, and to prevent slipping on wood and tile floors. A rug pad will provide dimensional stability and extra cushioning underfoot. Ask about Merida’s rug pads made from 100% natural rubber.
- With wool rugs you can expect some shedding of wool fibers. This is perfectly normal. Simply vacuum as you normally would and this fiber will be easily removed.
Maintaining and Cleaning Your Wool Area Rug
The first step is to use a coarse doormat or a walk-off mat at your front door. This will provide a great deal of protection for your new rug. The goal is to remove as much of the outside dirt as possible from the shoes of those entering your home.
Routine Rug Maintenance- Vacuum regularly
- Remove spills immediately
- Use a professional carpet cleaner or a dry extraction carpet cleaning method for periodic deep cleaning.
To maintain the original beauty and to prolong the life of your wool rug, vacuuming once or twice weekly is very important. This will regularly remove the fine dirt particles that can lodge between the fibers and cause additional wear. For best results, we recommend the use of a vacuum with powerful airflow and adjustable brushes. Due to the potential for rug damage, beater bar vacuums are not recommended. Do not steam clean or wet shampoo your wool rug. Merida recommends using a dry extraction carpet cleaning system. These dry carpet cleaning systems are by far the most successful method of cleaning all natural fiber rugs. We recommend testing the cleaner on an inconspicuous section of the rug before trying to clean a more obvious area. Such dry extraction carpet cleaners as Host, Capture and others, are available at hardware stores, home improvement centers and the home care sections of most mass retailers.
For more detailed instructions on cleaning a number of substances off of your rug, see our Natural Fiber Cleaning Chart
About Wool Fiber
Wool is the classic floor covering material, and its unique properties ensure quality, function, and design distinction. Wool’s natural crimp makes it springy and resilient, enabling your rug to resist crushing from the weight of furniture. It’s thin outer coating makes it naturally water resistant, slowing the absorption of liquid spills. The fiber’s unique structure enables wool to trap air, making it a great insulator of heat and sound.
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