Durability of Wool Carpet

Resiliency

• Individual wool fibers are coiled much like a spring, giving wool a natural elasticity. A wool fiber can stretch up to 30 percent beyond its natural length and return to its natural shape, which allows the carpet to bounce back after being walked on or crushed by heavy furniture.

Abrasion Resistance

• Abrasion resistance is determined by the density of the fiber and how tightly individual yarns are packed. Tightly-packed fibers promote longer wear. While some synthetic fibers rate higher than wool, it has good to excellent abrasion resistance, which is an important factor when choosing a carpet for a high-traffic area.

Soil and Stain Resistance

• Wool is naturally soil and stain resistant. Wool fibers repel dirt, keeping it on the top surface of the carpet, which prevents most stains from penetrating the fibers and makes the carpet easier to clean. As with any carpet, routine vacuuming will keep your wool carpet clean and may extend the life of the rug. If your carpet has a stain or requires cleaning, use cleaners that are compatible with wool. "Oxy" cleaners, alkaline and bleach can damage wool fibers. Hiring a professional to clean your wool carpet is a good idea.

Fade Resistance

• Wool carpeting may fade with time and exposure to normal daylight. The fading will vary depending on the color of the carpet and the level of exposure to light. Exposure to direct sunlight will accelerate fading and should be avoided whenever possible.

Fire Resistance

• While no carpet is entirely fireproof, wool's natural fire retardant properties make it the preferred choice for high-volume commercial applications such as hotels and airliners. The wool fibers have a higher ignition point, making lighting them on fire more difficult. If a fire does occur, the material does not melt or emit the toxic fumes synthetic fibers produce. Instead, it is self-insulating and typically extinguishes itself.

Moisture

• The same moisture-repelling property that protects your wool carpeting from stains allows the fiber to retain moisture, which not only contributes to the fibers fire-retarding features, but it also reduces annoying and potentially harmful static-electricity. Uncontrolled static electricity can harm sensitive electronics. As an added bonus, wool carpet is a natural humidifier.