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Green Idea: Wool on the Floor

Jan 28, 2010

Remember when the carpet installers left, how the house had that "new" smell for weeks? That's chemical off-gassing. The air you breathe in a room with new, synthetic (i.e., petroleum-based) carpeting is not good for you. What are some healthy alternatives? Minimizing the amount of carpeting or rugs in favor of bare wood or tile is one option. But there are certain spaces in your home where you really want a plush, warm surface underfoot. In these places, natural fibers are called for: in particular, wool.

• Unlike synthetic fibers (nylon, polyester, olefin), wool emits no chemical gases. But it goes a step further by actually absorbing contaminants in indoor air— and it won't reemit them.
• Wool has a natural dirt-repellant quality due to the overlapping scale structure of its fibers. It has a tendency to keep dirt near the surface of the rug where it can easily be removed.
• It contains a lot of moisture and protein, which give it natural flame-resistance.
• Wool fibers are more resilient than synthetic, so it will retain its loft and shape longer. Each wool fiber has a spring-like shape that helps it retain its original appearance, even with repeated foot traffic.
• Wool resists static electricity.
• Wool has natural repellancy to moisture. (Cue sheep grazing in the rain.) This means it's naturally mold- and mildew-resistant.
• Wool has superb insulating qualities, helping to control heat loss through the floor. Consider it for window treatments also, where it can regulate temperatures year-round.
• Wool is a sustainable, renewable, biodegradable resource. There is some question about conventional wool production and textile manufacturing, regarding the treatment of sheep and chemical usage in factories. The best-quality wool is organic: produced from free-range, organically fed sheep without the use of pesticides/herbicides or synthetic medicine

So why isn't wool a more popular choice? Price, of course. Wool rugs are more expensive than synthetics, for all the reasons stated above. But always consider the cost of an item over time. Buy a synthetic rug, and you'll likely have to replace it in 10 years or sooner. A wool rug that's properly cared for can last 50 years or more. And in that case, you'd better choose wisely.

Here are a few stylish and well priced wool rugs.

Brown Wool Rug from Overstock.com, 5x8, $118

Current Rug from Overstock.com, 5x8, $174

Royal Quill Rug from Overstock.com, 5x8, $144

Baxter Plum Rug from Crate and Barrel, 4x6, $249

Rodeo Drive Rug from RugsUSA.com, 5x8, $224

Enter discount code JP50 at checkout to get an extra 50% off! This is a fantastic deal, with many wool rugs to choose from in the clearance section.

Need some help making your space more stylish and more eco-friendly at the same time? I've maximized the green in my own home, and I can help you do it, too, with a room plan that emphasizes sustainability and re-use of pieces you already own. Just email me!

TAGS: wool woolen rugs carpets carpeting eco-friendly green flooring chemical off-gassing air quality budget discount wool rugs

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