Karastan Wool Rugs

Karastan machine woven wool rugs are made with very good quality wool and dyes, and is the top end of the machine woven rug world. With proper care they can last many decades and still be like new. They require the same care as hand knotted wool rugs.

• Wool has a natural short term repellency to liquids. Quick clean up often takes care of most spills. If spills reach the interior cotton and jute foundation (which is highly absorbent), additional cleaning measures will be needed.
• Wool has an excellent ability to hide soil and dust. It is the fiber that never looks very dirty, even when it is. This is why washing wool often makes rugs explode back to life with color and shine.
• Wool will not hold a flame, it is naturally flame resistant and will self-extinguish if fireplace sparks or a candle falls on it.

Wool must be properly washed regularly to extend its life and prevent wear/tear from dust and fine grit. Rugs in place for several years, areas underneath large furniture, and back edges, should be inspected quarterly for moths.

AT-HOME MAINTENANCE:

The one care step that more than anything else will help wool rugs last longer is regular proper vacuuming and dusting. Fine dirt and grit that works its way to the base of a wool rug is what leads to fiber damage and wear. If you can prevent that fine dust from reaching the base of the rug, you will extend its life.

As often as you need to sweep your floors, or dust your counter tops, is as often as you should be “dusting” your rugs. Most heavy duty strong suction vacuums, designed for digging into installed wall-to-wall carpeting, are too strong for most rugs. 

These rugs often have fringe machine sewn on to the ends. These comers can begin to tear and pull loose with time and use. When the damage just starts, it is an easy repair, so watch for this to avoid a larger repair cost. When sides wear away, these rugs can be easily repaired by machine to re-serge or re-bind the sides.

SPILL TIPS: 

Most spills will blot and clean up if immediate action is taken as wool suspends most liquids for a short time naturally. If spills move into the interior cotton/jute fibers, there is a risk of mildew and bacteria growth which can lead to strong odors and eventually dry rot.