Linen is an expensive fabric known to be very durable, absorbent, and dries faster than other fabrics.
It can be used to make so many household items, including rugs.
Shedding is a natural occurrence for linen rugs. The darker the color of the linen rug, the more it will shed as the dye tends to break down the fabric.
Just like any other textile or fabric rug, linen rugs tend to shed:
Here’s Why Linen Rugs Shed:
Linens are made delicately – with fibers extracted from the flax plant, spun into yarn, and then made into woven fabric. As the fabric ages, it tends to soften, and the excess fibers are removed, resulting in shedding.
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Do Linen Rugs Shed More or Less than Other Types of Rugs?
While linen rugs shed, the good thing about it is that they do not shed as much as other rugs like those made out of machine-spun materials.
Since linen rugs are made from natural fibers, they tend to break down less than ones made out of nylon or acrylic.
How Do you Prevent Linen Rugs from Shedding?
Even though shedding is normal for linen rugs, it can still be prevented or minimized:
Clean the Rug Regularly:
Use a soft and gentle brush when cleaning linen rugs.
Velvet brushes are good for cleaning rugs and other items made of delicate fabrics like linen.
Vacuuming Care:
When vacuuming, use a traditional vacuum with medium settings.
Vacuum the linen rug gently while going with the grain of the pile and not against it. Vacuuming with higher settings will cause damage to the rug.
Do not use a heavy beater bar.
Don’t Pull:
Do not pull long bits of fiber that may come loose. Instead, use a pair of scissors to cut loose fibers.
Washing Care:
When washing linen rugs, use specialized laundries with machines that have a low or “gentle” setting.
Do not use regular washing machines on linen rugs, and do not tumble dry. Air dry them, but not directly under the sun, as sunlight can cause their color to fade.
Rotate:
Rotate linen rugs every now and then.
Linen rugs can shed very easily when placed in a part of the house with lots of foot traffic.
In this case, it is very helpful to occasionally rotate the rug to even out the wear and minimize the shedding.
How Often Should you Vacuum Linen Rugs to Avoid Shedding?
As a rule of thumb, rugs should be vacuumed at least two times a week. However, shedding also depends on how many people are in the household.
Pets in the household and where the rug is placed can increase the need to vacuum.
Since linen as a fabric is generally very absorbent, linen rugs tend to accumulate more dirt than usual, especially when in a busy household. It would be okay to vacuum linen rugs daily to ensure no dirt build-up in the fabric.
When vacuuming, make sure to do so gently to avoid destroying the rug, especially its edges.
What Causes a Rug to Shed?
Shedding is very common for all types of rugs.
It is natural and nothing to be seriously concerned about, but it can vary depending on what material or fabric the rug is made of.
Shedding occurs when there are loose fibers. It means that some of the fibers are not tightly bound to the rug’s base or to the rug itself.
It also happens when there is a lot of activity or foot traffic in the household, and people walk on the rug. These fibers tend to come loose.
Do Linen Rugs Stop Shedding Eventually?
Shedding in linen rugs should not occur forever.
It may be more frequent from when you first got it, but it will eventually stop since shedding occurs naturally for linen rugs. This will happen as all loose fibers pull free.
Shedding is a part of a linen rug’s life cycle, and as the material ages and sheds, it will become softer.
With proper care, cleaning, and treatment, the shedding for linen rugs should stop in a few months.
What Types of Rugs Shed the Least?
Most rugs tend to shed. It is important to note that the shedding mostly depends on what material the rug is made of and how the material is made.
In general, machine-made rugs tend to shed more frequently. These are rugs made out of synthetic textiles such as acrylic or nylon.
These rugs are normally produced by inserting wool through a latex base, which breaks down over time.
Handmade rugs tend to shed the least. These rugs are made from natural materials like wool, cotton, and silk.
Shedding Will Occur:
Yes, shedding may occur on these rugs in the first few months, but that will eventually stop.
When choosing a rug for your home, you want to go for a handmade rug. Yes, they tend to be more expensive, but you get better quality, and they tend to last longer than machine-made ones.
When buying rugs, it is safe to say that the saying “you get what you paid for” applies.