Quick Guide: Rug Types and Materials

How many times have you flicked through the rugs at a local rug store and been completely bamboozled by the description and haven't a clue what any of it means. Then, the pushy salesman talks so fast that you cant quite understand what he is saying, so you are just nodding your head. Eventually you walk out with nothing. 

Well with this handy blog you wont even have to venture into the store and you can buy online with confidence that you are getting what you want and what you have paid for. 

Polypropylene
(BCF)

These are the cheapest type of rugs, generally under $100 and great if you just want an easy
cover up for a rental or as a wall hanging.

Heat Set Polypropylene

A heat set polypropylene rug is one in which the yarn is processed to produce soft fibers that are resistant to wear and tear and repel stains. This type of rug is anti static, which makes vacuuming easier because animal hairs and lint don't easily adhere to the fibres. One million points is considered the highest quality.

Hand Tufted Acrylic

Hand tufted means that the acrylic fibre has been glued to the backing after tufting, that is looping without tying knots. Production of a hand-tufted area rug takes a fraction of the time to make, therefore greatly reducing the cost.

HAND TUFTED ACRYLIC/POLYESTER

These rugs are very similar to 100% acrylic but have some polyester added.
The care is the same.

MODERN WOOL RUGS

There are varying degrees in the quality and price of wool rugs. The less expensive  ones come from India, and the more expensive ones tend to be made from New Zealand wool. The New Zealand ones tend to be softer underfoot. However Indian wools are a great alternative without spending a fortune.

SHAG PILE RUGS

Shag pile is another rug type that has been popular the last few years. They really took the rug world by storm, and they come in many types of textile. Great for kids as they are very comfy to sit on and tend to not show every mark. The new kid on the block is a short shag, so it is still comfy, but has a shorter pile to be easier to vacuum and doesn't hide the bits of split food. 

JUTE AND NATURAL FIBRES

Jute and sisal rugs have really come into fashion in the last year or so. Because they are hand made, they can be made in a lot of different shapes, such as rounds. The cleaning is a little more involved with jute rugs and they are not really suitable for outdoors for any length of time.

OUTDOOR RUGS

Last but certainly not the least is  outdoor rugs. Made from recycled plastic straws, these rugs are great for brightening up your outdoor area, and giving it a bit of pizzazz. 

AND SO ON...

We have covered most types of rugs in this blog, except for the really traditional silk and hand knotted rugs from Pakistan Iran and Afghanistan, which are the ancient homes of hand knotted rugs. But that's another blog completely.

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