Choosing Rugs

SCATTERMATS  RUG  WAREHOUSE

 

 

 

Tips on purchasing your rug and caring for your rug.

 

 

Rugs

Rugs are available in all sizes starting from a small entrance mat to the largest to suit an activity room or large family room.  They are available in runners, fixed lengths or continuous, round, oval, oblong and even square.  Certain ranges may be available in all sizes and shapes while others limited to 1 or 2 sizes.

The smallest rug size is a 120 x 170cm which is suitable for near the sofa, under a coffee table or a small lounge room.

The most popular size, one used for the family area is a 160 x 230cm and this may vary slightly.  This size is ideal to suit the setting of the family room with the seating around the rug.  You will also find the greatest selection of designs and colours in this size.

For the dining room a suitable size is a 2m x 2.9m rug.  The dining suite would seat 6 to 8 people.  It allows the chairs to still be on the rug as they are dragged outwards to sit on.  Of course it can be used for the larger family rooms.

A full room size rug would be 240cm x 340cm.  This is used for the larger family room, activity room or under an extended dining table.  There is also on occasion a 3m x 4m available, but are limited to the more traditional colours and designs.

 

Runners

Runners are manufactured at finished lengths or continuous.  The finished lengths are generally 67cm-80cm x 300cm.  Continuous Runners on a roll of up to 30 metres long and have a width from 67cm up to 80cm.   The runners available on the roll can be cut to any length, overlocked or fringed and are available in many designs and colours, also available in rubber backed or the woven.  Some can also be matched with room size rugs.

 

 

Quality

 

 The quality of the rugs will depend on the type of fibre used on the pile, and the process of construction. 

Machine made rugs are made of woolen, synthetic and combinations of the two fibres.  There are of course other natural fibres used like cotton ,silk and jute but are not as popular.

Synthetic fibres have come a long way over in recent years.  At present most machine made rugs are made in Polypropylene, Acrylic and mixtures of man made fibres.  The cheapest qualities are polypropylene rugs known as BCF, meaning continuous fibre, these are really good for a limited time as the fibre tends to flatten easily and are hard to vacuum and maintain. 

 

Heat Set Polypropylene Rugs

Polypropylene rugs in a Heat Set Fibre means that the yarn is twisted and then treated with heat to stay twisted, this acts like a shock absorber to prevent it from flattening.  Heat Set fibres are easy to vacuum as they are antistatic, so  fluff and animal hairs don't adhere to them. 

There are many qualities of Heat Set Polypropylene rugs in the market and the quality depends on the density of the weave and the thickness of the yarn.  Generally the thicker the yarn the lesser  the quality.  The finer the yarn is twisted and set, the more points or shots are required to cover the surface of the rug and therefore the rug has more density and is more stable and longer lasting. 

Acrylic Rugs

Acrylic rugs can also be of high quality.  The acrylic yarn doesn't have the sheen that the polypropylene rugs produce.  Acrylic rugs feel and look like wool but don't wear as well and are generally cheaper.

But beware of some acrylic shaggy rugs as they can shed / molt, you can rub your fingers back and forth quickly through the pile to test for this.

Woolen Rugs

Woolen rugs are a lot  warmer and have quality classification that dictates the quality.  The T3 classification is the cheapest woolen machine woven rug.  T4 is better and T6 is the highest quality produced. There are also a lot of hand tufted woolen rugs on the market today which are generally thicker than the machine  wovens,  and are mostly  modern type designs. One advantage of woolen  rugs is that they won't burn easily.

 

 

Hand Tufted  Rugs

Hand tufted rugs from India and China are easily recognizable and relatively inexpensive.  Generally  they use wool or acrylic fibres in this category, although now that shaggy rugs are back in fashion polypropylene and polyester are now being introduced.   You will always be able to distinguish the hand tufted by looking at the back of the rug where a plain colour cloth covers the glue that keeps the yarn stuck on the base. Majority of these are heatset but there are some cheaper brands available, If possible ask or feel the fibre and if it feels slightly sticky then it  will have antistatic problems.

Machine Made Flatweave Rugs

Flatweave  rugs are made with the fibre  running horizontally rather than vertically, this has many advantages.
Cleaning spills etc.is really easy and they don't have static problems, plus they are very hard wearing as there is no pile to flatten.

The only disadvantages is that they are not soft to sit on  and don't look plush.

Shaggy Rugs

Shaggy rugs are currently in fashion and  the advantages of these is that they wear well and are great for sitting on and don't show fluff or dirt.

Only disadvantage is that they will eventually need to be hung up over something and  hit to remove  debris.

Hand Knotted  Rugs

The back of the hand knotted rug reveals the design that is on the front.  They are basic in design and are available in soft earthy tones.

Special requirment  areas

If you are searching for a rug for sound problems (echoing) I would recommend any thick type rug as they will absorb sound extremely well.

For a dining room table or games room a flatweave is a really cheap practical option, but remember they don't look plush.

 

 

Cleaning and Caring for your Rug

Cleaning

Whatever the method used for cleaning treat all rugs gently. Shaking and hand beating are not recommended, unless the rug has become extremely gritty or its a shaggy rug as the pile is so deep that a vacuum cleaner can't remove the debris.

Always vacuum your rug regularly.

Thorough cleaning should be conducted at least every 6-12 months.

Machine made woven rugs that have Jute in the weave on the back should be dry cleaned by a professional. These rugs can become warp damaged if they absorb too much moisture.

One method for cleaning is to use 'soap and water' to spot clean them. Preferably use mild wool liquid laundry detergent with luke warm water. If you are unsure try cleaning a small area in the corner first to make sure no colours run. Sponge gently the spot to be cleaned. Blot dry with a dry cloth. With a cloth 'rinse' with vinegar in luke warm water, and sponge gently over the cleaned area. Blot dry with a dry cloth. When dry, vacuum.

Remember cleaning mistakes cannot always be taken out and done over, be careful, if in doubt call a professional.

Storage

When moving rugs or removing them they can simply be rolled and tied securely and stored away. It is best to roll them face down to prevent strain of the backing. A covering of plastic canvas will be sufficient to keep them clean. Never fold them to pad other household objects, unless the investment they represent is no longer important.