Flooring

A guide to wool carpet: The pros & cons and how to care for it

There’s nothing more comforting than padding around on fluffy wool carpet, but how do you keep it in good condition? I've got all the help and advice you'll need for keeping your wool carpet looking its best.

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A popular flooring choice, wool carpet has been a luxury in British homes for centuries.


As well as being exceedingly comfortable underfoot, wool carpet is renowned for its many excellent properties - it's fire resistant, offers excellent insulation, is extremely hard wearing and, thanks to its natural resource, is highly sustainable.


Although they tend to cost more than other carpets, wool carpet can be considered an investment as, with the right care, they can last for many, many years.


They do, however, require a little extra maintenance to keep them in good condition.

What are the advantages of wool carpet?


There are many reasons why the classic wool carpet is still a firm favourite in many homes today. Here are the advantages of wool carpet:


  1. Hard wearing – wool carpet, in particular, is known for having built-in elasticity from the wool, which means it doesn’t suffer massively from pile compression.
  2. Dirt-resistant – wool is resistant to dirt and naturally repels oil because it contains natural oils. What’s more, wool is an opaque (non-transparent) fibre, which means it’s really good at masking marks.
  3. Comfortable – luxuriously bouncy and soft, wool carpet is the epitome of comfort. Because it’s a natural fibre, it’s also naturally warm and offers great insulation (heat and noise) too.
  4. Fire resistant – wool is naturally fire-resistant and, if it does set alight, it will happen extremely slowly. This is why it’s a popular flooring choice for commercial buildings. Interestingly, wool carpet that’s on fire doesn’t burn, but melts, which can help reduce the fire from spreading.
  5. Sustainable – the wool for woollen carpet comes from sheep, who naturally need shearing every year. Wool is also biodegradable in soil, producing plant nutrients, including nitrogen, sulphur, carbon dioxide and water.


Things to consider:


For all the advantages, there are some things you should consider, such as:


  1. Cost – as I mentioned earlier, wool carpet does come with a larger price tag. This is mainly due to all the processing and production that’s involved, bearing in mind it is more of a luxury investment.
  2. Non-oil stains – wool may be great at repelling oil-based stains, but it can be really easily stained by non-oil-based liquids that contain strong pigments, for instance, wine and coffee, that grip to the wool.
  3. Fading – wool carpets are prone to being faded by the sun. A carpet that’s constantly in strong sunshine for several hours a day will unfortunately become discoloured over time.
  4. Shedding – just like it would on a sheep, just not so extreme, wool carpet sheds. Wool carpets release fibres that get sucked up by your vacuum, especially when they are new. The shedding does subside over time.
  5. Absorbency – if you think about what wool’s naturally designed to do (protect sheep from the elements), you won’t be surprised to hear that wool carpet is highly absorbent; just like a sponge. If you spill water on it, it’s difficult to get out, which can lead to mould forming.


How do you maintain a wool carpet?


Here are a few tips for cleaning your wool carpet.


  • It's important to regularly vacuum your carpet to keep it free from dirt and debris. Regular vacuuming will also pick up lose fibres which naturally shed from the product.
  • To clean sticky dirt, such as wet mud, it’s best to use dedicated wool carpet cleaning products or arrange for your carpets to be professionally cleaned.
  • To remove liquid stains – use a clean cloth to soak up as much of the spill as you can. Do not scrub the stain because it will damage the fibres and push the stain further down. 


Alternatively, you can use water or wool carpet-compatible cleaning products, remembering to spray the product on your cloth and not directly on the carpet. Spraying the carpet will make the stain deeper and encourage it to spread. Remember to refer to the manufacturer's instructions for specific cleaning techniques and recommendations.


How often should you vacuum wool carpet?


To prevent the build up of dry soil, it’s best to vacuum your carpet at least once a week.


Using a vacuum with soft bristles and strong suction will help extend the lifespan of the fibres.


When it’s first been fitted, vacuum it every day for a week to fully remove any dirt produced during installation.


When your carpet is first laid, you will find an excess of fibres.


This is normal and should reduce within 3-6 months with regular vacuuming.


Can you steam clean wool carpet?


To help keep wool carpets in in good condition, it's recommended that it receives a light steaming every 12 to 18 months.


However, doing this more regularly could damage the natural wool fibres.


Does wool carpet wear well?


Yes it does, providing you vacuum them regularly, particularly in high traffic areas, and keep on top of any spillages or marks as soon as possible.


To keep your carpets in good condition, you should have them professionally cleaned regularly. If looked after properly, wool carpets can last for 20 to 25 years.

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Jack Odgen

Written by:

Flooring Specialist

at ScS Coventry

12th September 2023

Jack is the Flooring Specialist based at the Coventry ScS store. Having been part of the ScS flooring team since 2019, Jack knows everything there is to know about the flooring ranges at ScS. Jack's favourite flooring is carpet as it can make a house feel more homely, has a nice underfoot feeling and can help to keep the house a little warmer.