Real Talk on Vintage Rugs in Homes with Pets & Kids
One of the things I hear from folks is some version of- I can’t own a nice rug because I have pets and/or kids, and they will ruin it…
To the contrary! A real wool rug is my #1 pick for high traffic, busy households and spaces where real life- pets, kids and all are included. Did you know that wool is naturally stain resistant AND that it doesn’t harbor bacteria because it is also antimicrobial? It’s true! The lanolin that coats wool fibers acts like a protective barrier and you’d be surprised at how easy it is to clean up spills, and would-be stains off of a wool rug. Cotton and jute rugs cannot do what wool does as far as cleaning and stain removal goes~ both of those fibers absorb liquids as opposed to repelling them, which can end in staining. Synthetic fiber rugs, while stain resistant, are made of literal plastic and therefore microplastic shedding in your home and eternally rotting in a landfill are uncomfortable things to think about.
One of my more recent spills on my light color kitchen rug was an entire olive oil and roasted tomato covered baking sheet. Want to know how I cleaned it up? A dry paper towel- that’s it! I did in fact follow up with a wet paper towel just for good measure but it wasn’t even all that necessary. Getting to spills quickly allows you to literally wipe them away. That lanolin coating each wool fiber is kinda like a duck’s feathers, repelling moisture away- or in my case olive oil and tomato juice.
Living with my two dear senior pets for years, I became a pro at cleaning up the worst of the worst messes, I’m sure you can use your imagination… So naturally, I did at one point create a step-by-step tutorial on how to remove a hefty pile of kitty barf off of my white Moroccan rug (Find it saved to the EV Instagram hi-lights). It’s the same process to use for any spill or impending stain on your wool rug. I promise it’s easy, and with the right wool friendly soap an accident from your furry friend doesn’t mean the end of the world or the end of your rug by any means.
Your vintage rug isn’t disposable, it truly has the ability to serve you well, even in the busiest and messiest of homes. According to a quick web search, the life expectancy of a vintage wool rug is anywhere between 40-100+ years! If you are on the fence, or fearing the potential wear and tear on a more expensive one-of-a-kind piece, send an email or DM, I will always give you my honest opinion on whether the rug you are considering will be a good fit for you and your family’s needs. Many of the rugs I offer have a lower pile or sturdier handle, making them good choices for areas of the home getting a lot of action. Likewise, choosing a 100% wool rug, (wool pile on a wool foundation) can set you up well for easy cleaning, stain management, or use in a more damp environment like the kitchen or bath.
In the end, I assure you a vintage wool rug is made to last, and will hold up to real life-pets, spills, kids, crumbs and all, like no other… And you don’t just have to take my word for it either- here are a handful of comments from some dear clients already loving life with their EV rugs from a recent Instagram post:
“The low pile and patterns also make clean ups a lot easier. My kids squirted neon orange paint on my new to me antique rug and it came up quite easily”
“The amount of things that my dogs have done on my rugs… and they still look great!”
“…We have a black lab and a baby that live all over ours and I also clean them out in the yard during the summer months!”
“I have two of the furriest babes in the world and this rug has been incredibly low maintenance”
“…These wool rugs are just the durability that families need”
