Pure Wool vs Wool Blends
Here we'll explore the benefits of wool carpets, the types of households or rooms it's best suited to and the different wool options on offer.
100% wool
100% pure wool carpets offer true luxury, warmth and durability with the added benefits of being eco-friendly and hypoallergenic. These carpets are crafted from natural sheep’s wool, a durable, sustainable fibre that is both renewable and biodegradable. Acting as natural insulators with strong bounce-back fibres, they’re extremely long-lasting, keep your house warm and withstand heavy footfall to help save money overtime. Both flame-retardant and hypoallergenic, wool improves air quality by trapping allergens, removing them and absorbing moisture from the air.
They're great for bedrooms and living rooms due to their level of comfort underfoot and sound absorbing properties, they're also excellent in high-traffic areas like stairs and hallways by maintaining their appearance over time. It's best to avoid using wool in areas prone to moisture such as kitchens, dining areas or bathrooms as wool absorbs liquids more easily than synthetic carpets, making odours and stains harder to remove.
Which households should avoid? Wool carpets require a lot of upkeep and are high-maintenance through regular vacuuming and occasional professional cleaning to keep wool looking its best. Houses that prefer low-maintenance, are on a budget, have pets and are prone to spills should refrain from this carpet, as it's also not great for pet hair and can be expensive when compared to synthetic options.
Wool Blends
Truly the best of both worlds, wool blends take all the benefits of pure wool and add in the features where it underperforms. Wool blends are a mixture of natural wool fibres and synthetic fibres, most commonly in ratios of 80% wool 20% synthetic for the 'sweet spot' but are also available in 70/30, 60/40 and 50/50. Wool is excellent on its own, offering premium luxury, softness and insulation but it can be expensive and harder to clean. By blending wool with synthetic, your carpet evolves in to a more durable and stain resistant superpower that's easier to maintain and won't be as costly. By altering the ratio, you can ramp up the synthetic qualities whilst lowering costs without having to compromise on the luxury and benefits of wool, but it does have its cons. Being a premium carpet, it's still relatively expensive in comparison to synthetic versions, and may not have quite the same luxuriously soft feel underfoot as pure wool. It's also not as natural or biodegradable as pure, lowering its eco benefits. With that said, it's a great balance of comfort, quality and performance by keeping stains at bay and further resisting carpet fade.