The look of a rug-how beautiful it is- is not the only thing to consider when buying a rug.
Imagine spending over $1000 to buy a very smart Oriental rug only to have it look too old and filthy one month later.
For that reason, you will need to consider other factors like where the rug will be placed. For example, places with high foot traffic will need more durable rug materials. Continue reading this post to discover which materials are those.
Types of high traffic areas
- Kids rooms
- Kitchen
- Living room
- Main hallway
- Front door entryway
- Staircases
For such places, you need to choose a rug material that is most durable to withstand wear and tear caused by the foot pressure.
Additionally, you will need to choose a rug that is easy to clean and does not get dirty quickly for such high traffic areas.
High foot traffic can also be caused by having too many people in a home, such as many children, pets, and houseguests, among other persons.
If your home has highly expensive Persian oriental rugs in the living room or other places, you will need this guide to know how you can prevent them from being damaged by the high traffic.
Summary: The main types of rug materials ideal for high traffic areas are, wool rugs, flat-weave rugs, such as cotton, synthetic rugs, such as Nylon and Polypropylene, natural fiber rugs, such as jute. Generally, look for rugs marketed as “outdoor rugs”, or “stain resistant rugs”.
Pro tip: instead of using rugs in high traffic areas, you can use carpet strips held down correctly by high grip adhesive strips.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING BEST RUGS FOR HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS
#1 Rug Material
Look for rugs marketed as “stain resistant” or “outdoor rugs”. Read the section below on 5 best rug materials for high foot traffic areas.
#2 Rug Color and Pattern
A rug in high traffic areas will get dirty quickly. Therefore, Bright colors such as whites, creams, pinks, and other types of solid colors will show stains easily. Washing an expensive rug often can end up damaging its fibers and reducing its lifespan.
You also want to choose patterns and colors which can easily camouflage spill stains, pet hair, dust, and other types of dirt. Thus, you will need to search dark or less bright hues that will not show dirt easily.
#3 Pile & Fiber
The best rugs for high traffic areas are those with low pile and high fiber density because the low pile makes them easy to clean and the high fiber density makes them durable.
WHAT IS THE MOST DURABLE RUG MATERIAL? BEST RUG MATERIALS FOR HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS
#1 WOOL
Wool is one of the most durable rug materials for high traffic areas due to the following properties:
Soft: This adds more warmth and comfort to your underfoot.
High pile: This property makes wool rugs to repel stains and other dirt materials.
Pest-proof: This material does not attract any moths and other types of pests or bacterial growth commonly found in rugs.
Hypoallergenic: This material is non-toxic, which makes it an ideal choice for people with allergies like asthma.
Heat-resistant: so many heat accidents can occur in high foot traffic areas. For example, a cigarette can drop on the rug. If you are using a synthetic material rug, it will catch on fire while the wool will not.
Cons of wool rugs
They shed easily: When exposed to high heat such as direct sun rays, they fade so easily. You will need to take your wool rug for a professional cleaning from time to time. They cost more, so you must be ready to pay a fortune or huge investment for highly durable wool rugs.
High moisture absorbency: Wool has high moisture absorbent properties, which means you can end up with a mildew smell disaster or a moth infestation outbreak when your rugs are placed in dump places, poor air circulation areas like the basement, and low humidity homes.
Pro Tip: Check out this Oriental Wool area rug ideal for living rooms. It is handmade and has a Heriz design (a popular type of Persian rugs).
# 2 NYLON
A nylon rug turns out to be the best choice for high traffic places due to the following reasons.
Low-maintenance: Nylon rugs are easy to clean, which means you will not have to worry too much if the high foot traffic makes them dirty quickly.
Soft: They are very soft, which makes them ideal nursery room rugs for babies, especially those that are crawling or playing on the floor.
Stain-resistant: High foot traffic areas are prone to spills and dust stains. The good news is that a Nylon rug will not show those stains so much because they come in multi-colored patterns.
Indestructible: Nylon rugs do not wear down easily, which makes them the best choice for pet owners with cats with claws or with dogs that eat rug fibers.
Affordable: Most Nylon rugs are high quality and still pocket-friendly or highly budget reasonable.
Pro Tip: This Rainbow Nylon rug is durable, fade-resistant, multi-colored, stain-resistant, and easy to clean, properties that make it the best choice for high traffic areas.
# 3 POLYPROPYLENE
The features below make a Polypropylene rug ideal for high traffic areas:
Multipurpose: You can use a polypyrene rug both in spaces inside your home and those outsides. For example, in outdoor spaces, it is the best choice for high traffic pool areas and patios.
Fade-resistant: These types of rugs do not shed their colors even when exposed to direct sun rays, which makes them retain their beautiful bright colors with time.
Soft: This will add extra warmth and comfort to your feet.
Non-toxic: A feature which makes these rugs ideal for use with kids, pets, allergy suffers, and other sensitive people.
Affordable: You will get high-quality rugs for low prices, which will not weigh down your budget.
Easy to clean: This rug material is resistant to mildew smells and spill stains, which means you will not spend lots of hours cleaning it.
Pro Tip: This Safavieh Bohemian Chic Polypropylene rug is stylish, pet-friendly, ideal for kids, non-shedding, easy to spot clean, and damage-resistant. These features make it ideal for high foot traffic areas.
# 4 COTTON
Polypropylene and nylon are more durable than cotton rug materials, but it is considered the right choice for high traffic areas because of the following reasons:
Easy to clean: Cotton rugs are made with low pile since they are flat woven, which means you can quickly put them into the washing machine, and all the dirt will be gone with little effort.
Smell-resistant: These rugs can be easily air-dried, which will keep away any mildew, pet, and other types of smells or bacteria growth.
Multipurpose use: They come in different styles, colors, and piles, which makes them ideal for use in a wide variety of places.
Pro Tip: This handmade Tammara handmade Cotton rug is stylish, multi-colored and durable which make it ideal for living room, kitchen, hallway, dining room and other high foot traffic areas.
# 5 NATURAL FIBER
Sea grass, Jute and Sisal are two common example of natural fiber rug materials. Below are some of the features which makes them the best choices for high traffic areas:
Eco-friendly: These rugs are not made from synthetic materials but from biodegradable natural fibers which makes them environmentally welcoming.
Rough: This is an advantage in that it makes the rug highly durable because the weaves and braids are tightly spun together eliminating possibilities of wear and tear. Additionally, it is a disadvantage because it will not offer that soft comfort to your underfoot.
Handmade: It takes the weavers months or years to complete one piece of such rugs which contributes to their highly durable and aesthetic appeal nature.
Pro Tip: This Hand-Wooven Jute Natural fiber rug is thick, durable, and versatile making it an ideal choice for high traffic areas.
RUGS TO AVOID IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS
#1 PLUSH RUGS
Shag and far are example of plush rugs. Some rugs have plush embellishments so they fall into this category too. The problem with plush rugs is that they are hard to clean and maintain. Additionally, they wear down too easily medium to high foot traffic areas.
#2 SILK AND VISCOSE RUG
Silk rugs are highly delicate. If you clean them too much, they will wear down fast. If you expose them to high pressure, it will also increase their tear. They look beautiful and feel great to touch, but they are not the best choices for high foot traffic areas.
#3 RUGS WITH HIGH PILE
Rugs with a pile more than 0.75″ in height, such as Shag rugs will be very hard to clean. Also, they will trap dust and other particles insides which will be very hard to remove. You better of when you go with a pile height less than 0.5″
HOW DO YOU PROTECT RUGS IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS? CARE AND MAINTENANCE TIPS
- Stains such as per urine, tea spills among other should be cleaned when fresh or immediately you notice them before they set in, dry up and become to hard to clean. Check out this how to clean rugs and get smells and stains out of them guide.
- Take your rug to be professionally cleaned at least twice a year.
- Make sure you put anti slip mats or rug pads under your rugs to prolong their lifespan.
- Place doormats at main entry doors. These mats will trap dust and debris trapped in legs and shoes to prevent them from entering into the house.
- Have a consistent cleaning routine, such as ensuring you vacuum your rugs regularly to discourage dirt and stains from sitting in or permanently sticking into the rug.
- Remove dents, bunching up corners and other types of folds where dirt can easily hide. For example, if your rug is anchored by furniture, make sure you rotate or move it weekly. Remember to use casters or felt protectors to keep your rugs from being damaged when moving the furniture back and forth.
- Avoid exposing your rugs to direct up sun rays by adding curtains or blinds to protect your rugs.
- Trim your pet nails regularly or make them to wear pet socks.
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