The question “Which material should I choose?” pops up in your head when you are shopping for an area rug. It is wrong to buy a rug simply because it looks nice. You must first consider what your rug will be exposed to. For example, if the place where you want to put the rug has high traffic, you must ask yourself the question what is the best rug material for high traffic area.

Wool Area Rug

Wool is one of the most common types of material used in manufacturing area rug. It is a popular choice because of its softness and long life span.

  • Wool rugs are strong, durable, and elastic. It will continue to stay beautiful even when exposed to a lot of traffic.
  • Wool has an excellent water resistant ability when it is pre-treated with lanolin or other waterproofing agents. The dry environment it creates makes it one of the best rugs for dust mite allergy.
  • Wool is a natural fiber derived from a green source. It is harvest from a sheep and can be grown back. Sourced from an animal fiber, it is biodegradable and can be recycled.
  • It has the ability to hide dirt well. People won’t notice dirt in the wool rug even under a bright light. The dirt usually accumulate high in the pile making it easy to vacuum.
  • Old wool rugs tend to develop a fantastic patina that give them a richer texture over time.
  • It offers great insulation. Being the fiber of a sheep, it has a good ability to keep warm the room. It can effectively trap heat when it is freezing cold outside during the winter.
  • Besides being the best rugs for dust mite allergy, it can resist flames well. Many office and commercial buildings have installed wool rugs at the entrance door as a safety measure in case a fire emergency occur.
  • The only downside of wool area rug is that it is costly due to the complex processing and manufacturing procedure.

Silk Area Rug

Silk area rug is a luxurious piece of décor to have in your house as it is made from high count of extremely fine fiber. However, it is rare to see real silk rug on sale. Most of them are either made from artificial silk or silk blend with other types of materials.

  • Silk is harvested from the cocoon of the silkworm larvae so it is a natural fiber
  • It has a shiny finish and can add a luxury look to your home. It usually has an intricate design with lots of details.
  • Silk carpet is light, soft, and smooth to the feel. It has the ability to regulate the room temperature. It can keep you cool during a hot day and make you feel warm in cold weather.
  • It can absorb moisture fast. It remains mostly dry without a giving you a feeling of dampness when you accidentally spill a liquid. Therefore, silk rugs are the best rugs for dust mite allergy.
  • It is flame resistant and is hard to ignite when exposed to fire. It burns slowly and may self extinguish, thus preventing the fast moving fire to spread.
  • The downside is that it is not as durable as wool and can sustain only minimal traffic. You can hang the silk rug on the wall as décor if you have no place on the floor to put in your house.
  • Silk carpet can become dirty easily bit it can last for a long time if you take good care of it by regularly cleaning it.
  • Silk carpet is some of the most expensive carpets sold at the public auction. It is expensive because of the amount of time that goes into producing the silk. Lots of larvae of silkworms have to be harvested to produce a large amount of silk.

Seagrass Area Rug

Seagrass area rug is commonly used as a décor for bathroom and kitchen due to its ability to repel water. It is crafted with high craftsmanship and various weaving styles are available.

  • Seagrass is made from the natural fibers harvested from the seagrass plants in the wetlands. It grows back fast and can be easily harvested making an eco-friendly option. You can buy it in the ground when it becomes worn and it will decompose quickly.
  • Seagrass rugs is the best rugs for dust mite allergy because of its high water resistance and ability to effectively reduce mold growth.
  • Another reason why seagrass rugs are the best rugs for dust mite allergy is because it is easy to clean. The first are always on the surface of the weave only and you just need to use a cloth to wipe it.
  • Seagrass rug features the fibers of seagrass that is intricately woven into a unique pattern. No matter you view it from what viewpoint, it will look aesthetically pleasing.
  • The downside is that seagrass rug has a coarse surface and is rough to the feel.

Cotton Area Rug

Cotton is the most common type of material used in making area rug. It is a natural vegetable fiber harvested from the cotton plants. Often cotton is used in the foundation but some also produce piles made of cotton.

  • Cotton carpet is one of the best rugs for dust mite allergy as it is hypoallergenic and does not cause skin irritation. It is also safe for infants and toddlers to crawl on.
  • It is durable and can be washed in a washing machine. It won’t become damaged even if you wash it repeatedly.
  • It can absorb dye very well so it can be dyed into many colorful patterns.
  • It is inexpensive and available on a variety of designs.
  • Cotton area rug is good at absorbing water so it can remain wet for a long time when you didn’t take it out to dry. It is prone to develop mildew if the water is not removed promptly.

Chenille Area Rug

Chenille rug is made up of strips of fuzzy piles that are sewn to the back. Chenille rug was first introduced in France. The term, chenille is a French word that means caterpillar. The long caterpillar like fiber is twisted to the base and it can add a luxurious look to your room. It is a popular choice of rug worldwide famous for its soft stringy piles.

  • Chenille area rug is cheaper than a velvet rug without the sacrifice of craftsmanship and appearance.
  • Chenille carpet can be durable if it is taken care properly. The piles of chenille are tightly woven and won’t come off easily even when being frequently tread underfoot.
  • It is soft, non toxic, odorless, and pretreated to withstand stains.
  • It is harmonious to various types of room surroundings. It makes an attractive décor in the living room, family room, nursery room and bedroom.
  • Chenille rugs tend to collect a lot of dust over time so they may not be the best rugs for dust mite allergy. But, you can turnaround this situation by regularly vacuuming it.