Understanding and Preventing Rug Fading in Your Home

New Zealanders love homes filled with natural light, but our intense sun can be harsh on home furnishings. Rug fading is a common issue caused by the sun’s powerful energy. At Wool Area Rug Store, we want to help you make an informed decision to ensure your area rug remains beautiful for years to come.

What Causes Sun Fading in Rugs?

Sun damage to your soft furnishings is caused by three main types of light:

• Ultraviolet (UV) Light: Accounts for approximately 40% of fading.
• Infrared Light: Accounts for approximately 25% of fading.
• Visible Light: Accounts for approximately 25% of fading.

The final 10% of damage comes from other factors, including the quality of the dye, fabric age, and household cleaning products.

UV light is the primary culprit. It not only bleaches natural materials like wool, cotton, and jute but also breaks down the synthetic fibres found in many machine-made rugs. Over time, the sun’s rays make rug fibres brittle, leading to tearing and crushing. This is often seen in carpets and rugs placed near large windows or sliding glass doors.

How Do Natural Fibres Stand Up to Sun Fading?

While we can’t completely stop solar damage, which accounts for 90% of the problem, we can make smart choices about the materials we bring into our homes.

Wool Rugs

Rugs made from strong New Zealand wool are your best defense against fading. As an eco-friendly, sustainable, and renewable resource, wool is exceptionally durable. New Zealand wool has a unique natural whiteness that allows it to hold dyes more effectively. Aware of our country’s high UV levels, local wool growers have focused on producing a fibre with superior resilience to fading. This is why New Zealand wool is the global top choice for high-quality soft furnishings.

Jute Rugs

Jute is an eco-friendly fibre, often free from chemical processing. While this is a benefit, it also means that the dyes used can fade quickly when exposed to New Zealand’s sunlight, sometimes in as little as four to six weeks. The fibres can also break down faster than other natural materials.

Cotton Rugs

Cotton is a durable and affordable rug material that has been used for centuries. While cotton rugs hold their color reasonably well, some manufacturers may use lower-quality dyes to reduce costs. Cotton will eventually fade, though typically not as rapidly as jute.

Key Takeaways on Rug Fading

Both naturally and synthetically dyed rugs will suffer from sun exposure. Colors can fade unevenly, and fibres like wool and cotton may become dry and brittle over long periods. General wear and foot traffic will also contribute to a rug’s appearance changing over time. Lighter-colored rugs often show less noticeable fading simply because they have less vibrant color to lose.

Due to its natural lanolin content and resilient fibres, wool offers the best longevity and fade resistance.

At Rugs for All and the Wool Area Rug Outlet Store , we primarily sell area rugs made from high-quality New Zealand wool. We believe in providing products that are fit for purpose and designed to withstand the unique New Zealand environment and lifestyle. Choose a wool rug from our collection for a beautiful, durable, and long-lasting addition to your home.