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Wool rug in bathroom? Stupid idea?

11 years ago

I have bought this rug for my new bathroom. It's wool though. Is that just a stupid idea? Will it spoil if it gets wet?

Featured Answer

shelleyuk
Original Author

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

This is a very old thread but I'm happy to report that the bathmat has now been down for two years and looks as good as new. No smell and no mould.

Comments (61)

PRO
Barnhart Gallery
11 years ago
Aja's right -- also take humidity into account. Our air is dry.
shelleyuk
Original Author
11 years ago
Well England is cold and wet for at least nine months of the year.

I'm undecided. There is very little choice in real bathroom mats here. I wanted something with a pattern.

I'm wondering whether it would actually go in the washing machine on a wool wash.

Suspect I will just take it back. Can't think of anywhere else it would go.
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PRO
ASVInteriors
11 years ago
I think you can even wash these types of rugs ( check label). If you can, wash it if it gets stale or mouldy
Aja Mazin
11 years ago
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
shelleyuk
Original Author
11 years ago
Why is that ewwwwww aja? Surely better to wash it than not to?! If its washable I could just stick it in the machine once a fortnight.

Perhaps a silly question but if wool goes mouldy doesn't cotton also? And if wool is so bad with water why are sheep coved in it?
moenna
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I made this (pictured) rug in wool from Shillcraft, at least 15 years ago. It measures 44" x 22". Mine was in wine around the edges, instead of the green shown in the pic. It was in the hall for 5 years and now in my bathroom for the last 10. Every once in a while, I hang it over the fence and power wash it. Still looks like new and it has had a lot of wear. I have also put it in the washing machine, a couple of times.
Incidentally, I also made a large 5' x 7' wool rug. Also came from Shillcraft.. This was 45 years ago! It also has had a great deal of wear but looks as good as new. Can't beat good wool rugs.
Aja Mazin
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
It is your bathroom, your washing machine and dryer, and your money.

Do whatever you want.

However, most people in the US use a white towel as a bathmat which is washed and dried daily.

I would think you would know this from a thread on which you previously commented.
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/bath-rugs-dsvw-vd~400536
Aja Mazin
11 years ago
moenna,

I agree.

I have 14 wool rugs - Oriental and Persian.

Mine are washed in water, but not in a washing machine.

Nothing will cause a wool rug to rot faster than dampness.

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4573860/thumbs/ORIENTAL-AND-PERSIAN-CARPETS
shelleyuk
Original Author
11 years ago
I asked the question though on that thread Aja because i was surprised and that's what started me thinking about whether I could have something a bit more interesting on the floor.

I wasn't being snipey by the way earlier on this thread, I genuinely wondered why it would be horrible to chuck the rug in the washing machine if it got manky. It's not a heavy pile rug with a jute backing its a light cotton one so in theory its just as easy to scoop it up and put it through the wash as a simple cotton bathmat.

Of course the colours might run, it might smell permanently disgusting and I might regret it. Hence canvassing views.
carolannr
11 years ago
I had the occasion to try to rehab an old rug for a friend. Took it to a laundromat where they had really big washers. It worked! but then we live in a really dry place where we could leave it outside for a few hours and it dried very well. Since then, I have found out that that's how one of the biggest rug cleaners here in town cleans rugs, though they use a power washer on a concrete slab. I usually give my kitchen dhurries (also wool) a wash when they have been dirtied by kitchen spills. But to use in a bathroom in one of your moister parts of the country, I don't think so. The smell of wet wool is not pleasant. If it was a bath mat size you could throw over the side of the tub every day after use, it might work but you better but you have to have good air circulation in that bathroom or you will have a moldy mess in a couple of days.
latifeh hammad
11 years ago
I have one like that if you don't have boys to splash it with their stuff nothing is gonna happen and I washed it twice or more and nothing happened. Go for it
shelleyuk
Original Author
11 years ago
I have lots of boys latifeh but this wouldn't be in a splash it with their stuff area so should be safe!
PRO
ASVInteriors
11 years ago
Just drying a rug near a radiator overnight is enough to get it dry n' est ce pas?
Aja Mazin
11 years ago
carolannr,

We take our rugs to a self service car wash!!
Aja Mazin
11 years ago
shelleyuk

ewwwwwwwwwwwwww is the smell of damp wool in the bathroom.
User
11 years ago
shelleyuk ,

Since you are looking at the label, please tell us the manufacturer's instructions for care and cleaning?
shelleyuk
Original Author
11 years ago
There aren't any instructions for cleaning. There's a little booklet saying its hand embroidered in 100 percent wool onto a 100 percent cotton back in India. That's it.
Aja Mazin
11 years ago
I am sure the smell of wet wool from India will be delightful!!
shelleyuk
Original Author
11 years ago
Yuck!
shelleyuk
Original Author
11 years ago
Or yak!
shelleyuk
Original Author
11 years ago
Or ewe!
shelleyuk
Original Author
11 years ago
I'll go to bed now!!
Aja Mazin
11 years ago
If you have trouble falling asleep,
moenna
11 years ago
I am pretty particular about my home. Never yet had the smell of wet wool in the bathroom. However, I do always put a bathmat down OVER my wool rug, when I get out of the shower. Not saying the wool rug doesn't get lots of splashes from the sink on it, from my less than tidy husband.
Mo
solitolynda
8 years ago
How about using Woolite when washing?
oosolovely
8 years ago
Thanks for posting Shelleyuk as I am just considering doing the same...
Amanda Goff
7 years ago
Now that you've had your rug down for awhile, & have had no problems, did you have to go to extra lengths to care for it? I don't mind extra cleaning care or costs, but I don't want to baby the rug, or tell my guests in that bath to be extra careful with it. Thanks so much!
shelleyuk
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I have had no problems whatsoever with the rug. It has now been down for more than three years and looks as good as new. Certainly no smell whatsoever and it is so much nicer than the boring bathroom mats you see in the shops. I admit I often (but not always) put a towel over it to step onto when you get out of the bath and so it generally only gets very slightly damp. I never tell guests to do that though and so there have been occasions where its been very wet. It's dried out quickly with no issues.

(I've name changed in case anyone is confused!)
shelleyuk
Original Author
5 years ago
July 2018 and still no problems..
E D
5 years ago
Prove it. :-)
Gabriela Eyerman
5 years ago
Wool is actually a natural fiber and can absorb up to five times its weight in water. Now if you left it there without drying it out it might get a bit icky but otherwise a bit of water will not hurt the wool, it is also more resistant to mold and bacteria than many man made fibers if there is any lanolin left in the fibers when processed. The cotton backing will actually start stinking before the wool will. I am a sheep farmer and play with wool every day. I was perusing the interwebs to find something about making my own wool bath mat and had to put in my two cents. As long as you wash it and let it dry out occasionally, it should be great.
shelleyuk
Original Author
5 years ago
Ah, the wonders of the Houzz right hand "related discussions" bar. This thread is now six and a half years old. I can however confirm that the wool rug is still down and there have been no issues with it at all.
Patrina
5 years ago
hmmm wool rugs + water = wet sheep smell.
shelleyuk
Original Author
5 years ago
Once again - six and half years. No issues, no wet sheep smell, looks like new. It was a good purchase.
PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
Hi Shelley !
Have you fixed the door handle yet though. ???
shelleyuk
Original Author
5 years ago
Yes! Finally!! No more accidental lockings in or out. Hope all is well x
PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
All good ta !! X
AMB
5 years ago
This old thread popped up and I thought to comment: well done for sticking to your guns!

Some of the people who commented earlier (2013) sounded just awful so I am glad the rug is still working out for you.
verdigrisjane
5 years ago
I have a small Nepalese wool rug to stand on in front of the washbasin - a little larger than a standard doormat. I vacuum it and when I spray clean it I take it into the garden when it is sunny to dry. No problems at all. It is a joy to stand on and preferable to cold tiles. However we do put a cotton machine washable mat down for stepping out of the shower and this is regularly machine washed and hung on a rack to dry after showering. We have an extractor fan in the shower room and this copes with excess moisture
redwinger
5 years ago
Glad to have found this thread and learned of the success with the wool rug in a bathroom. I want to put one in front of the sinks. It won't near the shower area, so I feel confident knowing it'll work out. Thank you Shelley for all the updates. There were truly some childish and rude comments from a couple of people on his thread. 1 in particular. Off to buy my wool rug!
shelleyuk
Original Author
5 years ago
Still going strong!
Victoria
5 years ago
Hi Shelley :-)
shelleyuk
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi - hope you're well and that the house is looking lovely x
Victoria
5 years ago
All good. Hope you are cosy in your office with your heated throw :-)
shelleyuk
Original Author
5 years ago
You know me well. Granny throw still going strong and getting a lot of use this week!
chloeloves
5 years ago
2013?!??
PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
Yup - some of us have been chatting /helping each other and other for years !!!
detailaddict
5 years ago
I was just researching the idea of a wool entry mat/bath mat and came across this article:

https://alyshaan.com/why-wool-area-rugs-are-best-for-kitchens-and-bathrooms/

I would think wool would be ideal for a wet area, as it not only absorbs moisture but it allows it to evaporate, unlike cotton which simply holds onto it. That's why a lot of high-quality outdoor clothing and hiking socks are made of wool. Plus I'd rather use something made of a natural fiber than go the synthetic/polypropylene route and buy something that will just go to a landfill once it falls apart or starts looking nasty.
Amanda Goff
5 years ago
I followed your lead & also put a gorgeous wool in the vanity side of our guest bath. It was beautiful, no problems...then...our house flooded. Uggh! I was so disappointed! I will be replacing it with another wool rug. Thanks for your help. Glad you got that door handle fixed.

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