Have you unrolled a wool rug and noticed a slight odor? Or does your rug suddenly smell different after a rainy week? That is usually harmless and easy to fix. In this guide, you will learn where an odor comes from and how to get rid of it.
The most common causes
1. The natural scent of wool
Wool naturally contains lanolin, a fat found in sheep's wool. Especially if the rug becomes damp, you may smell a slight "woolly scent" — just like a wet wool sweater. This is perfectly normal and disappears as soon as the rug is dry.
2. Packaging and transport
A rug that has been rolled up in packaging for a few days may smell a bit "trapped." After a few days in a ventilated room, that will be gone.
3. Moisture
A musty smell almost always points to moisture: a rug that has become wet and was not dried properly, or one that is lying on a cold, damp floor. You want to resolve this quickly.
4. Pets and spilled drinks
Urine or spilled milk penetrates the wool and the cotton base. Acting quickly is the key here.
How to remove the odor
- Air it out. Place the rug outside in the shade on a dry day for a few hours, or hang it over a railing. Keep it out of direct, bright sunlight for too long, as this can cause colors to fade.
- Ventilate. Open a window indoors and leave the rug lying flat in a warm, dry room.
- Baking soda. Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the rug, let it sit overnight, and vacuum it thoroughly the next day. Baking soda absorbs odors without damaging the wool.
- Vacuum well. Also vacuum the back, as dust tends to accumulate there.
- Local stain? Dab with a clean cloth and cold water with a little bit of wool detergent. Do not rub and do not soak. Let it dry thoroughly afterwards.
What you should not do
- Spray air freshener or perfume. This only masks the odor and can leave stains.
- Make the entire rug wet. A soaked wool rug dries slowly and will consequently start to smell musty.
- Aggressive cleaning agents. Bleach or ammonia will damage wool and colors.
When to call in a specialist?
Does a musty smell linger after drying and airing out, or is it a large urine stain? Have the rug professionally cleaned by a carpet cleaner specialized in hand-knotted rugs. This will prevent moisture from remaining in the base.
Prevention is better
- Do not place a rug on a damp floor, such as a freshly mopped tile floor or a cold basement.
- Use a breathable underlay. Read more about this in our guide on non-slip underlays.
- Vacuum the rug weekly and air it out a few times a year.
The complete maintenance schedule can be found in our step-by-step plan for maintaining a vintage rug.
