About Jute Rugs

About Jute

• Jute, a cousin to the bamboo and the hemp plants, is a fibrous vegetable plant that grows in warm, moist climates of the delta formed by the Ganges and Bramhaputra rivers in eastern India and Bangladesh. Strong and sturdy, jute fibers are used for making ropes, burlap, prayer rugs, area rugs and clothing. The plant fibers, which vary in length, average 1.5 to 3.5 meters. When cleaned, carded and spun into a yarn, jute has the look and feel of wool. Unlike wool, it is biodegradable and breaks down over time, especially if exposed to light and water. As a result, it breaks down in high-traffic areas and should restricted to bedrooms and for use as accent decor.

Historical Use of Jute

• During the Mughal era (1526 to 1858), a period of artistic and cultural development in India, jute was woven by poor villagers into clothing. Earlier uses had been in rope, fishing net and twine. Once the East India Company, a company of the British Empire, established trade routes for jute, its use and application expanded. By the 1800s, industrialization in the United Kingdom had created mechanical spinners and mills to weave the fiber into cloth. While its most notable in history as burlap and rope, it was prevalent as the backing in wool rugs and carpeting.

Special Care

• Unlike wool and synthetic rugs, jute cannot be cleaned with water. Jute rugs can be hung and beaten with a rug beater. But a vacuum can be used often to loosen and eliminate dirt, sand and dust. If jute becomes soiled, it must be cleaned professionally without water. Prevention is the best method to preserve the quality of jute rugs. Don't walk on the rugs with shoes, and keep out of rooms where food and spills can permanently stain the fibers. Additionally, a jute rug must be trained to lie flat. If rolling the edges under the rug for 24 hours doesn't effectively keep the corners flat, carpeting retailers sell indoor carpet tape. Double-sided, indoor carpet tape can be placed under the rug corners to secure it to virtually any hard-surface floor.

Environmental Appeal

• Jute rugs are cheaper than wool as home decor. But for environmentally conscious homeowners, they are also biodegradable. Because jute is an organic plant matter, it biodegrades when exposed to the elements. Rather than throwing it away when it falls apart, you can use it in your flowerbeds as compost. According to Demesne Rugs, it's also fire resistant, ideal for allergy sufferers and resistant to mites.