Can You Clean Jute?
After decades of using synthetic fibers for upholstery, carpets, and other interior design elements, consumers have developed a growing interest in natural materials. Carpets made from natural fibers such as jute or wool appeal to environmentally-conscious people because these items are biodegradable, hypoallergenic, and generally have a lower carbon footprint compared to typical carpets made from synthetic fibers.
However, when you switch to carpeting and upholstery made from natural materials, you may need to adjust your cleaning practices. Consult with your carpet cleaning service before scheduling a new cleaning session at your home. For instance, jute, a popular material for rugs of various sizes, is supposedly impossible to clean. Is this true? Keep on reading to find out how you should maintain and care for your jute rugs!
What Is Jute?
Jute is a natural fiber extracted from the bark of the jute plant, which is found in two varieties: Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis. It is the second most-produced natural fiber after cotton and one of the strongest fibers in the world. The jute plant is native to the Indian subcontinent and grows all year round, hardly needing fertilisers and pesticides.
There are two types of jute currently produced: white jute and brown jute. The latter is preferred for being both stronger and softer but is more difficult to cultivate. The fabric, also called Burlap, hessian cloth, and gunny cloth, is obtained from the jute fibers located near the central parts of the stalk and composed of cellulose and lignin.
The jute fiber can be dyed with various pigments, can be woven into different shapes, and has natural anti-bacterial qualities. Jute is found in products such as clothes, shoes, ropes, household items, construction materials, and others.
What Are the Advantages of Jute Carpets?
A simple look at the properties and uses of jute reveals a series of advantages of this fiber, with benefits extending to jute carpets as well:
Strong
Jute is a very strong fiber, used to make rope and paper. Floor coverings made from jute are widely used because they withstand wear and tear. The jute fiber has a tensile strength ranging from 300 to 700 MPa. There is a significant increase in the tensile strength of treated jute fiber, of about 45%.
Cost-effective
Jute is quick and easy to grow and is also called the golden fiber due to its appearance and cost-effectiveness. The average price of jute is 6800 rupees per quintal (less than USD90 for approximately 220lbs).
Eco-friendly
Jute is preferred by consumers concerned about environmental protection due to being 100% biodegradable and recyclable. A hectare of jute plants consumes 15 tons of carbon dioxide and releases into the atmosphere 11 tons of oxygen. Crop rotation including jute improves soil fertility and the fibers do not generate toxic gases when burnt.
Versatile
Jute replaced flax and hemp during the Industrial Revolution for sackcloth due to its flexibility. The material can be treated or blended with synthetic fibers to improve its softness, pliability, and appearance.
Anti-static
Rugs made from jute benefit from the amazing properties of this material, such as preventing the buildup of static electricity, absorbing sound, and regulating moisture.
Can You Clean Jute?
Some rug cleaner services clean jute, while others don’t. This is because jute should preferably not be washed. This otherwise strong fiber can disintegrate when fully immersed in water for long periods of time. For this reason, you should not clean jute in the washing machine. If a jute rug is moist, it can get mouldy and discovered.
In other words, you should not wash jute with water and cleaner shampoo, or if you do, you should make sure it dries fast and the material does not stay immersed in water for too long.
But what if your rug is very dirty and needs thorough cleaning performed by a carpet cleaner in NYC? What are your options?
Can You Dry-Clean Jute?
As explained earlier, jute fibers are weakened by water and you should avoid wet cleaning of your jute rugs and household items. A good alternative to washing is dry-cleaning, which delivers satisfactory results for structured burlap garments and jute carpets.
For jute carpets, your rug cleaning NY expert will most likely use dry-cleaning powder, especially for stained areas. The powder needs to be applied to the carpet and brushed in all directions. Wait for the moisture to evaporate if necessary and vacuum the rug meticulously.
How Should You Care for Jute Carpets?
Jute rugs are a great asset in your home and will give your interiors a warm, rustic touch. However, any rug cleaner in Brooklyn will tell you that jute needs some extra care compared to other types of carpets. Consider the following care and maintenance tips:
- Be careful about stains, as jute is very absorbent and cleaning spills is difficult;
- Vacuum the rug thoroughly once or even twice a week, inclusively under the rug, as shedding is a normal phenomenon for this type of material;
- Remove jute rugs from the floor while using robot vacuum cleaners as the jute fibers will get stuck in the device’s brush;
- If you spill liquids on your jute rug, clean immediately and use a hairdryer to accelerate drying;
- Install a rug pad under the jute rug to reduce friction and shedding;
- Avoid direct exposure to sunlight as it can cause the colours of the rug to fade;
- Avoid using jute rugs in moist environments like bathrooms and laundry rooms.
By taking care of your jute rugs, you will need less help from carpet cleaner Queens and you will also be enjoying a natural environment in your home. For every other stain that you cannot handle, you can rely on PristineGreenCarpet and Upholstery Cleaning, a professional cleaner that also provides couch cleaning services, area rug cleaning, and other services.
