Wool is an excellent fabric choice when picking a rug. A significant aspect of wool is it’s a renewable resource. Wool provides the utmost durability and resiliency. Wool fibers trump synthetic fibers any day, are resistant to crushing, and dirt. But, on the downside if you have a white wool rug, it’s fairly common for the fibers to gradually yellow over time.

Factors that will change the color of white or natural wool rugs include:

  • Sunlight
  • Age
  • Moisture
  • How it’s stored (the environment)

Tips to Prevent Wool Discoloration:

  • Store your wool pieces in a cool, dry place, without any moisture. ***Any moisture in the environment will speed up the yellowing process.
  • Look on the cleaning label, some wool’s can be machine washed on the cold cycle.
  • Never put wool in the dryer.
  • In some cases, bleach is used to treat the stained area, but use with extreme caution! There are many mixed results when bleach has been applied to wool for cleaning.

The process of trying to reverse the yellowing of wool can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. There are several methods that can help save your wool rug from discoloration.

The Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaning Method

What You Will Need:

  • Water
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Clean Cloth
  • Bowl
  • Fan (optional)
  • Plastic

Before you start working, place plastic under the area you will be working on, in order to protect your floors. It’s imperative that you treat each stain differently, and use the hydrogen peroxide sparingly, you can always add more if needed, but you might be in for some difficulties if you pour too much!

  1. Mix one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with one cup of water.
  2. Take a clean cloth, and dip it into the solution.
  3. Next, vigorously dab the yellow wool spot with the cloth. Make sure to sufficiently saturate the yellow discolored area thoroughly. ***Do not pour the solution all over the spot.
  4. Rinse the treated area by blotting with a clean wet cloth.
  5. This process might take several applications in order to get the results you want.
  6. After you’ve finished treating and cleaning the area, you can either place a fan blowing on the spot, in order to dry it faster. Also, you can prop something up under the rug so air can flow under the rug, to help speed up the drying process.

The Vinegar Cleaning Method

What You Will Need:

  • Water
  • White Vinegar
  • Clean Cloths
  • Large Bowl or Bucket
  • Plastic

Again, before you start working, always lay a piece of plastic under the area your working on.

      1. Mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar with 2 cups of water.
      2. Take a clean cloth and dip it into the mixture and gently begin to blot the yellow discolored area.
      3. Continue to moisten the area until the area has been thoroughly saturated with the cleaning solution.
      4. Then, take a clean damp cloth and blot it over the treated area until the solution is eliminated from the rug.
      5. Allow the wool rug to air dry, or you can use a fan to help speed up the drying process.

Wool is an excellent quality fiber, and it truly surpasses many synthetic fibers. Even though the cleaning and maintenance might be more demanding compared to other fabrics, wool still holds many advantages, and the class and character is unparalleled.