Pile Shedding
The release of loose wool fibres from a new pile rug during its first months of use, a normal characteristic of natural wool rugs, not a defect.
New pile-knotted rugs, particularly those made with hand-spun natural wool, shed loose fibres during their initial period of use. This is caused by short fibres from the clipping process that were not fully incorporated into the knots, working their way to the surface through foot traffic and vacuuming.
Shedding diminishes significantly after the first 6 to 12 months of use and vacuuming. It does not indicate poor construction or deteriorating pile, it is the natural settling of a genuinely hand-made wool textile. Machine-made or chemically washed rugs shed less because the pile is more uniform and the fibres are more tightly processed.
During the shedding period: vacuum in the pile direction (not against it), do not beat the rug, and expect to vacuum more frequently than you will need to once shedding subsides.
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