| Prior to World War II many American homes | | | | higher content of recycled fabric materials. |
| featured wood and other types of hard surface | | | | Carpeting needs to be replaced periodically |
| flooring and area rugs where used as room | | | | and old carpeting often ends up in the |
| accents. During the home building boom that | | | | landfill, not to mention the cost of |
| followed the end of the war, the use of wall | | | | replacement. |
| to wall carpeting became very wide spread. | | | | |
| Until recently, over seventy percent of | | | | With the movement toward hard surface |
| American homes had wall to wall carpeting. | | | | flooring has come a greater demand for |
| Area rugs are seeing a renewed popularity and | | | | various styles of area rugs. A traditional |
| this includes braided area rugs. | | | | favorite in area rug styles is the classic |
| | | | braided rug. Braided rugs have had a place in |
| Given the cost of replacement, the need to | | | | a variety of home decorating plans, from |
| clean it routinely and possible adverse | | | | shabby chic, to Early American and country |
| effects on indoor air quality, many | | | | cottage looks. |
| homeowners have made a switch back to hard | | | | |
| surface flooring. Hard surface flooring like | | | | One of the more unique and beautiful |
| wood and composite materials are much easier | | | | characteristics of braided rugs is color. |
| to keep clean and sanitary. This is | | | | Makers of early braided rugs might have used |
| especially important for homeowners who have | | | | whatever fabric or yarn was at hand. The |
| problems with allergies and other respiratory | | | | result was a blend or variegation of many |
| conditions. | | | | colors, often resulting in random patterns. |
| | | | The variegation in color made every rug |
| While carpeting can add warmth and comfort to | | | | unique much like patchwork quilts which did |
| a living space, maintaining the appearance | | | | not rely on any particular pattern. |
| and cleanliness of wall to wall carpet can be | | | | Variegated rug patterns are perennial |
| difficult over time. Uneven wear patterns, | | | | favorites among those folks prefer a very |
| the accumulation of dirt and breakdown of | | | | traditional look. |
| padding materials can make your carpeting | | | | |
| look very old well before its time. Ground in | | | | Quality braided rugs are easy to care for and |
| dirt and critters like dust mites can be | | | | just last a very long time with proper |
| nearly impossible to remove from deep in the | | | | cleaning. Unlike woven area rugs, braided |
| carpet. | | | | rugs can be turned over. Since you are able |
| | | | to reverse the rug, the wear will be more |
| Some studies suggest that carpet has a wear | | | | even and this will further extend the life of |
| life of anywhere from three to five years. | | | | the rug. |
| So given the amount of carpet in service and | | | | |
| the need to clean it, perhaps twice a year | | | | Depending on the type of weave and materials |
| that translates into a substantial amount of | | | | used to make your braided rug, the rug can |
| labor and, perhaps more importantly millions | | | | help to reduce the wear and tear on wood and |
| of gallons of chemicals and water. This can | | | | other types of hard surface flooring. Braided |
| have a enormous impact on the environment. | | | | area rugs can be made from renewable fiber |
| | | | materials like bamboo, jute and hemp. These |
| Concerned about the potential for increased | | | | fast growing renewable fiber sources are |
| indoor air pollution, many folks are taking a | | | | environmentally friendly and can be grown |
| green approach to their living spaces, | | | | without the use of chemical fertilizers, |
| choosing carpet fabrics that emit fewer | | | | herbicides and insecticides. |
| volatile organic compounds or VOCs and have a | | | | |