Fabrics and textiles have been some of my biggest triggers during my journey with severe multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) — even organic cotton, silk and wool options. I’ve been searching for an MCS-safe area rug with a tribal design for many years. I’ve now healed my reactivity to fibers enough to consider a non-toxic area rug for my home. After doing some research, these are the top companies I am looking at to choose my tribal-style rug from:
This company carries Loloi rugs that are handwoven in Varanasi, India. From dyeing the wool to weaving the rugs, the entire process is done by hand. These rugs are made of natural fibers (including jute, wool, and cotton) and some have a small amount of polyester so you will need to read the fabric material description if you want to stay with 100% natural materials. According to Corinne Segura of My Chemical Free House, Loloi uses vegetable dyes and they do not use adhesives.
Urban Natural also sells Woud rugs, made of natural materials like bamboo silk, wool and/or cotton. They are also hand-crafted in India.
You can buy both of these lines through Urban Natural. Join their mailing list to get 10% off on your first purchase.
Lorena Canals created the first washable rug in the world. The base of their rugs is recycled cotton and the pile is made from cotton or wool, and other fibers. The flexible cotton canvas backing makes the rug easy to fold, store, and machine wash. Their washable rugs are chemical free, made with azo-free, non-toxic dyes and hand-crafted in India one-by-one. They also offer premium wool rugs which are handcrafted using natural undyed wool from various sheep species to feature their true colors.
Buy on LorenaCanals.us or on Amazon. Join their mailing list to get 5% off your first purchase.
Hook and Loom’s wool rugs are made from undyed natural wool, no dyes, no chemicals, no glues, and no latex. All of their wool rugs are hand-woven and hand-bound, making them completely reversible, so you are really getting two rugs in one.
Their organic cotton rugs are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton — free of all fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and defoliants. They only offer organic cotton in natural colors, avoiding the use of toxic dyes. The organic cotton rugs are hand-bound, and VOC- and latex-free, which means no off-gassing.
Order them online from Hook and Loom.
For additional healthier rug options, see Corinne Segura’s list of The 18 Best Non-Toxic Rugs (That You Can Buy Online).
Lovely rugs, indeed! One thing I find with textiles is they need to be dusted, like everything else in the world. Putting pillows, throws, comforters, blankets, and rugs into the dryer works.
Better than taking them outside and beating them with sticks! The dryer, on air dry, low, medium or high heat, depending on fabric, will mechanically shake out house dust, dust mites, and their eggs. Heat will kill some dust mites and eggs, too. Figure 20 minutes per load.
Use for all such things that aren’t in need of a wash. I try to do this about once a month. Nothing fluffs a pillow like your dryer.
Thank you, Rebecca, for this wonderful advice!