Cancer is not always hidden in harmful and processed foods. In this article we discover the benefits of handmade carpet and characteristics of machine-made carpets, the carpet's fibers, felt carpets, and static electricity discharge.
One of the hallmarks of handmade carpets has always been the quality of their fibers. Unlike machine-made carpets that often rely on synthetics, handwoven pieces traditionally use natural materials like wool, silk, soft wool (likely referring to a specific type like merino), and linen. These four fibers offer distinct advantages and are skillfully incorporated into the knots and plush piles of handmade carpets.
What type of fiber is used in a carpet?
Fibers are categorized into two main groups: natural fibers and synthetic or man-made fibers.
1. Carpets with Natural Fibers- Vegetable Fibers:
These fibers, as the name suggests, come from a part of a plant. Vegetable fibers are further divided into two categories:
- Seed fibers: such as cotton.
- Stem fibers: such as jute, modal, bamboo, and linen
- Animal Fibers:
- Synthetic Fibers: Acrylic, Nylon (PA), Polyester (PET), Polypropylene (PP)
- Regenerated Fibers: Viscose
Synthetic Fibers in Carpets
Viscose fibers in carpets are derived from petroleum-based materials. Some of the most common of these fibers include acrylic, nylon, polypropylene, polyester, and viscose. However, viscose is among the regenerated synthetic fibers that do not have acceptable quality. Therefore, viscose is not a suitable option for this purpose. In the production of machine-made carpets, three categories of yarn can be used: warp yarn, weft yarn, and pile yarn.
In machine-made carpets, the warp yarn is usually made of polyester, cotton, or a combination of both. The weft yarn, which holds the pile yarn in place, is typically made of jute, polyester, or cotton.
Carpets are produced in four groups based on their material: wool machine-made carpets, acrylic machine-made carpets, polyester machine-made carpets, and polypropylene machine-made carpets.
Generally, in the production of machine-made carpets, the following chemical materials are used: PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), polyurethane, vinyl or latex, anti-static sprays, synthetic dyes, antimicrobial substances, and synthetic petroleum-based oils in the production of synthetic fibers (polypropylene, nylon, acrylic, polyester yarn).
Wool in carpet weaving
Wool stands out as a top choice for carpet weaving, thanks in part to its potential therapeutic benefits. This natural fiber, obtained from sheep and goats, boasts unique characteristics that have made it a mainstay in textiles, carpets, and even medicine for centuries. From its ability to regulate temperature and manage moisture to its naturally soft and resilient surface, wool offers a comfortable and potentially therapeutic experience underfoot. While a deeper understanding of wool's full therapeutic potential is needed, its inherent qualities contribute to the enduring appeal of wool carpets.
Various factors can greatly affect the quality of sheep's wool. These include the sheep's diet, the climatic conditions of their habitat, proper care and attention to the sheep, and so on. It is important to note that wool from sheep living in cold and moderate regions is not only thicker but also less prone to matting, making it highly suitable for handmade carpet and rug production.
What is wool?
Soft and fine hairs of animals such as camels, sheep, and cows are called Wool. Natural wool boasts impressive durability and offers some resistance to dust and dirt accumulation. Its soft fibers also provide natural warmth and insulation. Wool carpets have a degree of stain resistance, and some spills may be easier to clean compared to other materials. While generally easy to maintain, proper cleaning techniques are still recommended for wool carpets. This combination of benefits makes wool carpets a suitable option for high-traffic areas like living rooms.
Benefits of camel wool and its products
- They are excellent insulators.
- They do not cause allergies.
- They have the least amount of sweating while keeping the body warm.
- They are very comfortable and gentle.
- They aid in healing knee and back pain.
- They keep the kidneys warm in cold seasons and treat frequent urination.
- They have high strength and resistance while being lightweight and reducing heat transfer.
- Another important feature of these products is the use of 100% natural and plant-based colors, which are completely stable in some handmade productions. These colors include madder, walnut husk, indigo dye, saffron, pomegranate skin, etc.
Sheep Wool Usage
One aspect of sheep wool that fewer people are aware of is its physical and chemical properties. However, in the past, nomads and villagers, without knowledge of these properties, extensively utilized sheep wool (including for making various types of clothing, carpets, and felts).
Its physical and chemical properties have made it widely used in industries such as textile and clothing. It is utilized in industries such as carpet weaving (especially handmade carpets) and fabric weaving.
One of the most important uses of sheep wool in industries is its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It is used in various industries where working conditions prevent individuals from washing their clothes. One of the applications of sheep wool in industry is in the pharmaceutical industry, where people's clothing needs to be antibacterial and antimicrobial. Additionally, it is used in the manufacturing of items that cannot be washed. This characteristic stands in contrast to synthetic fibers that do not retain a fresh scent after one use.
Health benefits of handmade carpets
1. Anti-allergy and anti-sensitivity
Handmade carpets are made from materials such as wool and silk, which are completely natural and compatible with the skin, whereas machine-made carpets are made from synthetic fibers and dyes, which can cause skin allergies and sensitivities. Therefore, if you have children who spend hours at home or if you yourself like to sit on the floor for some time during the day, it is recommended to use these handmade carpets in your home. People with sensitive skin that easily becomes swollen or red are better off not using synthetic and machine-made carpets at home, as the fibers used in machine-made carpets contain chemicals. Conversely, handmade carpets and rugs, due to their natural fibers, prevent skin allergies and sensitivities
2. Respiratory diseases prevention
Handmade carpets and rugs are easily and conveniently cleaned. Due to the use of natural fibers in making these carpets, consumers are provided with the ability to easily and effectively clean them with some water and shampoo. However, the story doesn't end there; handmade carpets are thoroughly cleaned from the depths, reducing the accumulation of dust, allergens, and other respiratory irritants inside the home. Therefore, they help prevent many respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies. In contrast, machine-made carpets trap dust and dirt within themselves, dispersing particles into the air with every movement, leading to respiratory problems and allergies.
3. Keeps your bones healthy
Perhaps it would be interesting for you to know that according to traditional medicine, machine-made carpets have a cold temperament that is not suitable for bones, whereas handmade carpets have a dual nature. Scientifically, it has been proven that handmade carpets are effective thermal insulators. Natural wool absorbs a lot of warmth, which helps warm the home environment in winter and assists in regulating the temperature of the house in summer.
Additionally, it absorbs moisture, helping to eliminate excess moisture in your home. For this reason, handmade carpets are more beneficial for bones, preventing them from absorbing cold and moisture. On the other hand, research has shown that synthetic fibers in machine-made carpets can increase bone pain and even decrease bone density.
4. Increasing the tranquility in your home
The wool used in handmade carpet production brings natural warmth, softness, and gentleness, but did you know that wool is a strong and natural sound insulator? According to scientific research, wool is a natural sound insulator, meaning it absorbs excess noise and creates a quieter environment in the home. Therefore, one of the benefits of handmade carpets is the increase in tranquility and silence in the home.
5. Air Purification
Another benefit of handmade carpets is their ability to clean the environment. They act as cleaners and air purifiers, absorbing microbes and air pollutants (wool naturally retains pollutants for up to 30 years). Fibers like wool are strong antibacterial agents, helping to clean the air in the home and combat bacteria and allergies.
6. Environmentally Friendly
The fashion industry is one of the leading pollutants globally, but handmade carpets and rugs, being natural, do not pose a problem for the environment. Handmade carpets are not made from synthetic fibers and chemical materials, hence they have high durability. While machine-made and industrial carpets are produced with adhesives and chemical substances that deteriorate over time. Compared to handmade carpets, which have high resistance (such as silk, which can last over 50 years without damage), machine-made carpets have a shorter lifespan.
7. Fire Resistance
Wool carpets have a natural resistance to fire. Unlike synthetic fibers that melt in high temperatures, wool acts as a natural fire extinguisher. It can help extinguish fires, making it invaluable in fire incidents. Overall, using carpets made from natural fibers reduces the production of synthetic and chemical carpets, which ultimately contributes to saving the environment and our planet from serious diseases and damages.
8. Calming Effect
Handmade carpets and rugs convey exceptional beauty to the eyes, inducing a sense of calmness. Fibers like silk exhibit extraordinary beauty that, alongside this beauty and tranquility, transmit the culture, customs, and traditions of nations and tribes. If you aspire to create a healthy, warm, and tranquil environment for each member of your family, consider replacing synthetic and machine-made carpets with handmade carpets and rugs.
Disadvantages of Handmade Carpets
The drawbacks of handmade carpets include issues such as damage to raw materials and carpet structure during transportation, poor-quality weaving, lack of authenticity, shedding, piling, warping, fading colors, tearing, incorrect weaving, loosening, crushing, tangling, and many other issues.
Felt Carpets
Felt rugs or felt carpets are considered a good option for those who prefer traditional-style decoration. Different types of felt usually have reasonable prices and evoke a sense of nature in interior home design, with a delicacy and authenticity that even expensive handmade carpets cannot match.
What is felt?
Felt is a dense, non-woven fabric and without any warp or weft. It's a type of flooring material that is not woven and is made without the use of a carpet loom.
Felt is indeed produced by matting, condensing, and pressing fibers together, typically through the application of moisture, heat, pressure, and friction. This process causes the wool fibers to intertwine and create a dense fabric.
Felt rug is used either alone or placed on the carpets. The amount of wool used for felting is typically equivalent to the amount used for producing a rug.
The therapeutic properties of felt rugs and carpets
Felt rug is made from 100% natural materials, including wool and spring shearing from sheep, camels, and goats. The raw materials used in them are made from natural fibers and completely organic colors, making them particularly soft and enjoyable to sit on felt.
1. Insect Repellent
Among the natives of Russian Turkestan, it is believed that insects, scorpions, snakes, and other pests cannot move on felt rugs. Therefore, felt rugs are considered as natural fiber coverings that repel insects.
2. Balanced Environment
Natural fibers such as wool and hair in felt carpets transfer properties such as temperature regulation, moisture, and dust, which occur naturally, to the environment.
3. Moisture Resistance
Due to the presence of interlocked fiber networks and the protective properties of wool, felt is resistant to moisture. Handwoven felt carpets act as a barrier against ground and environmental moisture. Therefore, you can easily use handwoven felt carpets in various sizes to cover surfaces exposed to moisture.
Due to this waterproof characteristic of felt carpets, nomadic tents do not allow water to pass through them because they are made of wool. Because of this feature, they are highly favored in countries with muggy weather, particularly those located along the Persian Gulf, and people are willing to pay a good amount of money to purchase them.
4. Therapeutic Properties
When sleeping on felt, the warmth generated from your body's contact with the felt intensifies, which improves blood circulation and alleviates muscle tension. The therapeutic properties of felt also help in treating back pain, rheumatism, and post-surgery joint pains, resulting in quicker recovery.
- Traditional felt carpets are completely washable and anti-allergic. During the felting process, all particles and harmful substances are separated from the wool. However, as a potential buyer of traditional felt products, you should pay attention to the quality of these products. These products are designed and produced in various dimensions and sizes.
The hazards of using machine-made carpets
The hazards of using machine-made carpets include the production of static electricity in the body. Everything starts with an atom. Everything you see around you is made up of specific structures called atoms. They cannot be seen with the naked eye and consist of positively charged protons and neutral neutrons. Most of the time, an atom remains neutral, meaning the number of protons and electrons is equal. However, when an atom has an unusually large number of protons and electrons, the electrons become excited. Neutrons do not move around and are mostly reflected. Therefore, when a person or any object has more electrons, it creates a negative charge, causing these electrons to be attracted to the positive electrons (like opposites) of another object or person, and vice versa. The shock we sometimes feel is the result of the rapid movement of these electrons.
However, this discharge of static electricity caused by the contact of your clothes with the surface of machine-made carpets also has consequences for us. The dangers of static electricity in the human body and how to prevent the accumulation of electricity go beyond the discomfort and pain caused by the electric discharge resulting from walking on synthetic fiber carpets and rugs.
Some consequences of static electricity in the body
Other harmful effects of using machine-made carpets
Synthetic fibers in machine-made carpets such as polypropylene can decrease bone density and increase bone pain.
Machine-made carpets can cause skin sensitivities, so individuals with severe skin eczemas should avoid purchasing carpets with synthetic fibers. If you're used to sleeping on the floor, try not to sleep directly on machine-made carpets or at least spread a mattress underneath, as sleeping directly on these carpets can decrease bone density and prevent the absorption of dietary calcium. Ultimately, machine-made carpets can weaken muscles and bones by damaging them, reducing your mobility and weakening your muscles.
In general, machine-made carpets can cause these diseases:
- Respiratory problems such as asthma, tuberculosis, sneezing, coughing, throat irritation, chest wheezing, difficulty breathing, and feeling pressure in the chest.
- Skin problems such as eczema, dandruff, itching, skin redness, acne , and skin inflammation.
- Allergies and sensitivities such as eye redness, eye itching, eye swelling, and runny nose.
- Weakening of the immune system, such as stomach problems, psychological problems, and thyroid damage.
- Osteoporosis, decreased bone density, and the inability to absorb calcium when sleeping on machine-made carpets.
- Cancer and heart problems.
- Generating static electricity in the body.
- Transmission of diseases such as mold, fungus, and parasites from machine-made carpets to humans through animal contamination and lack of carpet cleaning.
- They can cause mental anxiety disorders.
Comparison between handmade and machine-made carpets
Handmade carpets have so many advantages that justify their high price. One of the most important advantages of handmade carpets is the choice of yarn and raw materials.
Natural and organic materials like cotton, wool, silk, etc., are used in handmade carpets. These materials are not only harmless to human health but also beneficial. Therefore, if we prioritize human health, handmade carpets are the first and only choice. Neither in the production of these fibers nor in their use, any harm is done to the environment. And these very fibers are one of the most significant disadvantages of machine-made carpets. Mostly, all machine-made carpets are made from synthetic fibers or undergo chemical processes, which is a fundamental flaw. For example, cotton is predominantly used in the weft and warp of modern machine-made carpets, but these fibers undergo chemical processing.
What is the biggest disadvantage of machine-made carpets? The biggest drawback of machine-made carpets is the choice of fibers and the processes involved. If you want to completely avoid these potential harms, the best approach is to use carpets made with natural fibers. You can find this in handmade carpets, and the reason for their popularity is just that. Handmade carpets use natural yarn, and the dyes and materials used for coloring are usually natural as well. All the processes involved are natural and safe, which is why they are beloved.
Ways to prevent and reduce the negative effects of machine-made carpets:
- Avoid wearing clothes and socks made of synthetic fibers and opt for cotton garments.
- Refrain from using machine-made carpets, plastic floor coverings, and Triboelectrification products.
- If you should walk on synthetic fibers for a short period, try to moisten your feet or wear woolen socks whenever possible. As electrostatic leads to the absorption of floating dust in the air, causing dust to settle in the lungs and on the skin, which can create the highest sensitivity for the elderly and children.
- Use felt or wool slippers.
- Avoid sleeping on machine-made carpets and opt for rugs or underlays with natural fibers such as wool, felt rugs, and so on.
The final note:
Cancer is not always hidden in harmful processed foods; sometimes what you don't expect may have irreparable harms for you. Beyond beautifying your home, handmade carpets offer a surprising range of health benefits. Unlike some machine-made options that may contain harsh chemicals, handmade carpets often use natural fibers which are gentler on the lungs for those with respiratory sensitivities. Additionally, natural fibers tend not to generate static electricity, creating a more comfortable environment. The inherent softness and delicacy of these fibers add a luxurious touch underfoot.
Click here to learn more about the wool properties!
Have you had a positive or negative experience with handmade or machine-made carpets? Share your thoughts in the comments below!