Jute rugs and carpet are not widely used, but they are a sustainable option for your home and office. Jute matting is used for backing on some carpets and linoleum. Jute area rugs and carpet can lend a certain look to your home, while custom made jute rugs add a distinct touch of class. Jute flooring is more delicate or fragile than other natural fiber rugs and carpets, but it may be the right choice for you.
If you have a roll of jute sitting around, then it might be worth a second look. This isn’t just a great tool for helping out the garden or a package, but it’s also great for making jute rugs, an eco-friendly and attractive flooring option for your home or office! If you’re looking to make your own jute rugs, most craft stores or fabric stores sell jute in rolls like this one available on Amazon.
What is Jute Exactly
The use of jute fiber can be traced back to ancient Bengali culture. It’s a soft and shiny fiber that looks a lot like a hemp plant when it is growing. Jute began to be exported to Europe in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Actually one of the cheapest natural materials, it is only second to cotton in terms of current uses.
Jute grows best in warm, humid climates, like in Bangladesh and India. Advantages of using jute as a fiber include:
Biodegradability:
Like other natural fibers such as hemp, bamboo or cotton, jute will break down over time. Because of their ability to break down, jute rugs and jute flooring options are a great choice in a society that is increasingly putting emphasis on making eco-friendly consumer choices. While the ability to break down may sound like a downside, think of it this way: over time, items that we have will either disintegrate or need to be thrown away. Instead of filling landfills, jute will break down in the soil and replenish the natural vitamins and nutrients of the earth.
Fire-Resistant
While jute is not completely fire-proof, it is a fiber that cannot be set ablaze. As with many other natural materials, the inherent structure and oils found in jute make it resistant to fire damage. Fire can light it, but it won’t stay lit for long. Jute matting and a jute carpet in homes may help to stop the spread of fires that start accidentally.
Sustainable:
Jute is actually a vegetable fiber (and yes, it is edible!), so it grows fairly quickly when planted and can be harvested after a comparatively short period of time, making it a highly renewable fiber source. And, as with many natural fibers, jute is easy to grow and re-grow, making it a sustainable resource. It doesn’t take up nearly as much space or energy to grow as a tree would, plus it grows more rapidly, allowing for the growth cycle to replenish itself, rather than necessitate planting more trees.
Durable:
Jute is an extremely strong natural fiber that can hold up to lots of wear and use. However, high humidity or water can break down this strength, so you should not expose any jute rugs to highly damp conditions and you should not shampoo jute. The overall strength of jute is impressive and makes for excellent packaging material and construction material. You can also create durable clothing and other items without fear of breakage. Henry Ford actually tested the strength of jute when he was working on the trunk of a car. Instead of the glass composition, he incorporated part of the jute plant into the design. This made for a lighter car part without sacrificing any of the strength.
Using Jute Rugs In the Home
While you may now be convinced on the properties of using jute rugs, you still need to get an idea of how to actually use jute rugs in the home. Read on for suggestions on how to use jute in a home or office.
Design:
Jute rugs have a casual, timeless look to them that can be complimentary in many design styles. As the color of a natural jute rug is very neutral, you can pair it with an all-white décor for an upscale, classy appearance. You could, instead, go for a more funky look by layering different texture rugs, adding other textiles to the room, and including bright colors in your decoration or wall color. If you are looking for more color in the rugs themselves, jute can be woven with additional fabrics (such as cotton) that are pre-dyed to add color to the rugs. Jute can fit in easily with any of these designs and, since your jute rugs will last for a very long time, you can easily update or change styles without having to replace your rugs.
Cost:
The price of jute rugs also makes them very appealing. For a high-quality, durable and eco-friendly option, you cannot beat the price of jute rugs! Especially since you will not need to replace these rugs for years and years, even those in the most traffic-heavy areas of your home or office. nuLOOM is one brand that sells natural, chunky jute rugs on Amazon for a very high end look at a really reasonable price-point.
Texture:
The feel of jute rugs is very unique and appealing in the home to many. I’ve heard it described as a “massage for the feet.” The bumpy texture of jute can be a bit rough at first, but will soften quickly with a bit of use. If you are still afraid you will find the texture unappealing, there are jute rugs that are mixed with other natural fibers, such as chenille or cotton, designed to make the rugs feel softer underfoot.
Maintenance:
In addition to the texture of jute being very appealing, this makes it incredibly easy and low maintenance to clean. Dirt, dust and hairs are trapped and hidden in the weave of the rugs, but are easily picked up by a quick vacuuming. The rugs can be vacuumed frequently without breaking down, as this fiber can stand up to some serious wear. Spills are easy to wipe up and stains and smells aren’t trapped in the fibers, due to the structure and natural oils in the fiber. Some do complain about little fibers that can be seen as they break off from the rug, but these are easy to sweep or vacuum, and the maintenance is comparable to other natural fiber rugs.
And my final suggestion for you if you choose to have jute rugs in your home is to be sure to use rug pads. Like any natural fiber rugs or, really, rugs in general, jute can be a little slick. Do use rug pads (I personally prefer the felt variety, like this rug pad available on Amazon) under jute to help keep them in place and prevent accidental falls! You don't have to worry, however, about jute scratching your floors, so the rug pads are truly just to prevent slippage and are not necessary to protect existing hardwood, linoleum, or vinyl floors.
Negatives of Jute Rugs and Floor Coverings
The problem that jute has as a fiber used to make rugs is that a clean jute rug is a happy jute rug, but those that get wet are unhappy. Moisture will rapidly deteriorate the strength of jute, as can acidic conditions. Jute flooring is best used where humidity is low because moisture is hard on it. So, it’s safe to say that outdoor jute rugs aren’t going to do much good for long. But a jute rug in a home or office in the southwestern part of the U.S., for example, would be a lovely addition to the space.
As jute fibers break down, little pieces of the fibers will break off and can look like dust or dirt. This is especially noticeable underneath the rug, but can also be a problem on especially dark flooring or even furniture. While it’s fairly simple to clean these fibers with a quick vacuuming or sweeping, this can be annoying if the rugs are kept in a room that is not a part of your regular cleaning routine. Generally, those who choose jute rugs for their homes find that the benefits far outweigh these negatives.
The Final Verdict On Jute Rugs In the Home
When it comes down to it, whether you choose to use jute rugs for your home will really come down to your style preference. Jute has a unique look and feel to it that will mean you will either love it or hate it, and you will know how you feel as soon as you try it out.
Popular Jute rugs on Amazon.com
If you love the look, consider getting a custom jute rug for your home. Jute rugs can be customized down to the weave as well as the size, and custom-made jute rugs will give you exactly the look you seek for your home or office. Jute matting and jute flooring are perfect example of sustainable household decorations. Not only are they beautiful in their weaves and strength, but there’s no need to worry about them cluttering a landfill years from now.
Hi – We have two jute throw rugs. When we put them down on the floor, we saw a crease in both of them in the middle where it had been folded. We assumed that it would eventually flatten out;
but, has not. Can you help? Thanks a million.
P. S. We have had them for about six months.
Wouldn’t it be great if vendors took care of your rugs so they look great when you get them home?
I think you have to be careful with this so you don’t break the fibers. Try gently steaming the creased areas so they are warm and damp and then weight them down so they can dry flat. It may take several iterations to get the rugs flat, but you should be able to tell by the first one if it’s going to work.
Please let us know how it turns out.
I have a jute rug and it has gotten an oily type stain on it. problem is… i don’t know “what” got on it and the rug also has a print. it is natural and the print is black. we put spray n wash on it but, didn’t follow up because the color seemed to be rubbing off. i tried blotting it with oxy-clean for laundry and upholstry. i really can’t afford to take it to the cleaners. i really love the rug and it is only a couple months old. please help!
Thank You
Tracy
Jute rugs don’t seem to respond well to washing. If it’s an oily stain you want to try to absorb it and remove it that way. Apply a dusting of corn starch to it (enough to cover the spot with a thin layer of powder), let it sit for some time (30 minutes or more) and vacuum it up. Repeat the process several times to see if it’s making a difference.
If the cornstarch is absorbing the oil then it seems you can continue with that approach until it’s gone, or at least diminished to your satisfaction.
Good luck. Please let us know how it worked out for you.
my dog just peed on my new jute rug and now a stain appears. i tried diluting it with water but to know avail? any help appreciated. vinegar? baking soda? hydrogen peroxide? please….and thank you.
What happened to the rug when you tried diluting it with water? Did the stain get bigger, lighter, or do nothing different? It’s hard to make suggestions without knowing more.
And think you for your lovely manners. ;~>
I ordered a 5×8 thick basketweave jute rug that arrived wrapped in plastic. The problem is it smells like mildew/dirt. I called the company that it was ordered from they said to put it outside in the sun for two weeks and that should get rid of the smell. Well time has gone by but the smell and the strength of it remains. The storing instructions on the rug state not to wrap in plastic to store wrapped in a sheet. I am guessing that it needs to “breathe”. But now what about this smell how do I get rid of it???
Thanks, Suzanne
I have had a jute area rug for about 2 months and I love the look of it and the feel of it under my feet. The only problem I have with it is how do you get the loose fibers from the carpet so that everytime I walk, sit or lay on it I don’t come off of it with jute fibers all over my socks and/or clothing?
I’m guessing it’s like most new carpets — it’s a matter of time before it quits “shedding”. I suspect it may take a bit longer than most carpets, but time will tell.
Maybe you’ll report back when that time comes so others will know, from your experience, what to expect.
i just bought a new jute rug—-and my dog pooped right in the middle of it. Unfortunately, it left a big mark. my first instinct lead me to clean it with oxyclean—-and that has now made the mark even more noticeable. do you have any recommendations to get my rug looking new again? thank you
renee
Pet poop and vomit should be left alone until it’s dried. Most of the particles will vacuum up nicely, leaving a minor stain that can then be treated. When you tackle the cleaning too soon there’s more material to be spread, making a bigger stain.
Gently keep cleaning the spot. Take it outdoors for the sun to do some cleaning magic on it.
If worse comes to worse, wash the entire rug with your Oxyclean so it’s all the same look.
Hello, I have a large, chocolate brown jute rug. My cat has puked on it countless times over the years, so there is some discolouration. Would you recommend professional cleaning, or could I give it a gentle wash with sponge and warm soapy water and dry in the sun? Thanks so much for your advice.
Hello, my baby-sitter’s dog urinated on my brand new jute rug last night and she didn’t tell me about it. I noticed this morning the lighter places where the urine went. My daughter said the baby-sitter merely blotted the stains with a paper towel. The rug is ruined unless I try something. The rug is bound with a cotton binding and has a latex backing. How do I clean it? If I get the whole thing wet will it shrink and pucker with the backing?
Beatrice, I’m no longer sure how to clean jute rugs, based on the myriad stories I hear from people about the problems they are having. I tend to prefer the notion of cleaning a rug myself because I can control the chemicals — or lack thereof — used in the cleaning process.
One way to help you decide is to call the rug cleaners in your area, find out who has experience cleaning jute rugs and what they recommend, and proceeding from there. I’d love to hear what you learn. I suspect you’ll learn a variety of things.
Barclay, I’ve never cleaned a rug that has a latex backing so don’t know how it will react. I’d think if you didn’t use hot water the latex wouldn’t shrink, but that is just a guess.
Based on the stories I’ve heard here, spotting it will just change the spots in color and intensity. So maybe start there and then plan to move to getting the entire rug wet. From what your reaction is right now you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
My advise to anyone considering buying a natural
fiber carpet or rug. FORGET ABOUT IT! The one
I bought was not cheap. I have several small stains on it from pets getting sick. They are imposible to remove. The people that are selling
these rugs know that you cannot remove stains successfuly, but they don’t warn you. So until they come up with a way to spot clean with good results don’t waste your money. Unless you are single have no children or pets. Even then I’m not sure I could reccomend them. So buyer beware!
I just bought a jute rug and was not told anything at the store about how, even if you drip a tiny bit of water on it from your hand, it stains!!!it looked like it would be so easy to clean and so far every thing I have tried to clean on it just ends up looking like a big mess. I went back to the store today and they said tell the manager you weren’t warned and get your money back! I am upset though because i like the look of it -just that it’s ridiculously sensitive to anything dropping on it!!!
Hi Roxanne, I’m so sorry to hear about your experience with your new rug. I’m presuming you’ve read over this page and perhaps others and if so, then you know you’re not alone.
Returning it for a refund or replacement is an option, and yes, it would have been nice if the salesperson had clued you in on what is NOT good for jute, perhaps then you might have decided to go with another fiber or to place your rug in a different location.
>If you really, really want to keep your rug, you might try one of methods suggested in earlier posts. Good luck and let me know how things go!
I have a customer that wanted to find something to remove pet stains and a yellowing of a jute rug, so i tried (on a corner) oxyclean then tried Mr Clean on it and it lightened the yellowing but made the whole rug look a mess, tomorrow i am going to take to the laundry mat and use texas size washer with oxyclean and will write back with results (owner says if it turns out ok if not no big loss they was going to throw it away anyway)
It’d be interesting if you’d post back your results!
Stain Solver would
be better than OxyClean because it’s got more bleaching action.
Enviro-One has been good for stain removal in general, and though I haven’t tried it on carpets, I would think that it’d be very good for carpet stains.