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.
i have a question. how do i remove a few cherry juice stains from a jute rug?
thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Beth,
I presume you’ve read through the comments above……. I’m really no closer to a sure-fire way to clean these rugs. Take a look at the April 12th comment to Barclay. Sorry I couldn’t be more help. If somebody imparts some pearls of wisdom on how to clean it (and cherry juice yet!) please feel free to drop back by and let us know about it!
my dog had an accident on my jute rug,first I put baking soda on the large spot to draw out the moisture. Next,I vacuumed the stain and then scrubbed with cold water and pine sol,let it dry….
then with a small amount of bleach and soap scrubbed again and the stain is much better,but a large ring remains………next I am about to take it to the car wash …….power wash it as I think thats the ONLY way for it not to leave a ring! then let it dry out side it’s a 9 x 11…I will give an update as I have nothing to lose at this point outside of throwing it away!
Thanks Angela – please do drop back in here and post how your experiment turned out. I wonder about using the bleach (even if weak) caused the light spot. Might have to do the whole rug that way to try to get it one (hopefully!) uniform color……
I have two dogs and one jute rug which has taken the brunt of a few “accidents”. I have had success with draping it over my balcony railing and pouring warm-to-hot water down it, rinsing it over and over again. That did a pretty good job on fresh urine stains. A poop accident was another thing altogether; I had to lift the main mess off with paper towels (yuck) then use an old, white cloth and warm water in a bucket to dab the remainder off. Over the balcony it went again and I used an old toothbrush to gently clean the fibres. I was tempted to chuck the dogs off the balcony, but thankfully I restrained myself.
Any cleaners will very likely remove the color from your rug, so I recommend working with just water, and making sure it thoroughly dries afterwards before putting it on the floor again.
Thanks for the tips Kirsty. Heh – actually, it’s recommended that you do not steam clean or wet shampoo jute rugs. A store I like that carries really nice Jute Area Rugs doesn’t recommend getting it wet either. So long as it works for you though…….. ;~) Heavens know I’ve come up with creative ways a time or two to clean flooring that would have made manufacturer’s cringe. Sometimes, recommended methods just aren’t going to cut it.
One last thought – always be sure that the rug is thoroughly dry so that you don’t have mold or mildew concerns to toss in the mix. Anything made of natural materials will be more prone to this.
Thanks for the post!
I just bought a jute rug for my deck. Last night it sprinkle a bit but I didn’t worry because I thought natural fiber, natural water no problem.
This afternoon we had a 10 minute downpour and I was worried about shrinkage, so I thought I would search about jute rugs. I am so glad I did, I grabed the rug and put it in a safe place to dry. So far everything looks fine. I also know not to let the grandchildren and their dog anywhere near it. Thanks for your wonderful article.
You’re most welcome Colleen!
what about dogs’ nails and jute. I just bought a beautiful jute rug and now I am worried about my dogs’ nails ruining the rug?
Janet, I don’t have personal experience with jute rugs, but given the way jute rugs are made I’d think they’d do ok with trimmed dog nails. Dogs nails should be kept trimmed for any floor to keep scratches and snags to a minimum.
Why can’t you varnish or use vinyl floor polish to protect jute rug as long as you don’t over- wet
I would think that varnish would literally crumble after a short while. While most jute is quite stiff, it’s not the hard material that a floor is and has ‘give’. This ‘give’ is going to cause the varnish or polish to crack, flake, etc. and in general not hold up well at all. Varnishes and polishes are meant to give a hard, protective surface to wood floors, but need something stable to adhere to.
Hi FloorLady…
I have a large jute rug in the livingroom. My problem is I think the rug is starting to smell like my dogs after having had it for a year or so (no other textiles to hold odor, couch is leather). I vaccuum it about twice a week and spray febreeze. Is there a way to remove the odor from a jute rug?
Thanks so much for your time!
Hi Tiffany,
That could be tricky – it’s not good to get jute wet, but you really need something to get out the odors. Probably the easiest way to do this is to use some regular ol’ baking soda, sprinkle on the rug, let sit a while and vacuum. Unfortunately, this won’t get all through the fibers, so I don’t know how successful this would be.
Does the rug have a rubber backing/pad attached to it? If not, you could always flip it over and repeat the baking soda process.
Thanks for your reply! I am going to try baking soda and see where that gets me. I was going to first take it outside and give it a good beating on both sides as I know there is plenty of dirt in there that the vacuum doesn’t get (2 bigs dogs = dirt). Then bring it back in for a sprinkle of baking soda. May just buy a new rug if not successful.
No rubber backing/pad attached.
Thanks again for your time……
You’re most welcome Tiffany. I suppose beating it couldn’t hurt either to help dislodge dirt. ;~)
I have a jute rug from Pottery Barn that we have used under our kitchen table. Needless to say, we have some spills on the carpet that I don’t know how to tackle. Do you have a recommendation of how to clean stains on jute?
Thank you!
Jute rugs are not recommended for areas with high moisture levels. It is also recommended that you do not steam clean or wet shampoo jute rugs.
For spot-cleaning, use a mixture of water with a very small amount of detergent (such as a neutral one used for hand-washed garments) or a household solvent.
Use as little cleaner as possible to avoid excessive wetting which may damage the carpet.
Removing stains with color in them may require extra effort, and some stains containing dyes such as ink, lipstick, paint or shoe polish may be impossible to remove.
If you are unable to remove a stain, consult a professional carpet cleaner .
Should your floor coverings require a total cleaning, it is important to insure that a cleaning method using hot water extraction or wet shampooing should NOT be used. These methods can cause shrinkage and staining of natural fibers. For an overall cleaning it is best to consult a professional who has experience with Natural Fiber Floor covering.
I don’t have experience with cleaning jute rugs, but found this information at Natural Area Rugs. To read more, just click on the link, go to the bottom of the page and click on Care and Maintainence under the Learn More Heading.
Don’t ever try to spot-clean a jute rug with club soda! My dog had a fairly dry (poop) accident which I cleaned up pretty well with baking soda, then vacuumed. Without thinking (or going on the web) I dumped club soda on the two spots and left for the weekend. Now I have nasty stains and the rug is ruined. I love the look of the jute but don’t think I’d get another since it’s really not cleanable as far as I can tell.
Well I just spilt a glass of red wine on my black jute rug from pier1, I blotted with a wet dish rag.. I hope it comes out. Any advice? From what I read water isn’t the best option, stain stays or water kills the rug..