Wool, silk or viscose? How to tell what your rug is made of

Wool

Wool is the forgiving one. It holds dye well, releases soil when it's washed properly, and springs back when you press on it. Hand-knotted wool rugs show the knots on the back as a grid of small, slightly uneven bumps, and the design is just as clear on the back as on the front.

Silk

Real silk is very fine, with a sheen that changes as you walk around the rug. It's usually knotted very densely, so the back shows a tight, detailed version of the pattern. Silk is strong but can lose sheen and distort if it's scrubbed, so it's always a shop wash with very little agitation.

Viscose, art silk and bamboo silk

Viscose is a plant-based fiber made to look like silk at a lower price. It's soft and shiny when new, but it crushes and creases, sheds, and turns yellow or brown when it gets wet, including from a spilled drink or a well-meaning carpet cleaner. Labels say viscose, rayon, art silk or bamboo silk. Most machine-made "silk-look" rugs are viscose.

We clean viscose with as little moisture as possible and an acid rinse to limit browning, and we'll be honest at intake about what can and can't be improved.

Quick ways to check at home

• Read the label on the back corner first; it usually lists the fiber
• Press a fold into the pile: wool springs back, viscose holds the crease
• Look at the back: hand-knotted rugs show the pattern clearly; tufted rugs have a canvas or latex backing
• Don't do a burn test on a rug you care about; we can check fiber without damaging it

Why it changes the price

Wool washes predictably. Silk and viscose take more time, more care and more drying control, which is why they cost more per square foot. See the price guide.

How we clean rugs