Shag rugs are a retro choice that can jazz up your area. They are fluffy, soft, and very trendy! You’ve probably seen them displayed in warm, cozy homes, and they’re definitely trending right now– just check any interior design magazine, and you’re bound to see a plush shag rug. Shag rugs are perfect for the winter months. Imagine stepping out of bed and onto a thick pile of fur.
Although shag rugs can be a fun rug choice, there are definitely some downsides to shag rugs that rug-owners should be aware of before making any purchases. Below we’re going to outline 5 of the biggest drawbacks to shag rugs so that you can be an informed buyer.
Sure, a chocolatey brown shag rug fits perfectly with eclectic, modern décor– but what are its drawbacks?
Shedding
Do you hate when your dog sits on your brand new white couch and leaves a mess of black fur all over it? Plush rugs are a little bit like having your own pet, without the whole “Man’s Best Friend” part. Shag rugs– no matter how high-quality– will, unfortunately, shed. This means you’ll find fuzzballs in the kitchen, living room, and dining room, even if your rug is in the bedroom. How? When your rug sheds, and you walk all over it, the fuzz of your shag rug will stick to the bottom of your feet so your rug will follow you wherever you go. There’s nothing more confusing than finding remnants from your shag rug at your friend’s house. It can also be dangerous: if you have any animals and they try to eat the unraveled remnants of your rug, it could be a health threat for your pet.
Not only are the unraveled pieces of your shag rug incredibly annoying to clean, but, unlike your beloved furry friend, your shag rug does not have the ability to grow any fur back– meaning it will never be as plush as it was when you first bought it.
THE FIX
Comb a horsehair brush through the hairs of your brush to loosen up stray fibers, then use a vacuum (on low, going with the grain of the pile) to gently vacuum up the remnants.
Aging
Shedding brings us to our next drawback: aging. While you may be incredibly excited to decorate with your brand new, super retro, and incredibly fluffy shag rug, unlike other types of rugs, shag rugs do not age well. Not only do they shed- thus losing their plush shag- but their surface can be flattened. If you walk over a certain area often, it’ll show, and be visibly less voluminous. It gives off the look of a patch of grass that has been stepped on a few too many times… which isn’t the best look for a rug.Additionally, many shag rugs are a white or cream hue, which yellows over time. A yellowed- flat, balding rug catches attention, but not for a good reason.
THE FIX
Take good care of your rugs by vacuuming constantly and taking it to get professionally cleaned by the experts.
Allergies
Achoo! Are you deathly allergic to every single mite, mote, and speck in your house? Then, maybe a shag rug isn’t for you. Shag rugs have a knack for catching dirt, dander, and debris, which then sheds and gets all over the house. Not only does it attract dirt like a magnet, but the dirt has a habit of getting tangled with the fibers and sinking to the absolute bottom of your rug. Shag rugs have long fibers, which get clogged with virtually everything that is guaranteed to make you sneeze in your house. This can lower your indoor air quality, especially if the rug has been treated with tons of chemicals– this is not great for your sinuses! Like we mentioned before, having a shag rug is a bit like having a dog– so if you’re allergic to fur, maybe owning a shag rug would not be worth the hassle.
THE FIX
While we can’t get rid of your allergies for you, cleaning your rug regularly (or getting it cleaned by the pros) will get rid of all those little dust mites and dander that make your allergies flare up.
Staining
We briefly mentioned how white shag rugs can yellow with age, but what about staining? Shag rugs are infamous for being incredibly hard to clean, because of their thick, tangled fibers. A simple vacuum once in a while won’t get rid of all the gunk that’s stuck at the root of the shag fur, because the fibers are so long. So, if you so much as spill a drop of coffee on your shag rug, you can expect a very intense cleaning process to follow. Short-fiber rugs are hard enough to bleach the stains out of… so imagine the process with delicate, long-fiber, shag rugs.
THE FIX
Clean stains with vinegar and water, with a microfiber cloth, use dry carpet shampoo and a vacuum or get your carpet professionally cleaned. Just keep in mind that, depending on how big the stain is, it might not come out, and you may need to buy a brand-new rug.
High-Maintenance
As all of this information might have warned you, shag rugs are incredibly high-maintenance. They are very difficult to clean and often require much more frequent cleaning than any other type of rug. A lot of the time, you may have to get your shag rug professionally cleaned, which is a hassle and can get pricey. Shag rugs are definitely an investment, so make sure to research them intensely so that you can make sure purchasing a shag rug is the right decision for you.
