Are you considering purchasing a new rug?
To choose the right rug for you, you have to learn a little about each type and their unique features.
Here, you’ll find all the information you need about Oushak rugs—including whether they shed or not.
What is an Oushak rug?
Oushak rugs are named after their town of origin: Oushak, just south of Istanbul, Turkey. This has been a major rug production center since the 15th century, and the 18th and 19th century saw a resurgence in this particular style.
Unlike most Turkish rugs, the Oushak has a strong Persian influence. It’s a type of rug that’s known for excellent materials and craftsmanship. Oushak rugs have been known to use silk and metal threads; however, usually the base of an Oushak rug is cotton and the pile is fine quality wool.
Weaving an Oushak rug requires mastery of weaving and hand-knotting techniques. Once the raw material is spun into fine yarn, it’s colored by natural dyes then woven intricately. This type of rug is the product of artistry passed down through generations.
What distinguishes an Oushak rug from other types is the silky wool that is used to make it—which gives it a luxurious texture—as well as the color palette and patterns that are commonly featured. You should expect to find large scale floral and geometric motifs such as those featured on this vegetable dyed area rug:
Why might an Oushak rug shed?
Whether your rug sheds or not (and to what degree it sheds) will depend on the materials used. If your rug is pure wool, it’s unlikely to shed much at all in the long term. It also won’t release dangerous chemicals like some other synthetic rugs can.
You should expect your rug to shed a little at the start, though. Make sure you’re vacuuming twice a week to remove the loose fibers from the pile. If your rug is in a high-traffic area, it will shed more. You can mitigate this by using a rug pad underneath to minimize the stress it experiences.
Even if you purchase a high quality Oushak rug, you might still consider applying a fiber protector to it. This will safely strengthen the surface of the fibers so shedding will be reduced and stains will be resisted. It shouldn’t affect the color or the texture of your rug.
Shopping for an Oushak rug
If you’re looking for a rug, remember that lesser quality wool is more likely to break and shed. Thankfully, Oushak rugs are known for the high-quality wool used to produce them.
To determine the quality of the wool, rub your thumb over it and see if it feels smooth or straw-like. With an Oushak, you should expect a silky texture.
When shopping for an Oushak rug, look for density and knot size. A looser woven rug will be less resilient than its denser, tightly-woven equivalent.
You can find a range of luxurious Oushak rugs in eye-catching designs within the Rug Source collection.
Read our other blog posts on Oushak Rugs:
