Sniff Test for Rugs

Latex glue used to bond the backing on rugs can be unpleasant. Do your rugs pass the sniff test?

One type of rug on the market requires a sniff test because it is raising issues in households across the country. It has caused unsuspecting owners to summon electricians, plumbers, furnace repairmen and firefighters, blame the paint, the walls, floors and even poor Fido for the mysterious “burning rubber” odor invading their homes. The culprit? Tufted rugs which are bonded with latex glue. Some of that glue off-gasses a pungent odor which is so offensive many people cut their losses and dispose of these rugs. However, not all the rugs reach the landfill. Some crop up at garage and Internet sales.

Hand-tufted rugs are made with a tufting hook or pneumatic tufting gun. First, a foundation fabric with an imprinted design is stretched onto a frame. Wool loops are then punched back and forth through the fabric, leaving loops on the face. To create the pile, the loops on the face side are sheared open. When completed, a scrim (netting) is placed on the backside for added strength and latex glue is applied to the entire back of the rug. The latex is vital to anchor the loops in place.

This diagram shows how the wool loops are inserted, layered, and sheared. Once dry, a final fabric backing is attached.

The backing fabric is made of cotton or canvas, either white or colored. Fabric is the giveaway and a way to determine if a rug is tufted. Handmade rugs will never have a fabric backside. This photo shows the foundation fabric folded back and attached to the backing cloth.

Many brand-name manufacturers are producing rugs with pungent latex. On a recent trip to a furniture store, I could smell the rubber odor as I approached the rug department. There is no specific category for these carpets with regard to maker or quality. There are varying explanations for the odor, such as petroleum and impurities in the glue. The only true test is to inspect the rug in person, taking note of any odor emanating from the back. The issue of odor has been a topic of discussion on Internet boards for some time. However, the problem is not linked to just one merchant.

Lastly, cleaning cannot remove the odor. It is permanent. That bears repeating: it is permanent.

Suggestions of airing, or placing the rug in the sun (which will intensify the odor, not lessen it), or spraying it with a freshener are just a few of the misconceptions about ways to get rid of the odor. The smell is more evident in closed rooms or those which are very sunny.

Because tufting can be done quickly, thus inexpensively, these rugs have attractive price tags. Often, less than top-quality wool is used and the shearing process can cause another problem — shedding of the fibers that may continue indefinitely. This frequently translates into a lower end carpet both in terms of quality and wear. Here is the front of a rug that shows how it looks when wool tufts are worn away. Styles range from solid colors to vibrant abstracts, Oriental imitations, Contemporary and Chinese patterns. You can find Andy Warhol-design rugs, and styles made especially for childrens rooms, round, square and even surfboard shapes. China and India are the major producers.

Tufted rugs have been around for decades and it’s important to note that not all of them suffer the fate of putrid latex. In our shop, we have seen an influx of these carpets brought in for cleaning as more people look to the Internet and online retailers for inexpensive floor coverings. As the rug needs of consumers change, so does the marketplace. Currently, the demand is for low cost goods. Tufted rugs are not in the same category as hand-knotted rugs, but they do fill a niche for many people. If the style and price of tufted rug fits the bill for you, be a savvy shopper and let your nose be your guide.

(Source: betterlivingthroughdesign, arearugfacts)

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