Rug Chick Blog - Rug Buying
Hi, I’m Lisa Wagner, your trusted rug friend. I created RugChick because honest, practical rug advice was hard to find. Today it’s a go-to resource for buying, caring for, and cleaning rugs. Homeowners get clear tips, rug care professionals get safe methods, and rug makers/designers find candid insights so we can raise the bar together. Browse the articles, search your question, and reach out if you need help. I’m glad you’re here!
If you are in San Diego, visit us at Blatchford’s San Diego Rug Cleaning & Repair. Here I am with my mom Kate and my niece Chris, three generations caring for your rugs.

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Shedding Rugs: What Your Rug is Telling You
A companion Q&A to our guide on shedding rugs. Shedding used to be mostly a low-end nuisance. Today it is one of the clearest signals of a bigger problem: weak, chemically processed wool that has worked its way up into rugs people are paying real money for.
Wool Carpet Quality: Answers to the Questions Buyers Actually Ask
A plain-language guide to strong wool versus weak wool in carpets and rugs. By Lisa Wagner, RugChick.com. Companion to “All Wool Carpet Is Not Created Equal” and “How to Spot Weak Wool Before You Buy.”
How to Spot Weak Wool Carpet BEFORE You Buy It.
Shopping for wool carpet? Two carpets can both be 100% wool yet perform very differently over time. Learn how construction methods like woven, tufted, and hand-loomed affect durability, longevity, and overall performance before you invest.
Wool in the Garden: Lost Wisdom
Our farming ancestors knew this: waste wool from shearing was never trash. It was tucked into garden beds to feed the soil, keep moisture where roots need it, and make life a little harder for pests and weeds.
What Survives A Fire? The Case for Wool in Your Home.
A side-by-side fire test video produced by the UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) caught my attention recently.
When “Luxury” Isn’t. A Message to Rug Brands On What Is Slipping Through the Cracks.
The rug was clearly a lower-end hand-loomed construction from India, with a glue-backed structure and materials unlikely to perform well…
Luster-Washed Wool Rugs: What You Need To Know
These rugs in open areas will wear faster, and develop shadowing (light/dark areas) as the tips of the fibers break away from years of wear.
Silk Rug Scams (ALL Buyers Beware)
If you are looking at buying a silk rug, and if you are being asked to pay thousands (or tens of thousands), PLEASE get a second opinion.
Moroccan Rugs. What You Need To Know.
Rugs may shed for a variety of reasons. The shedding may be due to bad fiber quality, bad construction quality, or bad homeowner care.
Shedding Rugs. What You Need To Know.
Rugs may shed for a variety of reasons. The shedding may be due to bad fiber quality, bad construction quality, or bad homeowner care.
I receive emails weekly asking about what to do about a shedding rug. Here is an overview of common rug shedding scenarios, and whether there are any tips to help.
Viscose, Bamboo Silk, Banana Silk, Art Silk. What you need to know.
If you are thinking about buying a viscose rug, or viscose furniture, please watch this short video to see what you need to know about this fiber...
For Rug Shoppers
There are many different rugs out in the market today. Hand made and machine made. Natural fiber and synthetic fiber. Woven and tufted. New and old....












