Rug Chick Blog - History and Education
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 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.
India Hand-Loomed Rugs: What You Need to Know
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.
Cleaning Pros Uncovering the Truth in Rug, Carpet, and Hard Floor Quality
I am getting ready to travel to teach at an international gathering of professionals who focus on the care of our indoor living worlds…
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.
Rug Books (A few of my favorites)
A common question I am asked, by both rug cleaners and rug enthusiasts, is: “What are some good rug books to buy?” Since I have been giving similar...
They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To…
I was going through photos and came across a LOVELY rug – a REAL rug – take a look at this Kazak rug (from the Caucasus Mountains region) – it is on...









