Fiber and Construction
Fiber and Construction
Fiber and Construction tests fiber identification and how backing, foundation, and pile structure limit cleaning chemistry, temperature, and moisture.
Core rules and concepts
- Wool is a protein fiber. It tolerates mild acid and neutral products, but high alkalinity, heat, and agitation cause felting, shrinkage, and loss of luster.
- Silk is also protein but finer and more dye-sensitive; use cold, low-pH solutions, minimal agitation, and fast drying.
- Cotton and jute are cellulosic. Cotton can shrink and, with slow drying or alkaline residue, brown. Jute and sisal weaken when wet and can bleed.
- Rayon/viscose is regenerated cellulose: weak when wet, prone to bleeding and distortion. Never treat it like polyester.
- Synthetics (nylon, polyester, olefin, acrylic) vary: solution-dyed are more stable; stock-dyed and printed ones can bleed.
- Construction matters: hand-knotted foundations tolerate water; tufted latex backings may delaminate; hooked and needlepoint rugs distort.
Worked example
A shiny, cool-to-touch rug is tested: the fiber melts and beads with a plastic odor. That is a synthetic, not silk. The cleaning plan uses low heat, short dwell, and solvent or low-moisture methods, and avoids high-pH products that could affect the dye.
Traps
Treating viscose as polyester; using alkaline cleaner on wool; wetting jute excessively; and assuming silk-like shine means silk.