Zebra Rugs - Best Area Rugs to Buy in USA
Posted by ANUJ JAIN
An age old debate regarding using real or faux zebra skin rugs. This section will give you some ideas as to the advantages and disadvantages of using each different type of rug in the future. Hopefully, it will help you decide which one to buy as soon as possible.
Real Zebra Skins: The Pros
High quality
You are ensured of high quality products if you ever decide to use authentic zebra skin rugs. It will definitely add a touch of elegance to every room that you use it in. Aside from this, you can look forward to the rugs looking extremely physically attractive as oppose to using faux zebra skin rugs.
Enormity
In addition to this, authentic zebra skin rugs are usually large. So if you need to find drugs that are large enough to occupy your whole room, real zebra skin rugs are the way to go. The sizes for real zebra skin rugs may range from 6 ft. by 8 ft. to 7 ft. by 9 ft. You will never find another faux hide rug as large as authentic zebra skins.
Value
Because of the rarity of authentic zebra skins in the market, if you have it, it can be considered as one of the most prized items in your collection. This means that you can sell it as high as you would want and people would still want to buy it eventually. Having authentic zebra skins will definitely be a good investment for you in the future.
Safety
Furthermore, using authentic rugs will be much safer for collectors as well as interior designers. Why? Because most of the time, fake animal-skin rugs usually have synthetic chemicals that may be harmful to a person’s health. So if you would want to maintain good health while working with your favourite zebra skin rug, you ought to use authentic ones.
Cons: Why Should You Choose To Buy Faux Zebra Skin Rugs?
These being said, there are also major issues that come with using authentic animal hide. This may be considered as a disadvantage for you as a collector and may well worth be considered before purchase. Some of these disadvantages are as follows:
It Is Expensive
First and foremost among the disadvantages and perhaps the most important issue that you need to be aware of is pricing. Genuine zebra skin rugs usually are extremely expensive. So if you’re on a tight budget, perhaps you should consider buying the fake ones instead.
Controversial
Another disadvantage for you if you decide to use real zebra skin would be the issues surrounding animal rights. Owning animal hide will definitely put you in a bad light with animal rights activists. So if you’re not ready to face public scrutiny because of what you wear or use in your home, I suggest that you synthetic animal hide rugs.
Even then, using fake zebra skin rugs can still cause a bit of controversy among the many activists around the world. If just you won’t have a problem with the animal rights groups, you still might have issues with environmentalists because of the various chemicals that could be contained in fake fur. So you still would have to be really careful regarding using zebra skin rugs both in your home and for your wardrobe.
High Maintenance
Aside from this, using genuine zebra skin rugs will require you to maintain it pretty extensively. There are specific steps to caring for your zebra skin rugs properly. You have to follow this to the letter if you want to still be able to use your rugs for a very long time.
With synthetic rugs, you will not have to worry about damaging the rug so much. Why? Because first of all of its cheap and easily replaceable. Secondly, it is not very hard to find online real skin rugs. Usually, real zebra skin rugs are imported from Africa which adds to the overall price of this piece. The more authentic it is, the more expensive the merchandise.
Final Words
This is why you have to really think about your options first before deciding to purchase zebra skin rugs. This way, you will never end up regretting your decision in the long run. In addition, we hope that through this article, you were able to think about and weigh the pros and cons of buying your very own authentic or fake zebra skin rugs. Always remember that whatever you decide, should be for the good of many and not just for yourself.
How to Hang a Zebra Skin Rug
Place a Large Area Rug Over a Worn Wall-to-Wall Carpet
A zebra-skin rug is an exotic accent piece for any room in your home. If used as a floor covering, your zebra hide can get dirty and stained. Instead, display the rug by hanging it on the wall. Mounting the hide on the wall is the best way to preserve it and keep it clean.
Mounting a Zebra Rug
Mount the zebra-skin rug between two pieces of glass to avoid damaging the delicate hide. If you press the hide tightly between the enclosure, it won't slide around or fall down; you shouldn't need adhesives to keep the rug in place. Once you've mounted the rug between glass, put the enclosure in a picture frame. A professional framing company may also be able to do this for you. You can hang the frame on the wall. Use a wall anchor, such as a winged or screw anchor, for plaster or drywall. Polyethylene expansion anchors work for brick walls. Tempered steel grips, which screw into the wall, are another option. These grips grasp the edges of the rug and hold it in place without puncturing the hide. Don't hang the zebra rug with staples or nails; doing so will damage the hide.
Maintaining your Zebra Rug
Given the high cost that a zebra skin rug will go for, it is important that you take some measures into making it last longer. But the first thing that you need to know before even going into the maintenance part is the way your skin has been made. There are normally two types of zebra skins; the felted ones and the non-felted ones. The non-felted skins will have undergone the normal washing and drying after skinning. There is nothing added to the skin. On the other hand, there are the felted skins which have been treated and added some materials. The hairs of the felted skin will have been grooved firmly together and to the skin. This ensures that the skin lasts for long. There is no area that such skin cannot be used. Here are now some of the tips to use when it comes to maintaining the skin;
Vacuuming of your zebra skin rug is not an option but a must. There will be dirt and other impurities that will often fall on the rug. These dirt particles might be might or other particles that can prove to be harmful to the skin if left to stay. Vacuuming once a week is the advisable criteria to use. When vacuuming your rug, you should turn off the rotator brush so as not to make the hairs weak.
If you are against vacuuming, you have the alternative of brushing your zebra skin rug. All you have to do is get a brush or a soft broom to brush with. When working on your rug, always ensure that the brush flows towards along the grains. The hairs will be running to the outside of the skin from the centre of the skin. If you brush your rug against the running of the hairs, then you run the risk of making them weak and thereby removing them.
Dealing with pets especially as far as animal rugs are concerned can be tricky. You need to first know how the pet will behave upon seeing the rug. Don’t forget that pets have a very strong sense of smell and they can easily tell that the rug smells of an animal. Well, as for the pet stains more so the urine stains, what you need to get is a pet urine remover. Don’t allow pet urine to stay on the rug otherwise the stain will become permanent or even force the hair to come off.
You can wash your carpet every so often so as to remove dirt and other particles. When looking for a great way to cleaning your zebra skin rug, always remember that you should never get the rug wet. You should get a mild soap, a soft sponge and water. When cleaning the rug, spot clean it rather than basically pouring water on it. With regular careful washing, your rug is bound to last for many years. You get true value for your rug when you use these cleaning tips.
Some particular stains and tips for them
For Wear and Tear
For the usual wear and tear of the rugs, using water, soap and a soft sponge will do the trick. Be careful not to get your zebra skin rugs too wet beyond spot removal because this might damage the rug extensively. If this happens, only professional restoration can save it. Doing this will not even necessarily guarantee successful repair.
This is why you have to be very careful when handling your rugs as much as possible.
Stains
When cleaning stains, make sure do not rub it as much as possible. As mentioned earlier, using warm water and soap, get a piece of cloth or a sponge, soak it in and then use that to blot away the stain.In addition, the best way to prevent any stains from getting into the carpet would be to avoid eating or drinking on top of the product. This will save you a lot of grief when it comes to cleaning it up. I would advise you to use it as a tapestry or a curtain. That way, it will only tend to collect dust over time which is far easier to remove than any possible stain that it can incur.
Pet Urine
For pet urine, it would be best for you to go to the store to buy specific urine removal products for your zebra skin rugs. We would recommend you to use organic cleaning products so that you would be able to protect the environment as well while keeping your rugs stain free.It would also help you to train your pets to avoid urinating on to the zebra skin rug or carpet. This way, you will not have more difficulty cleaning it up in the future.It would be advantageous for you to get to know the nearest carpet repair shop that you can find in your community. This way, you will be able to easily contact them in case you would need their services in the future.
Safety Precautions
As a precaution, you should also make sure that you are able to get it from reputable sources. This way, you can be ensured of your product having top grade even before buying it. I can assure you that having high quality zebra skin rugs will be a good centerpiece for your home. So you have to do everything your power to take care of your investment.
If you are able to keep your rugs clean and in top shape, you will be able to maximize its advantage for you as the owner. It will be a good conversation piece at a party, helping you become the center of attention.
Epilogue
As mentioned earlier, owning a zebra skin rug is not that easy. After acquiring it from a reputable source, you have to make sure that you will be able to take care of it as much as possible. This is why you have to learn all that you can about the product before you even buy it.
Also, try to consider the pros and cons of owning this type of product. Is it worth it? If your answer is yes, then by all means, do whatever you can to get it as soon as possible. I can tell you now that it will be one of the best investments that you can have in your own home for many years to come. Why? Because the value of zebra skin rugs only gets higher as time passes.