Best Area Rugs

Braided rugs have been warming hearths and homes of Americans for over 200 years. Woven and hooked rugs are found worldwide, but braided rugs are uniquely American. Being very limited in the availability of raw materials, the obvious choice was to use discarded or surplus materials such as clothing or household textile fabrics cut into narrow strips and hand braided into what we now know as the braided rugs. The tradition, dependent on the availability of fabric, started in New England, which was also the birthplace of the American textile industry. Braiding was a craft that all women learned as girls, caring for their hair. It required almost no equipment and could be done with minimal lighting so it became a pleasant evening pastime.

Braided rugs are very sturdy, longwearing, and comfortable to walk on and easy to care for. Tightly braided and laced together, these rugs only required sweeping with a stiff straw broom and regular turning over to reverse the wear. Most braided rugs are reversible which makes them very cost-effective because it is like having two rugs in one. The removal of gritty dirt is easy and prolongs the life of any rug. Do not give the rug a rough shaking or beating on a line because it puts too much strain on the lacing that binds the braids together but they can be vacuumed - and should periodically be vacuumed on both sides. If the rug becomes stained it can be sponged away with soapy water or professionally dry-cleaned. If you use the rug in a heavy traffic area, you can further equalize the wear by rotating them end-to-end. Braided rugs are tough.