Flokati Rugs

There are many types of shaggy furry rugs in the market today. One member of the very large shag rug family is the Flokati rug. Truth be told, Flokati rugs are actually much older than the other types of shag rugs. These rugs come to us all the way from Greece. They were even present in the days of ancient Greece! Back in those days, the Greek shepherds made use of wool from their sheep as way to protect themselves from the cold, so the wool was used as blankets. The Greeks later found a way to make the wool rugs by placing them in the cold water of the river. The cold water helped to fluff the shag and make the rug plush.

It is interesting to note that the Flokati is made from 100% wool, and this includes all its pile and its backing. The Flokati is naturally off white, but today these types of floor rugs can be dyed into other colors. These genuine Flokati shag area rugs remain one of the plushest and luxurious rugs ever, so it is only natural that they are quite expensive. These days, most Flokati area rugs are still made by hand in the mountains of Greece, however there are also many Flokati rugs that are made from wool that is imported from New Zealand.

What are some of the things that you should know about the Flokati rug? One thing that you should have some idea about before purchasing any type of Flokati is the grading system by which they assess the quality of such a rug. If you look at the Flokati rugs for sale you will see terms such as standard Flokati, Premium, Super Heavy and Ultra Plush. All these are grades for the Flokati rugs. So what do these grades refer to and what do they mean?

In hand knotted rugs, you will see the grades as being a certain knots per square inch. For Flokati rugs it is graded by its weight in grams. So the grade begins with a low range of 1,000 grams per square meters to the 4,000 grams per square meters. This means the more wool found in a square meter the better the grade of the rug. More wool also means that the rug is thicker and fuller, thus more lush and luxurious.

When looking for Flokati rugs for sale for your home, look out for the following grades. For adult settings, it is advisable to get a rug that is 2,000 grams or better, as too light a Flokati will turn matte and thin fast. A 2,000 gram is also known as the 3A or the Premium or Heavy grade. A step above that is the 4A or the 3,000 gram rug also known as the Super Heavy or Super Thick. And the best grade is the 5A 4,000 grams Flokati, which is also known as the Ultra Plush. Needless to say the best grade would cost you the most, but it is definitely worth the purchase. Also, try to be careful when picking out a Flokati rug from the many that you can find for sale, as there are some Flokatis that are made from synthetic materials. Purists would argue that a rug made from synthetic materials should not be known as Flokati, but are really shag rugs. However some disagree.

How do you keep your Flokati shag area rugs clean in the home? Taking care of the rug should not be a hassle. The best way to keep the rug clean is to give it a shake periodically. Take it outside and give it a good shake to loosen all dust and debris. Of course if you have a large Flokati, you may need to get some help to do this.

The next thing that you can do is to air out the rug so that the wool fibers can ‘breathe’. Make sure you keep the rug out of direct sunlight though. Airing it will also help to eliminate any indoor odors that are on your rug. And finally, you can wash your Flokati. A small rug can be washed in the washing machine on the gentlest cycle, while a large rug will benefit from a spraying of cold water from a spray bottle. Make sure you air dry your rug and let it dry completely. Never place it in your dryer! When your Flokati rug is dry, you can brush it out using a metal brush or a dog brush. Start at the center of the rug and work your way outwards. Brushing will fluff up the rug pile and make it look plush.

Flokati rugs look amazing and are such a comfort to step on. They provide comfort and warmth to your home, while adding a sense of style and timeless beauty.