Originally created to mimic the beauty and texture of silk, at a fraction of the cost, viscose rugs have proved to be a failure on all fronts. Maybe that is the reason that, as bad reviews continue to roll in, marketers for viscose and viscose products keep changing the name on their tags.
These days, viscose goes by a host of titles, including Art Silk, Banana Silk, Bamboo Silk, Faux Silk, Man-Made Silk, Rayon, Luxcelle, Lyocelle, Tencel – the list goes on. If viscose is so amazing, why rebrand it?
The truth is, viscose rugs and furnishings are a disaster waiting to happen. Don’t let the rug industry pull the “wool” over your eyes. If your designer is recommending a rug made with viscose, or if you’re thinking about making the purchase yourself, start with the facts.
Consider these four mainstream myths about Viscose Rugs, then take a deep dive into the care needs of this problematic product. With so much information at your fingertips, you can make the best rug-buying decision for your home and lifestyle.
Viscose Rugs: 4 Myths
Myth 1: Viscose Rugs are like silk rugs, but better.
Designers and retailers like to say viscose has all the advantages of real silk, without the exorbitant price point. That marketing message may fool the uninformed, but anyone who has purchased viscose furnishings in the past knows the truth.
First, let’s revisit what silk actually is. Real silk comes from an organic fiber generated by silkworms. Cultures have highly valued this textile throughout the course of rug history, thanks to its natural durability, unmatched texture and lustrous appearance.
Viscose, in contrast, comes from chemically processed wood pulp and plant waste. Essentially we’re talking paper. Unlike real silk, viscose fibers are weak, they are prone to shedding and pulling, and they are easily destroyed by moisture.
While viscose rugs imitate the iridescence and softness of real silk rugs, they are quick to discolor, will harden when exposed to water or other liquids, and will break down prematurely. Yes, rugs made from viscose are cheaper than those made from real silk. However, these imitations are still very expensive and rival the high cost of most luxury rugs on the market.
Myth 2: Viscose Rugs are Environmentally Friendly.
The design industry is catching up to environmentally conscious buying trends. In the past two decades, many products have entered the market that give buyers the chance to keep their carbon footprint small and to purchase based on fair labor practices. But with so much money to be made in this sector, we’re seeing scams proliferate as well.
Manufacturers have long claimed viscose to be a sustainable textile. They have based that claim on the assertion their product comes from bamboo, a fast growing grass. Man-made viscose may have originated with natural by-products. But what starts as wood pulp and plant waste – not necessarily from bamboo – turns toxic, thanks to the hazardous chemical processes used to create this fiber.
You may have seen viscose listed on the label of your pajamas or on the packaging of your new, ultra-soft sheet set. It is no surprise that there is a tendency for buyers to conflate the types of viscose on the market. If you’ve bought and laundered viscose linens and wearables, you might believe that “sustainable” viscose rugs are equally hardy and easily cleaned. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Viscose starts as rayon and there’s an unfortunate story surrounding rayon. At the end of the 20th century, the U.S. moved the manufacturing of rayon out of the country, due in part to the poisonous emissions and the danger posed to American workers. Since then, production of the fiber has moved to India, China and Indonesia, where the low cost of construction and poor labor oversight has led to a manufacturing boom and terrible impacts on the environment and the health of workers in these countries.
When the Federal Trade Commission charged several viscose producers with deceptive claims concerning the “green” rating of their products, they blew up the industry’s eco-friendly myth. But do you think that stopped the production and green-washing of viscose? Think again.
Myth 3: Viscose Rugs are a Cheap Alternative to other Luxury Rugs.
One of the most egregious lies perpetuated by the viscose industry has to do with its competitive price point. In fact, the cost of rugs made from this disposable fiber rivals that of the most expensive rugs in the design market.
From the beginning, the pricing myth for viscose depended upon a rivalry between it and silk. Yes, silk is a very expensive ingredient used in the finest textiles. And when new, viscose is similarly soft and iridescent. But give a viscose rug a few months on the floor and those silk-like qualities become compromised or damaged beyond recognition. Any industry expert will tell you. At the end of the day, viscose is just “pricey paper.”
Despite the bad press, even reputable retailers continue to stock viscose rugs. Plug in “What home decor retailers sell viscose rugs?” on an internet search. Plenty of big names come up, touting the elegance of their viscose products. We’re talking trusted household names like Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Crate and Barrell, Wayfair, Neiman Marcus, West Elm and Joss and Main, to name a few. Given this strong representation, there is no sign of the viscose market share slowing anytime in the near future.
Myth 4: Viscose is a Great Long-Term Investment
When it comes to the rug industry, companies perpetrate another deception on unsuspecting buyers. Their marketing campaigns claim that, as a derivative of hardy bamboo, viscose fibers resist everyday wear and tear. The truth is, viscose rugs are made from chemically altered plant by-products. They are essentially paper masquerading as cloth. Like paper, viscose is highly flammable, easily damaged by any liquid (including clear water), and it breaks down under regular foot traffic.
Anyone who has bought a viscose rug has learned these lessons the hard way. But there are always new buyers, so the myth of durability endures. Viscose makers tell consumers to wipe up spills quickly and bring in the cleaning professionals when bigger concerns arise. In our experience, few rug cleaners will even touch a viscose product. The pros know that their efforts actually worsen the damage, rather than reversing it.
Whether living with or cleaning viscose, common issues that come up include yellowing of the product, shedding and pulling, bleeding of unstable dyes and stiffening that leaves the fibers hard and scratchy. If you are looking for long-term durability, consider these structural statistics. Rugs made of wool fibers can bend 10,000 times, and real silk 2000 times, before breakage occurs. Rayon, in contrast, will begin to break, shed and pull after 70 passes. Think about how many times you’ll walk over that rug, in the first six months. You’ll re-think viscose.
Is There Any Way to Live With Viscose?
If you are still considering bringing a viscose rug into your home, we want to pass along these pointers with hope they will give your purchase the best possible odds of survival.
Protect It but Don’t Forget it.
Have the professionals apply a stain protector to your rug, immediately upon arrival. Not all protection products offer equally safe and effective performance. Professional textile servicers will know how to use a light, phased application to ensure quick dry time and avoid any moisture damage to viscose fibers.
Some fiber protectors do a great job of encapsulating fibers and repelling soiling and spills. But no protection can provide an impermeable barrier to all accidents. It can only buy time for the homeowner to run and grab a white towel for a gentle blot and dab response.
For products like viscose, you would think a protective layer would be applied by the manufacturer. But where’s the pay-off in that? Better to create a disposable product that consumers might replace with another viscose purchase down the road. Fool us once, shame on you, manufacturers. Fool us twice, well, shame on everyone.
Vacuum Gently.
When it comes to viscose, pulls happen all the time. Repetitive foot traffic leaves the fibers broken and loose. As that traffic leaves behind more and more dirt and debris, further damage will occur. But before you launch into your ususal house cleaning routine, make sure your vacuum has a suction-only option. Vacuums with beater bars grab and unravel viscose fibers.
To avoid the worst breakage, experts suggest a hand-held vacuum with an upholstery attachment and a horse-hair brush for removing surface shedding and lint.
Be Wary of Water and Other Liquids.
Most moisture spells the end of a viscose rug. A spilled glass of water requires immediate absorption or it will cause yellowing and crisping of the viscose fibers. A colored substance or even dirty moisture creates even more damage.
What’s more, if any moisture remains behind for long, viscose becomes a prime destination for mold spores. Far from being naturally “antibacterial,” as some claim, the extent of chemical processing used to make this product destroys any bacteria-resistant qualities ascribed to raw bamboo.
Speaking of liquids, pets cause the worst possible damage to all types of rugs. In the case of viscose rugs, pet owners must respond immediately to any accidents. Assuming the rug has been fiber protected, that protective layer will briefly repel urine, vomit or solids. But there is only a brief rescue window. The rug owner will need to scoop or blot before those bodily fluids penetrate the surface.
Blot, Dab or Press – But Do Not Scrub Your Viscose Rug.
If and only if the viscose rug has been protected, small spills may be removed using a gentle blotting motion. A rug owner should use a white cloth or paper towel to blot and must never rub or scrub any fragile fiber. Such harsh motions can grind in the staining substance and can abrade the surface beyond restoration. This risk is especially high for viscose.
Anything more than a drip or a drizzle will likely require a weighted absorbent process to wick the moisture. The damage may also call for an after-treatment using a fabric softener sheet and a grooming brush. For more about these rug care strategies, we highly recommend the “Rug Chick” blog by Lisa Wagner.
Does the Viscose Story Have a Happy Ending?
When experts find a product to be dangerous, we count on labeling to help us distinguish the good from the bad. Far from adopting a truth-in-marketing model, the manufacturers of viscose have opted to re-brand their product, to stay ahead of the bad press. If you want to avoid a viscose purchase, bone up on the industry’s list of code names.
If you’ve bought a viscose rug, manage your expectations. You are likely to have a very beautiful accessory for a very short period of time. Buy with the assumption that the rug will fail prematurely and require replacement. Meanwhile, protect that new rug and manage its care, one spill and one snag at a time.
Don’t be fooled on the front end or the back end. Use the myths above to shape your shopping decisions. And, if you find your rug is a lost cause, be mindful that the best response is to replace it with something that is truly sustainable.
When it comes to myth-making, marketers spin their viscose story to the very last. They assure buyers that their rug purchase, after a long and happy life in your home, will cause no harm in a landfill. Cradle-to-grave messenging likes to imply that a rug made of “natural fibers” will safely go back to the earth. In fact, highly disposable viscose rugs leave behind a disastrous footprint. This is thanks both to the volume of products discarded and to the toxic chemicals those products leave behind.
A Last Word on Viscose Rugs
Love is blind. If you just love the silky look and feel of viscose, remember this. Professional protection upon delivery is a must. Professional cleaning, however, makes no promises. That silky texture and lustrous finish are not built to last. What seems like a great deal for your wallet can ultimately cause a great deal of frustration, in your home.
Most homeowners want a high-dollar look on a manageable budget. That makes it easy for manufacturers and retailers to exploit us bargain-hungry buyers. When purchasing a rug, consumers are better off focusing on value, rather than price. The price is the dollar amount on the tag. The value is the quality of construction and longevity you get, for the price paid.
Viscose rugs may have a lower price point than 100% wool or wool and silk items. But the weakness of viscose fibers, their sensitivity to water and moisture, their tendency to shed and pull, means that these rugs literally fall apart. That’s when the cost of choosing a viscose rug – the disappointment, inconvenience, and yes, expense – weighs against the original sticker price.
For all its aliases, one thing about viscose remains consistent. This silk-substitute is a disaster waiting to happen in your home. Buy if you must, buy with the facts, but more than anything, buyer beware!
If you are shopping for the best rug for your home, consider these insider recommendations:
For more about problem textiles, read our blog about sisal and other grass rugs.