TEXTILE TIPS: SEAGRASS, COIR, JUTE AND SISAL… Natural Fiber Elegance

Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk and wool are well-known to everyone because of their extensive use in a wide variety of textile products. In addition to these fibers, there are a handful of lesser-known natural fibers which are an important presence in the floor covering arena. Four of these fibers are seagrass, coir, jute and sisal.

Seagrass

Certainly, among the most unique of the floor covering materials is seagrass, derived from the perennial grasses of saltwater marshes.

In its finished form, the material is smooth and hard, usually a natural color of yellowish brown to light green. This material is not recommended for humid environments because it is susceptible to mildew.

Coir

Coir, a fiber from a seed source, is obtained from thecoconut. It is the fibrous mass between the outer shell and the actual nut. The word “coir” is

thought to be derived from the Indian word “kayiru” which means “rope”.

The natural color of coir is cinnamon brown, and the fiber is very often used as such. The fiber can be dyed to dark colors, but it is difficult to bleach it sufficiently to produce lighter hues.

Jute

Jute is a bast fiber like flax. The fiber is obtained from the

stem of the Corchorus plant,

grown mostly in Asia. Natural jute is yellow to brown or grayish in color and has a silky luster.

Unlike the other fibers discussed here, jute is sometimes used as a pile yarn in hand-knotted rugs.

Sisal

Sisal is a leaf fiber obtained from the leaves of plants belonging to the agave family. The sisal fiber is separated from the fleshy parts of the leaves and then washed and dried. Creamy white to light brown in color, sisal is a fairly coarse and inflexible fiber.

For many years, sisal has been used for small rugs and mats. Sisal has gradually become very popular for large rugs and even the occasional wall-to-wall carpet.

Vacuuming Is Important

Routine vacuuming, important for all floor coverings, is critical in the care of sisal and other floor coverings which are not able to be wet cleaned in a normal fashion. High-traffic areas, if not vacuumed regularly, will develop ground-in soiling, which may be difficult to remove.

The vacuum chosen for these floor coverings should offer maximum airflow (“suction”).

Beater bar/brush agitators should be used with caution since these may cause fuzzing and wear on certain styles. Your local Fiber-Seal Service Center can offer advice on this subject.

Location, Location, Location

It is very important to place these floor coverings away from high traffic, dining rooms, and pets. Water or water-based spills can cause color loss or browning which can be problematic.

General Care

Many manufacturers and distributors of sisal and similar floor coverings recommend Fiber-Seal® Brand protection for their products. They realize that reduced absorbency is critical to the care of these fibers.

For general cleaning, manufacturers sometimes recommend absorbent powder as the preferred method.

These cellulosic floor coverings have a tendency to shrink when exposed to water-based substances. There is also the possibility of cellulosic browning, a condition which is aggravated by slow drying and alkaline pH.

The problem is that “like takes out like”…so if there is a water-based stain, it will usually take some type of water extraction to remove the stain. In any case, general cleaning and spot removal on seagrass, coir, jute and sisal floor coverings should be done by professionals who understand the intricacies of these special fibers.

Backcoatings

Latex backcoatings are very common on sisal, coir, and similar floor coverings. Latex is easily degraded by solvents, so care must be used when working with any solvents or solvent-containing spot cleaners. The best rule of thumb is to use solvents sparingly and dry the area being worked on as quickly as possible.

Painted Surfaces

Sisal and related floor coverings are often painted by hand or screen-printed using a variety of paints. Most paints are extremely durable, but with time and traffic they can soil, crack, chip and/or wear off. Cleaning can also weaken the binders in the paint, causing further deterioration. Extreme caution must be used when working with painted floor coverings.

Client Care

Stains and spills should be addressed as quickly as possible. Blotting liquid spills with a dry paper towel or terry towel will often remove most of the problem. The area should then be thoroughly dried as soon as possible.

Oil-based stains such as grease should be spot cleaned with a mild solvent such as Kleen-Tec or OMS, making sure to use the products sparingly and always from a towel.

On The Bright Side

As always, the experts at your local Fiber-Seal Service Center are just a phone call away when you need assistance with the care of natural fiber rugs and all other fine interior textiles.