http://www.care2.com/greenliving/carpets-stink-so-make-your-own.html
Carpets Can Stink. So, Make Your Own!
Have you ever seen a tag on a carpet that said it contained “unknown man-made fibers.” Are you scared of the “unknown?” If it’s hanging off a carpet or rug, you should be.
“Unknown” carpet or rug fibers are generally made from a cocktail of synthetic fibers such as nylon, acrylic, polyester, or polypropylene. These fibers are treated with fire retardants, anti-static treatments, fungicides, dye and adhesives made of VOCs. Carpets are backed with polyurethane, synthetic latex, or PVC. Take a whiff. You can even smell the chemical odors of new carpets and rugs wafting up from the floor when you bring one home.
On an even stinkier note, do you know where carpets go to die? You guessed it, the landfill. Now that “unknown” cocktail is leaching into the ground and water for years and years to come.
Like wallpaper, makers and buyers of carpets and rugs are acutely aware of the environmental damage of this home decor product, and have begun to make changes. In the world of green home design, carpets and rugs are experiencing an eco-awakening.
One such carpet company, FLOR has a strong commitment to sustainability. With eco-standards for providing low-VOC’s, FLOR’s design mission blends form and function, and includes a commitment to be environmentally responsible. Their dedication to caring for the planet carries over from design and manufacturing to reclaiming and recycling old FLOR carpets and rugs into new.
Don’t want to lay down the bucks for a new carpet? Then make your own rugs. While I love the look of wood, bamboo or cork floors, nothing cozies up a room like a rug. They can even become mini-versions of carpet when put together. The DIY projects below vary in cost and difficulty.
5 DIY Rugs
1. Little House in the Suburbs provides the DIY instructions for making a no-sew rag rug.
2. A recycled sweater rug from Home Workshop is pure genius.
3. This rug shown on Apartment Therapy is put together using inexpensive small area rugs.
4. ReadyMade provides a tutorial for making a cut and sew felt rug.
5. This rug found over on the Craftzine blog is so inspirational. It is made from recycled blankets and would be an amazing DIY project.
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add your comment »Oh no, not Shirtsofbamboo! That's a shame. I'll have to go there now and do some final shopping.
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While we're talking about the wonderful qualities of bamboo, shirtsofbamboo.com is going out of business this very minute. Good prices, and their socks are the best. I have some of their clothes and I love them. They're only open for the next two weeks (as of Nov. 18, 2009).
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Miss Info -thanks for the good bamboo review. I've read some bad things the flooring, but I think they just purchased inferior products, and the problem wasn't the bamboo, itself.
I have a variety of other bamboo items, and I love them all.
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Linda - I have bamboo flooring in my bedroom. We've had it a year now, and it's been wonderful. The cats' claws don't scratch it. We have a small table and two chairs in the bedroom, and moving the chairs around hasn't scratched it yet. They say it fades in the sunlight, but we got the natural color to begin with and I don't notice any fading yet. Bamboo is the best!
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The carpet in my bedroom is the bane of my existence. I'm looking forward to one day having bamboo flooring.
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You so resourceful. I can't wait to see your rugs!
Ronnie
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I took what I read and used it! I am currently making a rug out of all those old jeans I swore I'd get back into. If anyone is interested I will be posting pictures on my page!
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I made a braided rag rug using old wool army blankets about 25 years ago. It used 3 strands braided and laced together with muslin strips. It is in a high traffic area at the foot of 3 steps. It still looks just fine!
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I know back in the old days everything was made, this what we need to get back to!!
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Going back to the old ways........My grandmother always made braided rugs for her house using left over fabric and those rugs lasted forever.
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