Are Polypropylene Rugs Safe For Babies?

When it comes to the safety of your adorable children, you leave no stone unturned to take lots of precautions — from child gates to corner bumpers to car seats– to protect them, don’t ya? 

Well, keeping you in mind, in this blog post, I’m going to answer one of the big questions always asked by health-conscious parents: are polypropylene rugs safe for babies?

The short answer is, No! Rugs made out of polypropylene are treated with hazardous chemicals during manufacture to make them stain resistant. So they contain harmful chemical compounds and therefore, are not safe for your kiddos. 

Also, polypropylene rugs are made of synthetic fibers that do off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and PBDEs within the indoor environment. 

These chemicals can compromise the air quality significantly and can be extremely detrimental to human health, especially for babies, pregnant women, young children, allergy-prone individuals, and the elderly due to their vulnerable immune systems. That’s a matter of real concern!

Are Polypropylene Rugs Safe For Babies

Polypropylene Rug?

Polypropylene, also known as olefin, is the most used synthetic or man-made fiber for making synthetic rugs. The materials of polypropylene rugs are derived from petroleum. It is also one of the most commonly used materials for wall-to-wall carpeting in homes and offices.

What Types Of Rugs Are Safer For Babies?

It’s beyond saying that wool rugs are made out of natural fibers and they aren’t treated with any kind of harmful and toxic chemicals. 

And, this is exactly why it is undoubtedly safe for your kids to crawl on wool rugs. The fabric of wool is hypo-allergenic as well. 

Additionally, nylon is also a good choice for your babies. But why? Because area rugs made from nylon are very soft and smooth. 

On top of that, nylon fabric offers your kids safety. Plus, nylon fabric is also resistant to all types of dirt and grime, insects, mildew, as well as harmful chemicals, such as Alkali.

Notes:

Some suggest that fire-resistant polypropylene rugs are safe both for your kids and pets. In this case, they recommend buying high-quality polypropylene rugs to ensure safety. 

Some Pros And Cons Of Getting Polypropylene Rugs For Your Home:

Using polypropylene fabric rugs in homes and workplaces has recently been a new trend and it is gaining more and more popularity day by day, as more people are choosing these synthetic rugs for decorating their homes. 

Just like any other fabric type, polypropylene rugs will also present some advantages and disadvantages to your indoor space. Here we go,,,

Advantages:

  • The major perk of getting polypropylene fiber rugs is they are less expensive than wool rugs. If you can’t afford wool-made rugs, polypropylene rugs are always there to provide you help.
  • Besides being inexpensive, these rugs are available in any carpet store. They also come in a wide array of colors, designs, and patterns. For example, Tibetan rugs and Oriental rugs. 
  • These rugs and carpets are soft and flexible, as they are made from soft and pure plastic.
  • Of all the synthetic fibers, polypropylene is the second least resilient.
  • Rugs or carpets made with polypropylene are suitable for high-traffic areas. 
  • Polypropylene rugs or carpets are faded, mold, and moisture resistant.
  • Also, since they are weather-resistant, they are fit for outdoor use.
  • One of the main upsides of polypropylene rugs is they are easier-to-clean and dry, as they are waterproof and do not absorb any water. 

If any kind of water-based stain or dirt sits on top of your rugs, then all you need to do is just wipe it away by using soap and a wet cloth. You can also have them machine washed without worrying about discoloration.

  • Another reason behind their sky-high popularity is that they are highly resistant to staining (except for oil-based stains).
  • A great positive aspect of using these rugs is that they don’t hold odor, as there are no pockets in the construction of polypropylene rugs.

Disadvantages:

  • 100% polypropylene rugs will easily be dirtier and dull-looking. They tend to become matted very quickly as well. 
  • Polypropylene fabric is sensitive to friction and heat. As it has a lower melting point (about 300° Fahrenheit). 

Also, make sure you keep them away from the sources of heat as well as high sun windows. Because the quality of these rugs declines if exposed to heavy sunlight.

  • The fibers of the polypropylene rugs do not have tiny pockets in their construction and they, therefore, cannot hide dust and soil. 

That’s why polypropylene rugs need vacuuming every day to leave them looking dirt-free and elegant. 

  • Polypropylene rugs are prone to oil-based stains that are the toughest stains to remove. So, they aren’t suitable to place in your kitchen or dining room.

So these synthetic rugs require professional cleaning once every year at the least to prevent damage and retain their value.

  • Polypropylene is not eco-friendly and has a negative impact on the environment. Because it is a synthetic fabric that can discharge poisonous VOCs into the air during the production in the factory. 
  • Also, the polypropylene material can stay for a much longer period of time in the environment. And, a recent study showed that this plastic material can take around hundreds of years to decompose. That’s shocking!
  • Some materials like naphthalene are used to produce polypropylene area rugs during manufacturing to prevent moth holes and staining. 

These chemical compounds can cause conjunctival irritation, epistaxis, and dyspnea. 

What Is The Lifespan Of Polypropylene Rugs?

On average, synthetic rugs like polypropylene, polyester, nylon, and acrylic rugs are expected to last for around 3 to 5 years if professionally cleaned. Whereas, the lifespan of wool rugs usually can be about 50 years. That’s incredible, huh?

Plus, rugs made with synthetic materials cannot withstand as much wear and tear and foot traffic as wool rugs can.

Point should be noted that you should consider disposing of your synthetic rugs

Because, polypropylene is actual plastic and just as we get rid of anything else made from plastic after a certain period of time, the same applies to synthetic rugs. You need to throw them out after their expiration date.

Are Polypropylene Rugs Flammable?

Polypropylene rugs are prone to burning and melting, as the base material of this product is petroleum. So, smoking cigarettes or placing lamps around polypropylene rugs are not safe at all. 

Notes:

If a fire breaks out inside your house, all you can do to put out a synthetic rug fire is make use of a fire extinguisher or call the fire service without any delay. 

Are Wool Rugs Better Than Polypropylene?

Wool and polypropylene are the two most often used rug materials in the construction of rugs. Wool is natural, whereas polypropylene is artificial. Both of these rug materials come with their own pros and cons. 

As I mentioned earlier, rugs made with wool are too expensive, but it is well worth the money as it is longer-lasting. Wool rugs are also strong and look luxurious. 

Polypropylene rugs, on the other hand, are an extremely sustainable yet cost-friendly option. These rugs aren’t as soft to the touch as wool rugs too.

Remember that the durability of these two depends on where you are going to put your rugs. 

If you place polypropylene rugs outdoors, they will work great. But, a wool rug won’t. Plus, like wool rugs, polypropylene rugs aren’t able to tolerate heavy foot traffic.

Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it, people. Now that, I hope, you’ve got a clear understanding on if polypropylene rugs are safe for your offspring.

In essence, polypropylene rugs contain toxic chemicals and release VOCs into the indoor airspace that can cause eye, throat, or nose irritation as well as nausea, headaches, damage to the kidney and liver, so they can pose a great threat to your babies’ health. Therefore, you are better off completely avoiding them.

I personally would suggest you go for rugs made with wool instead of polypropylene. Though wool rugs are expensive, they are completely safe and durable and your babies will love them for sure. Overall, you will get more bang for your bucks.

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