# Need throw rug that omits no odors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 22, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999 "2017-04-22T16:47:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![edwardcoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cab0a1/32.png) [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/1 "2017-04-22T16:47:37Z")
I have severe allergies. I need a throw rug that omits no odors. Airing them out or using some fragrance to mask the smell doesn’t work, and fragrances just makes it worse for me, I have severe allergies. How can I find a throw rug which has nothing added to it in the manufacturing process such as glue or other chemicals? I have an office in my home, and spending many hours working in there. It’s a wood floor and I want to protect it from my 5-wheel office chair. I need a rug larger enough to cover the chair and the desk so it doesn’t slip around. Anyone have experience getting throw rugs for this purpose who had to deal with allergies? Have a success story, please share it. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/2 "2017-04-22T16:58:24Z")
A hard-weave cotton area rug sounds like what you might be looking for. It might be worth having a cleaner’s wash and dry it first, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/3 "2017-04-22T16:59:17Z")
I have a large sisal rug/mat under my desk and office area for just this purpose. I chose it because it’s hard-wearing and has little rolling resistance for my office chair. I don’t know if jute or sisal are allergenic, but it certainly doesn’t emit anything but the natural mild odor of the fiber (for which you’d have to have your nose an inch away from it). And pretty cheap to try out. I got mine from Ikea. I can’t find the exact one, but it’s similar to this, called the “Osted”. > **[Products](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/cat/products-products/)** > > Browse our full range of products from dressing tables to complete modern kitchens. Click here to find the right IKEA product for you. Browse online and in-store today! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/4 "2017-04-22T17:00:54Z")
Don’t you want a rug that omits all odors and doesn’t emit any? ---
**Author:** ![edwardcoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cab0a1/32.png) [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/5 "2017-04-22T17:24:21Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Don’t you want a rug that omits all odors and doesn’t emit any? This has to be the most helpful post ever. Thanks for taking the time out of your business day to share your thoughts with us. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m adding you to my ignore list. Have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![edwardcoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cab0a1/32.png) [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/6 "2017-04-22T17:25:34Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I have a large sisal rug/mat under my desk and office area for just this purpose. I chose it because it’s hard-wearing and has little rolling resistance for my office chair. I don’t know if jute or sisal are allergenic, but it certainly doesn’t emit anything but the natural mild odor of the fiber (for which you’d have to have your nose an inch away from it). And pretty cheap to try out. I got mine from Ikea. I can’t find the exact one, but it’s similar to this, called the “Osted”. > > [Products - IKEA](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20270312/#/20270312) Thanks! This looks like a good low-cost solution to give a try. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/7 "2017-04-22T17:43:26Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@edwardcoast](#): > > Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m adding you to my ignore list. Have a nice day. While you are certainly free to put anyone you want to on your ignore list, saying that you are putting someone on your ignore list is forbidden here, except in the Pit. From the SDMB FAQ: > [@](#): > > Hinting that any particular person or group of people is on your ignore list is very strictly frowned upon. **Revealing the usernames of people on your ignore list is forbidden at this board outside of the forum called BBQ Pit** > **[FAQ - Rules for Posting at the Straight Dope Message Boards](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384736)** > > This thread lists the Rules for posting on the SDMB. These are the Major Rules and the Important Ones: violations have serious consequences. First, be sure to read the Registration Agreement This post is basically a “table of contents” for this... ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/8 "2017-04-22T18:39:03Z")
Look for “all natural” or “organic” or “allergen free”. Start with Amazon. They usually have everything, but I’m fairly certain there are specialty sellers online that cater to exactly this. If there’s a material that you know you are “safe” with, like organic cotton, you can narrow the search farther. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/9 "2017-04-22T18:45:05Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Look for “all natural” or “organic” or “allergen free”. Start with Amazon. They usually have everything, but I’m fairly certain there are specialty sellers online that cater to exactly this. If there’s a material that you know you are “safe” with, like organic cotton, you can narrow the search farther. “Hypoallergenic” is also a good search term. Searching Amazon for “hypoallergenic rug” gives numerous hits, including this one that’s similar to the Ikea one that I linked above, but says explicitly: > [@](#): > > HYPOALLERGENIC: Made from 100% natural fibers and not treated with harsh chemicals, these rugs are the perfect solution to keep your indoor environment clean and free from volatile toxins. Also perfect for allergy sufferers as dust or irritants will not become lodged in the pile. > **[Amazon.com: casa pura Area Rug | Sisal Non-Slip Rug for Living Room or Bedroom |...](https://www.amazon.com/casa-pura-Non-Slip-Bedroom-Environmentally-Friendly/dp/B01N77YNL3)** > > Amazon.com: casa pura Area Rug | Sisal Non-Slip Rug for Living Room or Bedroom | Environmentally-Friendly 100% Natural Fiber Carpet | 2 Sizes | Beige - 4' x 6' : Everything Else ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/10 "2017-04-22T19:37:19Z")
> [@edwardcoast](#): > > This has to be the most helpful post ever. Thanks for taking the time out of your business day to share your thoughts with us. > > Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m adding you to my ignore list. Have a nice day. Nah. It’s not worth the warning I’d get. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/11 "2017-04-22T22:16:59Z")
Phew! I nearly posted a comment on the omit/emit confusion. I would hate to be ignored by anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/12 "2017-04-22T23:19:40Z")
> [@edwardcoast](#): > > How can I find a throw rug which has nothing added to it in the manufacturing process such as glue or other chemicals? You might want to look into very tightly woven hand-made rugs. If my loom was up and running I’d make an offer to do one up for you, but I’m not the only weaver on the planet. Check out sites like Etsy for either something already done up or to find an artisan willing to do an all-natural no-chemical rug for you. > [@](#): > > Anyone have experience getting throw rugs for this purpose who had to deal with allergies? Have a success story, please share it. You’ll need to clean it from time to time, too - beating it outdoors is traditional. If it was a smaller rug you might be able to just toss it in a washing machine, depending on what it was made of, but one large enough for your purposes might be problematic, you might need a commercial-size machine for that. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/13 "2017-04-22T23:27:11Z")
I suggest a rug which has been in the vicinity of a dog, a cat, and a small child for at least a month. ---
**Author:** ![edwardcoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cab0a1/32.png) [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/14 "2017-04-23T20:47:31Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > You might want to look into very tightly woven hand-made rugs. If my loom was up and running I’d make an offer to do one up for you, but I’m not the only weaver on the planet. Check out sites like Etsy for either something already done up or to find an artisan willing to do an all-natural no-chemical rug for you. > You’ll need to clean it from time to time, too - beating it outdoors is traditional. If it was a smaller rug you might be able to just toss it in a washing machine, depending on what it was made of, but one large enough for your purposes might be problematic, you might need a commercial-size machine for that. Thanks for the suggestions, and the concern. Apparently, even if the materials are natural such as wool or cotton, it is during the manufacturing process they put some other chemical on it that causes VOCs, etc., then I still can’t use it. In the product description they don’t list if this was done from my experience. I know nothing about how rugs are made, so I don’t know what choices there might be to achieve the same function without the nasty stuff. The other concern is simply the function of an area rug for an office chair to roll around out easily without causing damage to a fragile rug. **I found something which might be the answer.** To look for those products that are [Green Label Plus](http://www.carpet-rug.org/green-label-plus.html) as specified by [The Carpet and Rug Institute](http://www.carpet-rug.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-throw-rug-that-omits-no-odors/784999/15 "2017-04-24T02:01:51Z")
> [@edwardcoast](#): > > Apparently, even if the materials are natural such as wool or cotton, it is during the manufacturing process they put some other chemical on it that causes VOCs, etc., then I still can’t use it. In the product description they don’t list if this was done from my experience. I know nothing about how rugs are made, so I don’t know what choices there might be to achieve the same function without the nasty stuff. And that’s why I said I’d offer to do one up for you - you _can_ utilize non-treated fabrics when making a rug, people used to it all the time. That’s also why you need an artisan rather than a commercially made rug. > [@](#): > > The other concern is simply the function of an area rug for an office chair to roll around out easily without causing damage to a fragile rug. That’s why I said “tightly woven” - a handwoven fabric isn’t necessarily fragile, although frequently rolling a chair over any rug is going to impose wear. > [@](#): > > **I found something which might be the answer.** To look for those products that are [Green Label Plus](http://www.carpet-rug.org/green-label-plus.html) as specified by [The Carpet and Rug Institute](http://www.carpet-rug.org/) Yep, that might work, too.