Even before the global pandemic hit, many are already shifting to a “buy less, buy better” mentality. Buying fewer items that are well-made and lasts longer is ideal, but you should still weigh in on the product’s pros and cons.
And that’s what we’re going to do right now. A real zebra skin rug has plenty of good points. It comes with drawbacks, too. If you’re thinking of purchasing one, you should read this post so that you can make the right decision.
Advantages of Buying a Real Zebra Skin Rug
Chemical-free
Zebra hides are free of toxic chemicals such as 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PCH). Such chemical can be found in synthetic rugs and carpets. It’s a volatile organic compound responsible for the new carpet smell. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), “4-PCH is among new carpet emissions purportedly associated with adverse human health effects.” Some of the health effects of this compound are “ upper respiratory tract problems, eye irritation, headaches, rashes, and fatigue.”
Easy to maintain
A simple, regular maintenance routine is all you need to prevent dirt from building up. Vacuuming or brushing a zebra hide every week is enough to keep it clean. Just make sure that you’re vacuuming or brushing in the direction of the hair. From time to time, you can loosen stubborn dirt and debris by shaking your hide outside.
Durable
The hairs of a zebra hide do not easily shed under regular wear-and-tear. It can withstand a good amount of foot traffic and most types of spills. Machine-knotted rugs with synthetic materials like viscose, on the other hand, are prone to constant shedding. This is also one of the reasons why such types of rugs can trigger allergy attacks.
Lasts longer
On average, synthetic rugs can last for 3 to 5 years while zebra hides can last for more than 30 years. You can most certainly pass your zebra hide to the next generation as long as it’s well maintained.
Ward off disease-carrying insects
Other rugs are treated with chemicals to repel insects. You won’t have that problem with zebra hides because they repel disease-carrying insects naturally.
And the answer is quite dazzling…literally. Zebra stripes dazzle such insects that they’re unable to land on the zebra’s skin. This is one of a zebra’s defense mechanisms when it comes to warding off infectious bites.
Disadvantages of Buying a Zebra Skin Rug
Cannot withstand being soaked in water
Keep exposure to water at a minimum. You can use a sponge saturated with a bit of water for spot cleaning. Soaking a zebra hide in water, however, is a big no-no because this will severely ruin the hide.
Expensive
For some, the price will set the parameters for making a decision—and this can either be negative or a positive. Some would get turned off by an item’s steep price, while others see it as a sign of its quality.
Real zebra rugs truly are expensive, and depending on the supplier, the quality is top-notch. A Trophy Grade No-Felt Zebra Rug is $1,550 while the felted version is $1,650.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions! We’re happy to answer them.