3.02.2009

P*ttery Barn "Smelly" Rug

In 2003 I purchased a 5x8 wool rug from P*ttery Barn. On the same day, I purchased a coffee table, side table, console table, a throw, and pillows. I loved my new living room! However, on occasion I would notice a slight burnt rubber smell in my living room. I had no idea where the smell was coming from. I narrowed the smell down to a certain area of the room; it was the area where most of the new furniture was located.

One day I had enough! I was determined to find the source of the burnt rubber smell. I got on the floor and sniffed the rug; there it was on my cute P*ttery Barn rug. Since I only noticed the smell on occasion (maybe once a month or so) and I loved the rug, I decided to deal with it.



In 2005 I moved to the apartment I’m living in now. The new apartment has wood floors and it can get really hot in the summer, especially when I’m traveling and turn off the AC. Anyway, the burnt rubber smell has emerged stronger than ever! It’s really bad and I’m going to have to do something about it.

I’ve Googled “P*ttery Barn Rug Burnt Rubber Smell” and tons of websites appear. Apparently, I’m not the only person with this problem. I’ve thought about contacting PB but I purchased the rug six years ago, it’s used, and I don’t have the receipt.

I’m frustrated because the rug wasn’t cheap. Any ideas? Has anyone else experienced something similar with a wool rug?

I have spent too much time on the internet trying to determine a way to fix the problem. One thing I’ve learned is if you purchase a wool rug from PB smell the back of the rug before you buy it. I’m not joking, y’all. If it smells slightly burnt, don’t buy it. The problem doesn’t get better; it gets worse!

23 comments:

  1. OMG that is so crazy. That's a cute rug btw! I'll have to check out my daughter's PB rug!@
    http://fab.typepad.com

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  2. I wonder if it has something to do with the way the wool is processed? After it comes off the animal, I imagine it has to be cleaned with some kind of heat process. I don't know, but I have had great luck getting weird smells out of the carpet with Nature's Miracle from Petco.

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  3. Wow! I never heard of that! I have a PB rug in Brock's room and I haven't noticed it, how frustrating because PB is so expensive!! I love your rug! I would call them or try to take it back, they are good about returns and exchanges.

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  4. We too have a smelly PB rug. You are right, it IS frustrating because it wasn't cheap! I have no idea how to fix it. It's a strange problem to have, a rug that stinks sometimes!

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  5. what if you sprinkled it with baking soda when you leave town, and then vaccum when you return? would that help? maybe you need a rug liner as well, something between the hardwood floors and the rug.

    how strange!

    I wonder if getting it cleaned would help.

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  7. oh no! I hate that for you. The rug is super cute! I've never had this happen so I don't know what to do. You know those little sachets with smell good stuff to put in drawers? I've seen them at Bed Bath & Beyond & Kirklands...you could maybe sprinkle that stuff under the rug between the rug and like a rug matt that goes under the rug to keep it from moving? You may not need the rug matt but you could put a small one under? I don't know!

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  8. WEIRD. I hope you figure that out soon. Did the invites work? Call or email tomorrow and let me know. I can always tweak them tomorrow if you need me to.

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  9. I do love that rug, but I have no ideas for you! Sometimes I just think wool itself kind of smells. I bought a wool dress from J. Crew and I always think it smells weird after I get it cleaned.

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  10. I love PB. I was recently looking at throw rugs from there, but I'll be sure to smell them before purchasing!

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  11. I have to tell you that, as a designer, I quit useing PB a long time ago. Will never spend a dime there again as most of their stuff is bad quality, doesn't hold up over time and is waaaaaay over priced. So sorry for your smelly rug :o(

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  12. That is terrible! Considering that they're more of a high-end store, I wonder if you could exchange it even if it is a few years old? The rug is very cute.

    Thanks for the tip on this. I'll be the one in stores sniffing rugs now...lol.

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  13. That is a frustrating problem!

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  14. it's such a cute rug to be stinky! that would drive me crazy! i would call and see if they had like a re-call on them!...lol!! it might work!

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  15. thank you!!! i bought a rug from PB in college circa 2004- it stank!!! I sold it on craigslist for like $20- and was sad to see it go, but couldnt take the smell! too funny!

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  16. Sorry to hear about your smelly rug. What a bummer. I wish I had some good advice for you. I'll ask around and see if someone knows any tips to help you out. Thanks for the heads up not to buy rugs from PB.

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  17. I have no advice, but I am still laughing at the thought of you sniffing around on your hands and knees trying to find the source or your smell. Too funny!

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  18. Hmm...this is really strange! I've always loved pottery barn! You'll have to let us know what you find out! I'd at least call them and let them know the story! goodness!

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  19. Just weird!! I would certainly call Pottery Barn customer service - I am sure you aren't the first!

    melissa

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  20. That is nuts and I can only imagine how frustrating it is for you! I just had a great time catching up on your blog--love the spring dress and looks like you had a great time at the BBQ cook-off as well as at Legally Blonde! I {heart} JK, watch him most nights (I'm a night owl) and think he is hysterical--thanks for sharing the clip!

    Happy "hump" Day!

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  21. My son has the PB helicopter rug and before that (as a infant) the sun moon and stars wool rugs, they all smelled like burnt rubber with a slight chemical smell. I thought maybe one of the cats had a accident. I cleaned them also. Glad to know it was not my imagination.

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  22. i didn't have the burn't smell, but i had to vacuume the rug, i swear, every day for YEARS!! it was from PB also & it shed horribly!! i understand your pain b/c it was expensive!!

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  23. Just stumbled upon your blog and this post about the smelly PB rug. I started researching this and found that this is VERY common and PB is well aware of it. In Aug. 2006 they changed their manufacturing process to back the rugs with SYNTHETIC backing rather than the "natural latex backing". THe latex combined with inferior glue is what is causing the awful "burnt rubber" smell once the backing starts to disintegrate.
    If you contact PB corporate guest relations at 866-224-4598 you might find some resolution to get an exchange for a new synthetic backed rug. I called today and the rep told me to speak with the general manager at my local store where I purchased my rugs...and if I didn't get anywhere, to call her back and she would put a call into the district manager and go from there. Many people who have smelly rugs are finding a resolution to this by exchanging their smelly ones for the new synthetic backed rugs. I've also heard of some potential health hazards from the off-gassing of the rugs...something else to research! Good luck!

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