Sunlight’s dark side: UV damage, and why prevention is key
We all love it when the sunlight streams through the windows. It makes home feel bright, airy and inviting.
But while these glorious rays lift our mood, their UV rays can do stealthy, permanent damage to carpets and furnishings. And ignorance is not bliss! Understanding how UV exposure works – and how to prevent or minimise its effects – is your best defence.
Let’s take a quick look at the science behind NZ’s UV rays, the signs that damage is occurring, and what you can do to stave off UV deterioration in your home.
Which UV rays are damaging to fibres and fabrics?
Both UVA and UVB rays can cause permanent damage to fibres and fabrics, causing irreversible fading, bleaching, and weakening of carpet fibres which causes thinning.
UVA rays penetrate into the fibres and cause gradual, cumulative damage leading to colour fading, brittleness, matting, pilling and breakage. UVA rays can cause white or light-coloured carpets to yellow.
UVB can bleach fabrics and fibres as its damage is to the surface of the fibre. UVB is often blocked by window-glass so they primarily affect carpets and furnishings with direct exposure such as in front of open ranch sliders.
Standard residential window glass will almost completely block UVB rays, but do not block UVA rays.
What time of year is UV damage at its worst?
As you’d expect it’s typically the summer months that have the highest UV ratings but we have high levels in spring and autumn also. Around 80-90% of UVA will pass through light cloud cover.
Are New Zealand’s UV levels exceptional?
Although New Zealand doesn’t top the list for high UV levels, the Ministry for the Environment’s website notes that, “New Zealand’s peak summer UV levels are roughly 40 percent higher than those at comparable latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere”, citing the three main reasons:
- Earth’s elliptical orbit placing the Southern Hemisphere closer to the sun during our summer (compared to Northern Hemisphere locations during their summer)
- The relative thinness of the ozone layer over NZ during summer when we are closest to the sun and the sun is highest in the sky, and
- The air in New Zealand tending to be clearer than that in many other locations, so UV sunlight travelling through the atmosphere to Earth’s surface is relatively unhindered by clouds and air pollution.
Why New Zealand’s climate matters when we’re considering purchasing furniture or carpets, is outlined below, so keep reading! But first …
How does UV light damage carpets?
While UV light occupies a wavelength shorter than visible light, it carries high energy strong enough to degrade fibres and the chemical structure of dyes and pigments. This interaction is called photodegradation, essentially a breakdown of the molecular bonds of the dyes and fibres.
This results in the gradual but permanent fading, discolouration and weakening of the material.
You may have already observed it on the edges of curtains when its natural drape turns the edges into the window recess, or on top layer bedding that sits in full sun. Carpets also suffer the same degradation. UV exposure doesn’t just impact the appearance of a carpet, though. Over time, prolonged exposure causes a carpet to permanently prematurely age and lose its structural integrity and durability.
How UV light creates fading and staining
UV rays penetrate the dye molecules weakening them which leads to fading or bleaching. This effect is annoyingly uneven and more noticeable in areas of direct sunlight, for example, in north or west-facing windows or glass doors.
Aside from colour loss, the UV breaks down the polymer structure in carpets. Carpets can begin to feel rougher and more brittle. Once this process starts, its wear accelerates with continued exposure. Fibres break easily, creating semi-bare patches.
Preventing UV damage: practical steps to take
While sun damage can’t be reversed, there are steps you can take to minimise risk:
- Do your research pre-purchase: carpets, rugs and furnishings manufactured in countries where there’s low risk of UV damage may not hold up well to our local conditions. We commonly see beautiful imported carpets, rugs and furniture coping poorly with NZ’s UV exposure.
- Use window treatments: blocking sunlight when it’s at its strongest is your best daily preventative. Consider installing sheer curtains, roller blinds with daytime sun filtering screens (such as in the Luxaflex range), or UV-blocking window films.
- Rearrange rugs and furniture: rotate rugs and move furniture occasionally to new positions to distribute sunlight exposure.
- Choose UV-resistant carpets and upholstery: when you replace carpets, rugs and furniture, look for solution-dyed synthetics that have the colour pigment within the fibre rather than applied on outside of it. Modern indoor-outdoor fabrics are specifically designed to be UV resistant, and are now commonly used on indoor furniture.
- Professional help: ask the Advanced Carpet Cleaning team about Organic Microseal fabric and carpet protection which can help protect against sun fading.
Protect and refresh
Sunlight doesn’t discriminate; it affects carpets, rugs and upholstery without caring two bits about what it’s costing you! If you’ve noticed patchy fading, uneven colouring, areas that appear bleached or thinning, now is the time to act. Early intervention helps slow the impact of UV damage to your carpets and upholstery before they deteriorate beyond saving.
Do your carpets and furnishings a favour:
- Keep them protected from sunlight’s harmful rays, and
- Ensure they’re regularly cleaned – ideally before the onslaught of summer’s sun and fun!
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