How do you skid proof a wool rug

13 years ago

Hi,

I have wood floors and I am currently in search of a nice wool rug to give a definition to the area, plus add comfort to our living room where we spend majority of our time.

I almost purchased an outdoor rug for indoor LR, mainly because they are so stain proof, inexpensive, look great plus come with an already attached skid proof backing. (Long story why I did not!). I am also looking at indoor woolen rugs now; and the issue of skid proofing is ever so important to me.

Turns out that woolen indoor rugs do not come with any pre-attached skid proofing. I am reluctant to get a rug pad because of the pain of having to clean it separately. I was wondering if there are any tapes or other methods to "attach" skid proof pad to an indoor rug.

I did some research already and found some strategies; and want to check if anyone has an experience to share:

1. Caulking the underside is a suggested approach. There are all kids of disclaimers like "it may not work as well as a good quality pad" or "do not use this on an expensive rug" etc that makes me a question whether this is a tried-and-tested strategy.
2. Apparently some rug grips are available in big box stores. Any experiences with these?
3. Some folks have kept drawer liners under the rugs and claim that it's worked amazingly. Has anyone tried those?

Any other ideas/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

Elraes Miller
13 years ago
The wool rug I have in the living room has never had a problem with moving around. I think it is due to the weight.

This may sound odd, but I use yoga mats under rugs. You can buy them on sale at a fairly inexpensive price. This came about when I found the rubber backed rug in my bathroom did nothing for water seepage on the wood floor. Dries out quickly and keeps rug in place too.

Am not a fan of the rubber open weave backers. Too much dirt falls through and they can be expensive.

Grandid Raoad has a solid rug backer. On sale right now. Link is below.

Here is a link that might be useful: rug backer
graywings123
13 years ago
I have never cleaned a rug pad. I have sent out the rugs for cleaning, but never the pads.
Related Professionals
Caledonia Interior Designers & Decorators · Garden Acres Interior Designers & Decorators · Tahoe City Interior Designers & Decorators · Milwaukee Furniture & Accessories · Rockville Furniture & Accessories · Roseville Furniture & Accessories · Ventura Furniture & Accessories · Walnut Creek Furniture & Accessories · Hawthorne Furniture & Accessories · Sudbury Furniture & Accessories · La Crescenta-Montrose Custom Artists · Beech Grove Lighting · Scottdale Lighting · York Lighting · Inwood Window Treatments
Arapaho-Rd
13 years ago
I purchased a solid rug pad that was more expensive than the open weave ones offered. The rugs with furniture sitting on them are no problem. It's the hallway rugs that slide everywhere. Very frustrating!
LuAnn_in_PA
13 years ago
" I am reluctant to get a rug pad because of the pain of having to clean it separately."

I have never known anyone to clean an anti-slip rug pad!
Oakley
13 years ago
Homey, you need the floor grip/pads. We bought our large rug at a rug store, and the grip was made to size while they were packaging our rug, and it was free.

So you may be able to buy a grip when you purchase your rug. If you don't find one the exact size, get a size larger and use scizzors to trim it.

You can buy them online at rugsusa.com.
allison0704
13 years ago
DD2 purchased a flat weave rug for her bedroom. I ordered the pad below via Amazon. Love love this pad and will be ordering more. I have several different kinds of pads at our house - some have the semi-sticky backing that goes up or down (depending on if you're putting over tile, hardwood or carpet). This is one much better.

Here is a link that might be useful: Supreme 32 (TM) Recycled felt rug pad
annzgw
13 years ago
Definitely get the felt type pads. If you're going to put it on a hardwood floor then I recommend the type with rubber backing on one side.
I have 2 types of pads. One type is all felt with one side having a rough texture. The rough texture goes against the rug to help hold it in place. The second type of pad has a rough felt texture on one side and a rubber backing on the other. The rubber is safe for hardwood finishes and the rug does not 'walk', even with pets running across it.
Without the rubber backing I've found even the heavy felt pads will slowly move from being walked on.

Can't speak highly enough about these pads......3 of them I've had for 25 years!

Here is a link that might be useful: Rug pads
User
13 years ago
I read this tip from Martha Stewart on a website somewhere: "To give an area rug some traction, flip it over, and apply lines of acrylic-latex caulk every 6 inches or so. Once dry, you can safely put down your rug; the rubbery strips will hold it in place."
porkandham
13 years ago
I use the felt type rug pads with the rubber backing under my rugs. I've never cleaned them.
Sujafr
13 years ago
I can't imagine you'd want to apply caulk to the back of a nice wool rug so that must be for some other inexpensive type. I agree with the others about using the felt pads. Most come with one side designed a bit rougher to go against the rug. Unless your rug is a dhurrie style (with no nap), I've never seen any movement from a wool rug with a pad. And ditto what others said. You don't need to clean a pad. I purchased one pad through a specialty rug store and another through overstock.com for about 1/10 the price, and the difference is virtually indistinguishable. Both work very well.
Fori
13 years ago
Yes, get a good pad and no don't worry about cleaning it. I suppose you could vacuum it but I don't think it'll need it.

I have used caulk stripes on the back on a small inexpensive door rug and it works okay. But for a real rug, get the pad. It'll make it more comfy as well.
bronwynsmom
13 years ago
There are two reasons beyond keeping it in place to buy the best possible felted pad for a good wool rug.

The first is that it adds a luxurious depth to the rug, and the second, and most important, is that it will add years to the life of the rug by absorbing the wear and pressures of use.

Don't caulk it. Bad for the fibers, possibly bad for your floor, and even though you wouldn't think so, anything that has dimension can translate to slight ridges in the way the rug lies on the floor. You wouldn't think it would, but it can. The princess and the pea effect...
mzdee
13 years ago
Homey_Bird, what solution did you choose?
Lots of good options offered. I will chime in to say that I used Martha Stewart's caulking idea for a wool runner in my foyer. I tried everything and nothing worked. The caulking on the back has worked really well. I did hesitate because it is a very nice runner. But I lift it has worked beautifully with no adverse affects to the hardwood or the rug. Hope you found something that works for you.