The Benefits of Rug Pads | Everything you Need to Know

What is Rug Pads

A rug pad is a sheet of material that serves as a buffer between your area rug and the floor.

The purpose of a rug pad is to protect both the rug and the floor. It also protects you by making the rug less slippery.

A rug pad holds the rug in place, softens the floor, makes cleaning easier, and dampens sounds.

Benefits of Rug Pads

A rug pad might seem like a useless add-on, but think of all the times you’ve bemoaned your rug sliding, scuffing or shedding. It is usually possible to prevent these problems by using a cushioned pad. There are some rugs that just need a little extra help to be all that they can be. Rug pads provide many benefits, including extending rug life, preventing scuffs and scratches, preventing slips and falls, and providing extra comfort.

1. Comfort

By its soft, padded design, a quality rug pad will help to add extra comfort to the feel of any area rug.

2. Durability

Area rugs undergo a lot of daily stress, especially when placed in high traffic areas like hallways and living rooms. Rug pads will absorb the impact of walking feet and reduce daily wear-and-tear by acting as a barrier between the rug and the floor. Rug pads are also designed to prevent thinning of the rug’s fibers by keeping the bottom of the rug from rubbing against the surface of the floor.

3. Cleanliness

When it comes to area rugs, even the most quality of designs are susceptible to collecting grime and mold trapped underneath. By making the rug pad airy and breathable, the chances of this happening are dramatically reduced.

4. Protection

Rug pads are also designed to protect the floor underneath the rug. Without the soft barrier, the underside of an area rug can cause permanent scratch marks and other forms of damage.

5. Safety

Most importantly, a rug pad prevents the area rug from shifting around, bunching up, and slipping away, making it easier to walk over and making it safer overall.

6. Noise Reduction

The rug pad also acts as a ‘buffer,’ helping to minimize the sounds of footsteps, which is especially useful for hardwood floors and other noisy surfaces.

The difference between grip and cushion rug pads

Pads with a high degree of grip are most needed in areas that experience a lot of foot traffic, such as hallways and foyers. Rugs in these areas tend to be smaller and not anchored by furniture. So, they’re prone to slipping, sliding, and bunching up.

The problem with sliding and bunching rugs is that they’re difficult to clean and to walk on. The vacuum just pushes the rug around, rather than sliding over it easily. It is also possible to trip and fall on a slippery rug.

So, for smaller and slippery rugs, you need a pad that offers excellent grip, such as a natural rubber pad.

Larger rugs suffer less from slipping. They’re heftier on their own, and they’re also more likely to have furniture anchoring them in place.

To deal with that, you may want to use pads that provide more cushioning for larger rugs. As a result, the entire rug area provides a soft, comfortable surface for walking or sitting on.

How to Choose the Right Rug Pad

There are many brands of rug pads and they are made of a variety of materials. It is always important to choose rug pads specific to the type of flooring underneath.

Dense, non-woven rug pads that are needle-punched and made of 100% synthetic fiber are best. These types of pads are allergy-friendly as they resists mildew and rot. We like this one!