What Is a Rug Pad?

Rug Pad

• A rug pad is made of a thin rubber material that attaches to the underside of an area rug or carpeting. This mat, shaped in the same dimensions as the area rug or carpet, provides a cushion between the material above and the flooring underneath. Rug pads also extend the life of your rugs or carpeting and keep debris from sticking to the flooring.

Color Transfer and Spills

• Colored area rugs and carpeting contain dyes that are easily transferred onto the flooring below if water or another liquid is spilled. Rug pads keep the dyes in these rugs and carpeting from transferring onto the flooring underneath. These mats also help protect the flooring when spills occur. Is something spills, work quickly to blot it up with a clean, white towel to keep from transferring dyes onto your rug or carpet.

Eliminating Slipping Issues

• Rug pads also keep area rugs and carpeting from slipping and wrinkling. Each time you walk across an area rug or piece of carpet not held in place with a mat, the material moves -- rug pads prevent this from happening. These mats also make it easier to sweep and vacuum your area rugs and carpeting by keeping these materials from rolling up or potentially getting sucked into the vacuum cleaner.

Availability

• Rug pads are available directly from carpet manufacturers, carpet specialty stores, hardware, home improvement and retail superstores. The mats come in standard lengths, such as 2 feet wide by 3 feet long, 3 feet wide by 5 feet long and other standard lengths as well as custom sizes -- cut to order. Rug mats are also available from carpet outlets online.