What Kind of Rubber Is Better on Wood Floors?

Natural Rubber

• Rugs and mats are essential to the longevity of your hardwood flooring. They trap dirt, sand and other particles that can scratch and wear down your floor's finish. Many rugs are backed with rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that contains adhesive or other additives that can damage hardwood flooring. Natural rubber that is harvested from plants and is free of chemicals is the least damaging to wood or other hard-surfaced floors.

Mesh Pads

• According to the World Floor Covering Association, a website dedicated to the care and maintenance of flooring, ventilated rug backing or mesh rug pads are ideal for hardwood floors. Rug pads made of slip-resistant, honeycombed, natural rubber are available commercially. They are sold in rolls and are easily cut with scissors to the correct size. Although mesh rug pads are thin, they do offer some additional padding under your rug.

Cushioned Pads

• For a pad with more cushioning, felt is an ideal surface for wood. It is soft and can be purchased free of any dyes or chemicals. Felt rug pads are durable, offer sound reduction and, since they "breathe," they make vacuuming easier; 100 percent felt padding is recommended by at least one manufacturer for larger rugs that don't slip. For smaller rugs that may slip, felt rug padding backed with natural rubber is available.

Care of Wood Flooring

• To avoid bleached areas where sunlight hits bare wood floors for extended periods, regularly move your rugs and rearrange your furniture. Shake out your rugs or vacuum them often to reduce the amount of dirt tracked onto your floors. Sweep daily with a soft-bristled broom for general cleaning. For deeper cleaning, contact your floor's manufacturer for recommendations about the best cleaning products and cleaning methods for your floors. In general, soy-based cleaners are safe for wood flooring.