Can Area Rugs Damage Hardwood Floors

Be cautious about buying any rug without considering the risk to the floor.

Can area rugs damage hardwood floors.

They reduce dirt or sand settling through the rug that can scratch your hardwood or damage the rug. Certain kind of rug fibers can scratch or damage wood flooring. Vacuum the area rug. The moisture from a steam cleaner damages wood flooring surfaces however so if you plan to steam clean your area rugs over hardwood floors you must do some surface preparation first.

Using the wrong rug pad rug pads are great for keeping area rugs from sliding around on hardwood floors but the wrong one can leave marks and hurt your floor. They will also protect the floor against moisture damage from liquid spills. Vacuum or dry mop the hardwood floor to remove any dirt and grit that could cause scratches. Whether an area rug is going to damage a wood floor depends on the fiber of the rug.

The backing might be rough to cause scratches when the foot traffic causes any slight shifting. Roll up the area rug and move it to one side. If the rugs are large you may need to roll them to remove them from the space. Sometimes a waiting period is recommended after floor installation before an area rug.

Rubber backed mats can dull your floor s shine and even cause some discoloration. Your area rug could also transfer its color to the underlying surface. An area rug can have damaging effect on your hardwood floor only when it s not protected underneath with a quality rug pad. When purchasing a wood floor ask about what kind of area rugs can be added to a space and if any kind of protection such as mat should be used.

Step 1 pick the area rugs up off the floor. Do area rugs damage hardwood floors. To protect your hardwood floor use a combination felt and rubber pad to keep your area rugs from sliding.