Hardwood floors can be easily damaged with the wrong rug pad
. Some rug pads contain a sprayed on latex rubber that can break down and mark your hardwood and wood floors. There are two rug pads that are the best and the safest for hardwood floors.
The first best rug pad for hardwood floors is one that is used well for rugs that do not have a sliding problem. This rug pad does not contain any rubber and is made from 100% recycled jute. Recycled wool and nylon carpet fibers are needle punched and compressed into a dense rug pad that is mold and mildew resistant as well as fire retardant. There are various weights of this rug pad and I prefer the 40 ounce weight, which means there are 40 ounces of material per square yard. This creates a dense, 1/2 of an inch rug pad that is strong enough to protect the back of the rug as well as prevent any damage to hardwood floors. This jute rug pad is best for laminate floors where it is warned not to use any rubber or petroleum based products on such a floor.
The other best rug pad for hardwood floors is excellent for all around rug and floor protection as well as providing a non slip function. This rug pad is also made from recycled jute and this is combined with a solid layer of natural rubber. I stress the "solid layer" because there are plenty of rug pads available where the non slip side is a sprayed on latex, as I mentioned earlier. It is important to avoid the sprayed on latex rug pads as they have been known to cause damage and not last too long. The proper rug pad, this jute and real rubber combination, is also a needle punched jute into a very dense 1/4 of an inch rug pad. The rubber layer is then sewn on to this jute surface to create an excellent jute and rubber non slip rug pad. This pad is best used for rugs that require a solid foundation as well as a non slip feature. As with the above mentioned recycled jute pad, this pad will last 15 to 20 years.
Both of these best rug pads should be cut an inch less than your rug size on all sides. These rug pads require little care. Once in a while it is a good idea to expose the rug pad and vacuum the top of it for any dust that may have settled through the rug. Other than this minimal care, these rug pads will do their job for years to come.
You can read more about these best rug pads for hardwood floors at www.rugpadcorner.com as well as have the option to purchase the right one for your rug and your floors.