Do rugs need pads? Rug pads, sizing and measuring
A rug pad keeps a rug from slipping, adds cushion and takes some of the wear, and it should be a little smaller than the rug. WATERFALL does not sell pads: we clean rugs, in your home, and our rug cleaning price is on the prices page. WATERFALL cleans area rugs at your home for $89: call (747) 214-6199.
Do I really need a pad under my area rug in the living room?
Usually, yes. A pad stops the rug sliding and bunching into a trip edge, takes friction off the back of the rug, protects the floor from grit and scratches, adds cushion and quiets footsteps. You can skip it only if the rug has a non-slip back that truly holds, heavy furniture pins it and it never shifts when walked on or vacuumed. Match the pad to the floor: on wood, one labeled safe for the finish; on vinyl, check the floor maker's advice, because some rubber and latex backings stain vinyl; over carpet, a pad made for a rug on carpet.
How do you choose a rug pad?
Pick by floor, rug and use. For a hard floor, choose a pad that grips and is labeled safe for your floor finish, because some rubber and vinyl pads can mark finishes. For a rug over carpet, a firmer, thinner pad that grips the carpet is the usual choice.
How thick of a rug pad do I need for a 6x9 rug in a living room?
About a quarter inch or less for most living-room rugs on a hard floor, and the size of the rug does not change it. Go thinner under a flat-woven rug or a rug by a door and thicker only when you want more softness and nothing has to swing over it, and check the clearance under doors before you buy. For a 6x9 rug, the pad is about 5 feet 10 inches by 8 feet 10 inches, an inch inside the rug on every side.
Should the rug pad be the same size as the rug or a bit smaller?
A bit smaller: about an inch shorter on every side, so the pad stays hidden and the rug edge lies flat instead of curling over it. A 5x8 rug takes a pad of about 4 feet 10 inches by 7 feet 10 inches, and an 8x10 rug about 7 feet 10 inches by 9 feet 10 inches; if that size is not sold, buy the next size up and trim it. A pad that sticks out shows and can trip you, and one that is too small leaves the corners without grip.
How do you measure a rug?
Measure the length and width in feet or inches, at the longest and widest points, with a tape. For a rug you plan to buy, mark its outline on the floor with painter's tape to see how it sits against the furniture.
How do I measure a round rug for a pad?
Measure the diameter: straight across the middle, edge to edge, without the fringe. Measure in two directions and use the smaller if they differ, then choose a round pad about two inches smaller across, so it sits about an inch inside the edge all round. For a 6-foot round rug that is a pad of about 5 feet 10 inches across; a square pad can be cut to the circle.
How do I trim a rug pad so it fits under my rug?
Lay the pad where the rug goes, put the rug on top and smooth both flat. Fold back one edge of the rug at a time and mark the pad about an inch inside the rug's edge on all four sides, then cut along the marks with sharp heavy scissors or a utility knife on a hard surface, a little at a time: you can take more off, you cannot put it back. For a round rug, use the rug as the template, and cut from the back side if the pad has one.
Which side of the rug pad goes down, the grippy side or the soft side?
On a hard floor, the grippy, rubbery or textured side goes down against the floor and the soft felt side faces up against the rug. On carpet, read the label: some pads made for a rug on carpet go the other way. If both sides look alike, the label decides.
Questions and answers
Do rugs need pads?
Mostly yes: a pad stops sliding, cushions the rug and protects the floor. A pad should be a little smaller than the rug.
What do rug pads do?
They grip the floor, hold the rug flat so corners do not curl, and take some of the wear off the back of the rug. WATERFALL does not sell pads.
Which side of a rug pad goes down?
The grippy, rubbery or textured side goes against the floor and the softer side against the rug. Read the label if both look alike.
Should a rug pad be the same size as the rug?
No, a little smaller: about an inch shorter on every side. A pad that sticks out shows and can trip you.
How to cut a rug pad?
Mark a line about an inch in from the rug edge and cut along it with sharp scissors or a utility knife on a hard surface. Cut a little at a time.
How to measure a rug?
Length and width at the longest and widest points, with a tape. For a rug you plan to buy, mark its outline on the floor with painter's tape.
How do you measure a round rug?
Across the middle, edge to edge and without the fringe, in two directions; use the smaller if they differ. That is the diameter, and a round pad about two inches smaller across sits an inch inside the edge.
How thick should a rug pad be?
Thin for a flat rug or a rug by a door, thicker for cushion. Leave room under doors.
Can I wash a rug pad?
Not in a machine. Wipe it with a damp cloth and mild soap and let it air dry flat.
Prices and booking
More guides
- Area rug care: all guides
- How often to clean a rug — Vacuum weekly and deep clean about once a year for a busy rug; the right pad, rotation and quick blotting make a rug last longer.
- How to clean an area rug at home — A sturdy synthetic rug can be washed at home with mild soap, little water and fast drying; wool, silk and large rugs need a professional.
- Moth-damaged and flooded rugs, explained — Moth damage can often be repaired by a specialist, stored rugs are kept clean and sealed against moths, and a flooded rug depends on the water; WATERFALL cleans rugs only.
Sources: The Carpet and Rug Institute (The carpet and rug industry's trade association, for how carpet is made, cared for and cleaned.)