Does a rug pad really extend the life of your area rug?

Answer 1

Yes. As rugs are walked on, they are ground into the hard floor which makes the rug wear faster, especially in areas of high traffic. In a good quality rug, you may not notice the difference in a rug that has had a pad and a rug that hasn't until they are 50+ years old. In older rugs and in flat-weave rugs, the difference will be seen much sooner. When shopping for a pad, get something that is thick and rubber on one side and rough wool on the other. Opt for purchasing rug pad from a rug store as opposed to a linens or hardware store, as this will actually promote better wear. The other pads are usually just to prevent skidding.