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What do rug pads do, besides make things cushier and non-slip? I've always wondered.

"What do rug pads do, besides make things cushier and non-slip?"

The pile of most rugs is knotted around a series of cotton fibers called a "Warp". Walking on a rug placed on a hard surface over a number of years causes abrasion of the fibers wrapped around the bottom of the warps - eventually those fibers will wear through and the pile will come loose leaving a bald spot.

A rug pad prevents abrasion which preserves the knotted fibers of your rug.

Be sure that your vacuum beater/brush isn't set too low for a denser pile rug. Over time you'll damage the wool, sort of like spit ends on tufted rugs and frizz on wovens. Also be sure that the plastic isn't really sharp and cutting through the wool loops. The Dyson "Animal" vaccum is criticized for this. Sure, it will pull up pet hair like scaling tartar from your teeth, but you wouldn't use a dental scaler to clean you fine porcelain would you?

I just had one of my rugs (3 years old, 1st cleaning) and sectional (10 years old, 3rd cleaning) professionally cleaned this morning. Both look brand new.

Interesting. I didn't realize the Dyson Animal vacuum will do that. Fortunately, I've never been able to use the carpet setting on my area rug without the brush bar making unholy noises. I instead use the floor setting to pick up visible dirt and then switch to the upholstery attachment to pick up animal hair.

I have a wool shag rug and we were instructed not to vaccuum it. So we take it out once in a while for a good shake. Two person job. But looks great once we bring it back in.

I was actually just about to ask about this very topic...and then found that it was being discussed right now. I have a Pottery Barn wool rug that I got about 6 months ago. The directions read "Vacuum regularly using a vacuum cleaner without a beater brush." All of the other vacuum attachments are very small so I'm not sure what I should go with... Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Ellen

Ellen, does your vacuum have the option to turn off the brush? Sometimes it's called the floor setting. If not, another option is to set the brush to the highest possible pile setting so that it's turned on, but moving above the carpet (if your pile is short enough).