If you're not into putting out the cash for pricey rug pads, try this quick hardware store trick instead. It's sure to keep things in place without a large investment, which is especially great for thrifted or Craigslist finds! It's fast, efficient and best of all — inexpensive!
To tackle this simple rug backer-hack, head to your hardware store (or garage) and procure a tube of acrylic-latex caulk. Apply it to the back side of your rug about every 6 inches. We might suggest doing this in a room where doors can be closed to keep pets and small children out until it's cured and dry.
Flip it over and you'll be slip free for years to come!
You can also try out Latex Rug Gripper Tape, or a thin rug pad, though in our experience, they never work as well as we want them to!
(Note: Before you go applying caulking to the back of your family heirloom rug, we have to say upfront that this trick is one to be used with a little common sense. The extra-pricey Persian rug probably shouldn't be handled in this manner, but the $30 Craigslist find is a sure bet!)
(via: Martha Stewart)
(Images: MSLO)
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would the dried caulk have any bad effects on the wood floor beneath it? i don't think so, but that's more my worry than the rug i'd apply it to.
I could just see someone flipping the rug over while the caulk is still sticky/tacky and semi-permanently gluing their rug to the floor...
I would use this on the long IKEA rag run in our kitchen, but then what would my husband pull the cat around the house on?
I've been racking my brain to figure out a way to keep rugs from slipping around on my cork floors. To minimize the possibility of water damage, rubber backed rugs are a no-no on cork floors, so that means rubbery pads are a no-no too. This looks like a great solution. Thanks for posting this useful tip.
asinner, that's hilarious! At least now I know I'm not the only person looking silly whilst dragging a cat-on-rug about the house. :)
...and while I'm not sure how long term use would affect the floor, I'd probably use clear caulk if trying this.
How does the caulk (in terms of performance) compare to just a cheap rug pad? Ikea sells rug pads for a few bucks -- not the greatest quality I'm sure, but is caulking any better?
This is one of my pet peeves that iIve been trying to fix forever. Those pads are so useless. I have been looking for this:
http://www.plastidip.com/industrial_solutions/Super_Grip for a while with no luck. The calk idea seems much easier, accessable and affordable.
apf, I have no idea how well the caulk works, but I have an Ikea rug pad between my wool rug and hardwood floor and have no problems with slippage. Maybe a lighter rug would be harder to keep in place?
This is a great idea.
@apf - I actually have gotten the ikea rug pads and they are very thin, but have a good stickiness to them. So they don't give much padding, but do help rugs, even thin ones, stay in place.
A lot of people do not live near an IKEA (oh, the HORROR!), so this is a great idea. Thanks. (however, I'm sure cheap rug pads abound in other places...)
Rug pads can easily be found in any hardware store. While you're there to buy the caulk, you might as well....
Make sure that whatever chemicals you use won't require water damage repairs. The chemicals and mold from water damage can cause toxic bacteria to form.... and it makes it worse when its covered by a rug...
okay... might not be understanding this... do you wait for it to dry and then flip over your rug? I'm confused... does it damage the floor??? help please... the stops aren't super clear.
This will cause damage to your wood floors! I found this out the hard way. I caulked my rugs and left to dry for a full twenty four hours.
I tried it and even tested it for a few weeks with no problems. Then, quite awhile later, I pulled my two rugs I had done it on up to for spring cleaning, to mop and vacuum and discovered the caulk had left dark strips on the wood flooring. I am probably now going to have to refinish my floors as I have not yet had any success at getting the stains out.