This may seem like a silly question, but if you have just spent a load of money on a very expensive hand-knotted Oriental Rug, the last thing you want to do is drop a few hundred more on a rug pad that no-one will ever see!  But, ask yourself this, if you purchased a new car, would you skip the oil changes?  This may seem like a silly question, but Of course not, as everyone knows, changing your oil prolongs the life of your engine and helps you get the most out of your car.  A rug pad can serve the same purpose for your rug. 

Believe it or not, a rug usually wears out faster on the bottom of your rug than on the top.  This is because the bottom of your rug is crushed against the hard floor.  A rug pad cushions your rug and acts as a buffer, keeping it from being constantly smashed.

Another reason your rug can wear out faster on the bottom is because hand-knotted rugs have an open weave.  Even if you have a hand knotted rug with a high number of knots per square inch and have difficultly seeing the holes, they are there.  Over time, dirt drops down between the holes to lie underneath your rug.  If you don’t have anything underneath your rug, this dirt will just sit there and grind away at the bottom of your rug as it is walked on.  A rug pad helps significantly – if you have an open cell pad, it will trap the dirt and hold it away from the rug.  If you have a closed cell pad, the dirt is held and cushioned – it’s not constantly ground against the hard floor.

Speaking of dirt, a rug pad can also help keep your rug clean.  When vacuuming your rug, having your rug held off the floor will bring air underneath your rug, helping your vacuum be more efficient and your rug looking great. 

What about safety?  Have you ever walked on a rug – especially on a runner – and have it slip underneath you?  Have you ever tripped on a curled up edge of a rug walking into a room?  In these days of ready law-suits, the last thing you want is a hazard waiting to happen – most importantly to keep you and your family safe, but also to prevent unfortunate accidents for guests.  A rug pad helps your rug “stick” to the floor, keeping it in place, and making it safer for everyone.

While safety and protecting your rug are the most important reasons to invest in a good quality rug pad, there are a number of other reasons:

• Protects your floor from being scratched by the bottom of your rug – often, rugs are built on a backing of unfinished cotton or wool.  Over time, friction can rub through the finish of your floor.
• Protects your floor from any potential staining.  Depending on what kind of dye was used in the making of your oriental rug, if you spill something on it, dye may be transferred to your floor. 
• Comfort!   Ever stand on a hard floor all day?  A thick rug pad will make you feel like you are walking on air.

I hope you are now convinced that a rug pad is a good idea.  Your oriental rug should last for generations – make sure you get the most out of it!

So, now you have decided to purchase a rug pad – what kind should you get?  Well, your pad should be selected for your floor, not for your rug.  There are different rug pads for hard surfaces such as ceramic or hardwood, for various types of carpets, and for indoor or outdoor use.   There are even special types of open cell rug pads for use over floors that have radiant heating to allow heat to freely flow up through the pad and rug. 

Once you’ve selected the type most suitable for your floor, you have to measure your rug carefully.  You don’t want the rug pad to show, so it should be cut to be at least ½” smaller all the way around.  And one final tip, when laying your rug pad down, make sure you read the instructions to ensure you are putting the right side down – some pads have different textures on the bottom to help it grip better to the floor!