Ways Your Rugs Might Damage Your Hardwood Flooring

Rugs are an excellent way to add an extra dash of spice to a space, whether it be a splash of color or a cozier, warmer tone. In fact, they're so popular that they rack in billions in sales each year in the U.S., according to Statista. However, if you buy the wrong rug, it could end up doing more harm than good for your hardwood flooring. For example, you may notice that the color of your hardwood floor differs from the rest. It may also look like it's scuffed. This occurrence is most likely because of your treasured rug. How extreme the effects are will likely depend on your rug and how long it's been there. But what's actually happening underneath the surface?

Below, we'll take a deeper look into why rugs can cause these unwanted changes so you can better understand what's going on with your floor. Once you know what's causing it, you can determine whether rugs are the correct choice for you or not.

While rugs look pretty, they sometimes have some dirty tricks up their sleeves. As it turns out, it all comes down to the materials inside the rugs. So, who are the offenders? While you should always stay prudent, rough or synthetic ones are usually guilty culprits. Due to the abrasive nature of the fabrics, you can be left with marks on your floors that can be difficult to remove once they're on there and may cost you money to fix. This is just one way your rugs can damage your floors. You should look out for both of these types of materials, as well as rubber coatings, to ensure you keep them safe and damage-free. However, other materials can still scratch your floor, even if they're of a higher quality.

So, instead of purchasing any old rug, it's probably better to go inside a store where you can speak to someone knowledgeable. Likewise, if you want to prevent further damage, you should try and stop it from slipping around, as it may encourage marks to appear. You could also consider using your rug in different rooms. However, that's not all regarding rugs and your flooring.    

Another way rugs may damage your hardwood flooring is by changing the color and quality. But what causes it? Again, one of the triggers is the materials used in the rug, such as the rubber backing. This material is usually the culprit for many changes you may see on your hardwood flooring. However, that's not the only cause.

As it turns out, UV light can also play a role. This is because the areas of your hardwood floor that see the most UV light will fade faster compared to areas that are shielded from it. In this case, the item covering your floor is your rug. As a result, the shades of your floor may end up being uneven. So, if you're looking to uphold the quality of your hardwood flooring, you may want to think twice about a rug as a long-term investment. If you already have one, then you should still be able to maintain your hardwood floors; it just may be a bit more costly and take more time.