How to Keep Rugs From Slipping

Home improvement expert Danny Lipford shows you how applying silicone caulking to the back of rugs can reduce slipping on slick surfaces.

How to Keep Rugs From Slipping Joe Truini: Well, that looks dangerous. You’re maybe surprised to learn the accidental falls is the number cause of death and injuries around the home. And many of those accidents are caused by slipping on rugs just like this one. Danny Lipford: Now Joe, I’ve seen the anti-skid tape and I’ve also seen the little pads that go under the rug, what about that as a solution? Joe Truini: Well, the tape isn’t very effective because it only goes around the perimeter of the rug and when you step in the middle, it will still slide. And the pads, they work pretty well except they’re not actually attached to the rug so they can separate and again you can still slip and fall. Danny Lipford: Yeah, I have seen them kind of overlap a little bit from time to time. Joe Truini: Right. So, I’ve got a solution that works really well and I took a rug yesterday and I’ll show you what I did. I took it too about a 100% silicon adhesive and I put a thick bead all the way around the perimeter of it. Then I also put a zigzag bead of adhesive spacing it about three or four inches apart along the entire back of the mat. And then I pushed it all down with a putty knife just to make sure it stocked really well to the backing. And you let that cure overnight and it winds up being pretty sticky and rubbery. Danny Lipford: So, just provides that little bit of friction that you need. Joe Truini: Right. And when you put pressure on that, the silicon almost sticks to the floor and prevents it to slide. Danny Lipford: Well, I know I went to the silicon, costs at about $5.00. Joe Truini: Right. Danny Lipford: You can do a lot for $5.00. Joe Truini: One, two will go about four or five rugs of this size.