Imagine if you had an efficient and affordable way to keep your vinyl floors safe from discoloration, scratch & scuffing. Vinyl floors have a good resistance towards damage. However, many objects don’t go well with vinyl.
Are you wondering if polypropylene rugs are safe for your vinyl floors? Keep reading to find out!
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Are Polypropylene Rugs Safe for Vinyl Floors?
The simple answer is No. Polypropylene Rugs are not safe for vinyl floors.
In general, vinyl floors resist staining and scuffing, but upon contact with polypropylene, they will turn discoloured as a result of a chemical reaction.
You should avoid polypropylene rugs if you have sensitive floors such as vinyl, laminate, or bamboo as they will scratch your vinyl floors.
Despite the fact that they the rugs can easily damage and scratch vinyl floors, they do have some benefits in general.
Listed below are some advantages and disadvantages of polypropylene rugs.
Pros:
In theory, polypropylene rugs can discolor vinyl floors, but people still love them as they are cheap and durable.
Below are just a few advantages of polypropylene rugs. It shouldn’t be confused with advantages of polypropylene rugs on vinyl plank flooring.
- Cheap: Polypropylene Rugs are very cheap and affordable as they have a very low manufacturing cost. It also does not require a lot of maintenance.
- Stain-Resistant: They are stain-resistant. It is great for families who have younglings that may spill their drinks or ice-creams on the floor.
- Great choice for outdoors: It is a great choice for outdoors because it is moisture-resistant. You can use it by the pool since it resists water-damage.
- Easy to clean: It is very easy to clean and is invulnerable to damage from chemicals and cleaning products.
- Low density: It is light-weight because of its low density, even lighter than water. It is also the only fiber that floats on water.
- Life-span: A polypropylene rug will last you around 3-5 years as it is very durable.
Cons:
Despite all the benefits of polypropylene, there are some cons too;
- Non resilient-fiber: Polypropylene is a non resilient fiber. This means that if it is crushed, it will not bounce back to its original shape. It is advisable to avoid placing polypropylene rugs in high traffic areas.
- Weak to sunlight: The quality of polypropylene rugs takes a toll when it is exposed to sunlight for longer durations unless the rugs are chemically modified.
- Sensitive to heat and friction: Polypropylene rugs are sensitive to heat and friction, despite its melting point being over 300℉, it may leave marks if you drag furniture on it due to the heat and friction.
- Oil-based stains: Although it is stain-resistant, removing oil-based stains can prove to be hard work. Oil based stains tend to become permanent too quickly as polypropylene rugs will soak it. It becomes hard to remove, even with a vacuum. Shampooing the rug would also be ineffective because of its water resisting quality.
Alternatives to Polypropylene Rugs for Vinyl Floors?
There are non-staining polypropylene rugs that you can buy on the market. Also, you can use a polypropylene rug with a rug pad.
These rug pads will prevent any damage to the floor by absorbing the leaked color from the rugs . Here are the most suitable rug pads to go with polypropylene rugs.
Rugs with Natural Backings:
Rugs with natural backings, such as cotton, jute, and woven backings, will work with vinyl plank flooring. These rugs won’t leak colors onto the vinyl flooring, unlike other polypropylene rugs.
How to Maintain Polypropylene Rugs on Vinyl floors?
In the event that you already own a polypropylene rug, you can use it on vinyl flooring if you purchase a rug pad.
Rug pads are placed beneath the rugs and protect the floor from staining vinyl backed mats.
Polypropylene rugs still need to be maintained well even if rug pads are replaceable.
You can’t take care of any rug without cleaning, and the same goes for polypropylene rugs.
How to Clean Polypropylene Rugs
It is not very hard to maintain these rugs, but they do require cleaning once a year. In order to clean them;
- On a nice warm day, take it outside
- Wet it down with a garden hose or bucket of water
- Add a few drops of mild dish soap
- Scrub it onto the polypropylene rug
- Rinse the rug thoroughly with the water hose or bucket.
Polypropylene rugs can be kept clean for the entire year with a yearly wash in spring. By cleaning polypropylene rugs regularly, extra color that may leak will be washed away. By doing so, color will not leak out.
Drying your Polypropylene Rugs
After cleaning, it needs to be dried.
- Due to the synthetic fibers in polypropylene rugs, please do not put them in a dryer after washing or removing a stain. The heat from the dryer will damage the fibers and leave more marks. It may even melt.
- Instead of a drying machine, place your rug on a window railing or let it air dry on a clothesline.
- Be sure not to place it in direct sunlight as the heat could melt the rug. It can even shorten the life of the rug by damaging its fibers.
- Be sure to dry both the sides of the rug before taking it out to use.
That is how you maintain polypropylene rugs. Now let’s talk about rug pads as you will need one to go with the polypropylene rug you have bought for your vinyl flooring.
Rug Pads are a Saviour
Without a rug pad, your polypropylene rug will just end up scratching and leaving color patches on your vinyl flooring.
These are two popular types of rug pads available in the market
Anchor Grip
Anchor Grip Rug Pad has been used and recommended widely for use with vinyl floors.
Eco Plush
Eco Plush is yet another rug pad that works well with polypropylene, it is a non-slip pad. It is also a 100% heat-felt pad.
Benefits of a Rug Pad
- Preventing Slips and Falls: A rug pad will help prevent slips and falls that a normal rug without a rug pad would be vulnerable to. It is a safety risk.
- Protection of the Rug: Rug pads provide protection for the rug itself. Since the rug pads are placed below the rugs, it erases the possibility of any dust particles from the floor reaching into your rug to tear the rug’s materials. Padding beneath the rug provides protection against this.
- Extra Cushion: Rugs pads offer extra cushion with the padding. You will feel the effect of the rug pad with every step you take, it is very comfortable. You will also feel safe that you cannot slip as you’re walking on a rug and it provides a sense of security regarding your family and kids.
- Helps vinyl floor last longer: Since the rug pad is placed below the rug, any spill on the rug will have to go through the rug pad to stain the floor. This is beneficial as the padding will stop the spill. This will make your vinyl floor last longer as it works as a barrier between the rug and the vinyl flooring.
Things to Look for while Buying a Rug Pad
If you do not own a rug pad, and are looking for one, here are some things you should look for while buying a rug pad.
Cushioning
Cushioning is a very desirable trait in every rug pad that you go through.
There are different thicknesses that rug pads offer, you can get one from 1/16 inch to ½ inch and choosing the right one will depend on your comfort.
The thicker the rug pad is, the bigger the cushion. Before buying a thick rug pad, don’t forget to consider the area you will be placing it on and the sufficient door clearance.
Non-Slip
The last thing you want is your kids or pets slipping on your rug despite the rug pad underneath.
Some rug pads will still slip despite their anti-slip system, which is why natural rubber backed rugs are the best ones out there as they do not slip easily.
You can also go for the combination of rubber and felt as that may be more comfortable.
Eco-Friendly
If you’re concerned for the environment, it is best you go for rug pads with natural backings, rubber backings or heat-pressed felt.
Low quality rug pads offer release Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC) which is not good for the environment.
Price
Pricing is to be considered as rug pads are a long term investment.
The prices will vary depending on the material, size, cushioning and the floor it will be placed on.
Remember that a good pad will be a good investment as it will need less repairs and function better than the rest.
Buy “COLORFAST” labelled Polypropylene Rugs
There are some polypropylene rugs that can work on your vinyl floors provided they have a “colorfast” label on them.
These rugs can work on the vinyl flooring without harming or leaving any color patches.
Is Polypropylene Toxic to Humans?
Polypropylene is considered the safest of all plastics. Because of its high heat tolerance, it is unlikely to leach particles even when exposed to warm or hot water.
Due to its safety, it is also approved for use with packing of beverages and food.
Despite being the safest, few studies have shown polypropylene links with occupational asthma because it can leach on plastic additives.
Though it is less likely to contain fillers, plasticizers and additives compared to other plastics, it may still be present.
Overall, polypropylene is safe for you.
Conclusion
From what we have studied, it is safe to assume that;
- Polypropylene rugs are unsafe for vinyl plank floors.
- Polypropylene rugs have many benefits as a standalone
- Maintaining polypropylene rugs is not a tedious task
- Rug pads are a saviour, they are affordable and have many benefits.
- Polypropylene rugs can work well on vinyl floors provided they have a “colorfast” label or a rug pad to go with it.
Polypropylene is the safest plastic out of all the other plastics.
Photo by Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels
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