Vinyl discolouration from rugs reported
To keep vinyl floors looking their best many people choose to use mats or rugs to protect areas of the floor but it is emerging that in many homes this has actually caused more damage.
Although the mats do protect areas of flooring there have been reports that the rubber-backing on rugs is causing discolouration to vinyl.
Al Heavens, from the Chicago Tribune, said: “I really didn't know how widespread the problem was when I first wrote about it because I don't have vinyl flooring, but it is indeed a problem.”
Alcohol or bleaching agents are often recommended for removing stains on vinyl floors, or oxalic acid which can be found in hardware stores.
However Mr Heavens, an expert on home improvement, said: “You cannot remove these stains unless you remove the floor. If you don’t want to do it, you’ll need to buy a larger rug.”
The rugs and mats which are recommended for use on vinyl are ones which are marked ‘colourfast’ by the manufacturer and Armstrong vinyl flooring manufacturers simply recommend not to use rubber-backed mats.
While vinyl is a durable option in flooring it is not immune to wear and tear so it is advisable that rugs or mats are used at doorways to stop dirt being brought in on shoes and they can also be useful in areas with high foot traffic.
