Loose fitting rugs can look extremely attractive, most particularly when laid over polished wood floors, but they can be dangerous unless fitted with a non-slip backing. There are a couple of simple ways of doing this.

Perhaps the easier is to paint the back of the rug with latex adhesive. Once the adhesive has dried, there is no danger of the rug slipping because it has been given what in effect is a rubber backing. If the rug is machine washable then once the adhesive has been applied you will still be able to wash it, but preferably by hand. For while the water will not damage the adhesive, the washing action of the machine may have a detrimental effect on the backing.

Another method is to lay a piece of rubberized netting underneath the rug. There is no need to fix it to the rug ? just cut to size and lay in position.

If your rugs are laid over carpet, they won't slip but they may have a tendency to creep out of position. This can be prevented by using a special foam backing, which is available in a standard size of 686mm by 1270mm and if necessary can be joined with self adhesive tape to cover the whole of the underneath of the rug.

Turn the rug over apply latex adhesive around the edges. Once the adhesives is tacky, press the backing into position. If you are dealing with a valuable rug such as an oriental one, loose lay or attach the backing to the rug with safety pins.

Relaying a worn stair carpet.

You should move your stair carpet at regular intervals ? ideally every 12 months ? to stop it wearing on the front steps. Not only will this double it life, it will also make your home a safer place, for worn stair carpets are a major cause of domestic accidents.

Unlike a room carpet which receives fairly even wear, on a stair carpet the area covering the risers receives virtually no wear, while the area covering the steps receives more wear than any other area of the house.

By moving the carpet up or down, the burden will be shared and damage minimized. If your carpet has become worn at the edges adjust it to save further damage.

For the sake of manoeuvrability, most stair carpets are laid initially with a short length turned under the top and bottom risers. If the landing carpet is fitted over the lip at the top of the stairs and down the first riser to finish in the angle made by the top step, the stair carpet can be doubled under the top step in place of a stair pad and down the second riser, allowing a good length of surplus carpet.

When relaying Pull the carpet taut over the nosing, down the riser and poke it into the gripper pins. Then pull the carpet taut over the next sep and continue in the same way down to the bottom of the flight.