Category Archives: Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With A Rug Pad

DIY Cat Scratching Post

Filed in: How To's, Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With A Rug Pad

DIY Cat Scratching Post


If you have a cat that loves to play, you most likely have a cat scratching post in your home. While scratching posts are a great way for cats to get exercise they can often be annoying to assemble and can be expensive. In our latest “Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With a Rug Pad” blog series, we have created an easy DIY cat scratching post that your cat is sure to love! Check out our video tutorial above and read below for a more detailed description!

Supplies:

 

  • 2 Square Wood Boards – 18’ x 18’
  • 4×4 Wood Post
  • Sisal Rope
  • Decorative Burlap
  • Superior Rug Pad Scrap
  • Super Hold Rug Pad Scrap
  • Screws and Drill
  • Ruler/ Measuring Tape
  • Staple Gun
  • Scissors
  • Hot Glue Gun

Step One: Measure and Cut Your Supplies

For my DIY cat toy I want to use up any scrap I had leftover from previous projects. We had a plywood board around the house, that we cut in half and made two square platforms. For the support, we used a wood post that was 4″x4″x2′ because I had it lying around. If you live in a smaller apartment or home, I suggest using a shorter post. Once you measure and cut your post and platforms, it is time to measure the rug pad. We measured three pieces of our Superior rug pad to be the same size as my platforms. Next, we measured one Super Hold rug pad to fit on the bottom of my base platform. The Super Hold acts as a non-slip surface for the cat toy so your toy will not move around no matter how much your cat plays with it. The Superior rug pad acts as an excellent scratching surface for your cat and is comfortable enough for your cat to lounge on.

Step Two: Secure Rug Pad

Once you have measured out all your rug pads it is time to attach the rug pad to your platforms. Using a staple gun, secure the rug pads to both sides of each platform. Remember to use the one side that has the Super Hold rug pad for the base of your cat toy. We put staples all along the edges of the platform to ensure the rug pad stayed in place.

Step Three: Attach Sisal Rope to Edges

Using a hot glue gun, attach the sisal rope to the edges of your platforms. This will hide any of the exposed wood and make the edges of your toy look more finished. If you want something more colorful to match the decor of your home,  try your favorite ribbon along the edges instead!

Step Four: Wrap and Secure the Burlap to the Post

Now that you have both your bases ready, it is time to move on your post! I had leftover burlap ribbon in my home from a previous craft project, so I simply used that burlap and wrapped it around the entire length of the post. If you don’t have burlap ribbon handy you can use sisal rope, more rug pad scrap, burlap scrap, or any other rough fabric that your cat will love to scratch at! We simply wrapped the fabric around the post and stapled as we went. For the post, we tried to use less staples than the platforms because I did not want my cat’s claws getting caught while he played. So far, I have not noticed any problems and the burlap has stayed in place.

Step Five: Attach the Post to the Platforms

One your complete your post it is time to attach the post to the platforms. Measure your base platform first and find the center. Place the post in the center of the base and flip it over to screw in from the bottom. Your post should be on the side with the superior rug pad and the green Super Hold rug pad should be facing up. Using construction screws and a drill, secure the post to the base. We started off by using shorter screws but ended up having to switch to construction screws to secure the post in place. Once the post has been screwed into the base, repeat the process for the top platform.

Step Six: Add Toys or Tassels

After your post is secured to both platforms it is time to add any extra pieces to your cat toy! I had left over sisal rope that we used to make little tassels. Using my staple gun, we attached the tassels to the underside of the top platform, so they would hang down. My cat absolutely loved the addition of the tassels. If you don’t have enough rope to make tassels, try adding little hanging pom poms or other toys, anything that will grab your cat’s interest. If you want to expand your cat toy by adding other levels feel free! Simply repeat the steps above with various sizes of platforms and post and you can have a cat tower in no time!

Set up and Watch Your Cat Enjoy!

Find a good location where you can set up your cat toy, giving your kitty space to play! You can mist with catnip to make your cat fall in love with his or her new toy!

 

Creative Ways to Winterize Your Home!

Filed in: Home Decor, How To's, Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With A Rug Pad
Creative Ways to Prep Your Home For Winter

Creative Ways to Winterize Your Home!

With temperatures already below freezing in most of the parts of the country it is time to start prepping your home for the winter months to come. One of the most cost effective ways to keep warm during the winter months is make sure your windows and floors are properly insulated. I have several fireplaces I keep active throughout the winter season, so I know the importance of keeping seasoned firewood dry and ready to burn during the winter months ahead. I found several creative ways to take scrap from the office and winterize my home!

Prepping Your Firewood Rack for Snow

Supplies:Log Rack

  • Outdoor Firewood Rack
  • 2 Ultra Premium Rug Pads Cut to the Size of Your Rack
  • Firewood

If you have a fireplace in your home, you understand the importance of having seasoned, dry wood all winter long. While it easy to purchase or chop your own firewood for use at home, it is often difficult to find a dry space to store the wood once it has been chopped. While certain outdoor log racks come with covers, these covers can sometimes be insufficient. I noticed with my outdoor log rack, that my cover was not doing enough to protect the wood from the elements. Every time it rained, water seemed to go right through the cover, leaving my perfectly seasoned wood soaked through.

Working for Rug Pad Corner, I always have rug pads on my mind! I came up with the idea to use our Ultra Premium rug pads to protect my wood from the elements. I simply measured the area of the base of my log rack and cut two Ultra Premium rug pads to fit the area. For the bottom of the log rack I rolled out one of the Ultra Premium rug pads with the purple side facing down. Next, I stacked my firewood on top of the rug pad. The Ultra Premium was perfect because the felt side secured the firewood in place and will absorb any moisture. Once I was done stacking my firewood, I rolled out the second Ultra Premium rug pad on top of the stacked wood with the purple side facing up. The purple side is great for deflecting water and will help to keep any snow or rain from soaking my wood. Next I placed my existing log rack cover back over the wood. The Ultra Premium pad is great for keeping my existing cover in place and providing added protection from inclement weather. Since I winterized my firewood rack, it’s been put to the test with several rainstorms and a snow storm; my firewood has been completely protected from the elements, ready to keep me warm all winter long!

Winterizing Your Windows With Rug Pad Scrap

Supplies:

  • Mounting Tape
  • Ruler
  • Superior Rug Pad Scrap
  • Scissors

One of the biggest areas where homes lose heat in the winter is through the windows. While some newer homes come with storm windows or energy efficient windows, most windows will not protect from dropping temperatures. I live in a home that was built in the 1700’s so insulation is lacking in many parts of my house, especially the windows. Unfortunately, because of the unique size and set up of our windows, it is extremely expensive to order custom storm windows. I started looking for other options that might be less expensive. One common option is to use insulating plastic. I didn’t want to cover my rustic, quaint windows with plastic!  That is when I started to experiment with rug pad scrap to see if I could find a subtle way to insulate my windows without taking away from the overall look of my house. I realized by using our Superior rug pads to seal the seams of our windows, I could reduce the amount of heat that escaped through the windows and ultimately save a lot on my heating bill.

I started off by measuring my windows to determine the amount of rug pad scrap I would need. I have french casement windows that open inwards, so there is one long seal in the middle of my windows that is always letting out heat, so I had to be sure to measure a piece that would cover that seal. I measured the length and width of my windows, along with the seals between the windows. For a demonstration of how to properly measure your windows check out the video above. Next, I measured and cut my Superior rug pad to fit along the seams of my windows. I cut a piece that covered the length of my window and about 2.5 inches in width. That way, the strip I cut could hang slightly over the seam of my window and prevent cold air from coming in. What I ended up with were thin strips of rug pad that would cover up the cracks in my windows without being visible from the inside. Once you have cut your Superior rug pad, apply mounting tape to the felt side of each rug pad strip. The felt side should face in when attached to your window and the smooth side should face towards the outdoors. Next, adhere the rug pad strip to the part of your window that faces outside. If you have windows like mine, be sure to attach your strip to the window that closes first! It will create a seal that traps the heat in and keeps the cold out! Repeat this process for all the windows in your home and you will immediately notice a difference!

Using Rug Pads To Insulate Your Floors

The most common way to use rug pads for insulation is by adding them to existing area rugs. I placed our thickest rug pad under the area rug in front of one of my fireplaces. I used our Superior rug pad, they are excellent for insulation purposes. These 100% felt rug pads come in two different thickness ¼” and ⅜” and are extremely dense, making them perfect for trapping the heat in! Placing the rug pad underneath the area rug in my living room helped to trap the heat from the fireplace, I immediately noticed the difference.

To prepare my home for a family that I know will be tracking snow in all winter long, I placed an Ultra Premium rug pad in front of my basement door with no area rug on top. I did not want a nice rug in my basement entryway because my family is always tracking in dirt and snow in the winter and I wanted something that could scrape the dirt of their shoes.  The grey surface on our Ultra Premium was perfect for my basement, and the rubber bottom prevents the moisture of melting snow from damaging my floor. Now I don’t have to worry about my family tracking in dirt and snow through the basement and the thickness of the ultra premium prevents the cold air from leaking under my door! It is a perfect solution for garages and basements where you wouldn’t want to damage a rug, but want to prevent snow and mud from messing up your home.

DIY Cabinet and Drawer Liners With Super Hold Rug Pads

Filed in: How To's, Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With A Rug Pad
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DIY Cabinet and Drawer Liners With Super Hold Rug Pads

Drawer liners are great for preventing scratches and stains to your cabinets and drawers. These liners are great for rental spaces and forever homes to help preserve the look of your cabinets. While I love using drawer liners in all my cabinets, I hated the adhesives that most cheap drawer liners contain. The chemicals and adhesives emitted an unpleasant smell, some even left damage to my cabinets and drawers. I was nervous about having these adhesives and chemicals so close to my plates and utensils. I decided to try to look into natural non-slip drawer liners when I had the idea to use our Super Hold Rug Pads. Super Hold is CRI green label, meaning it has absolutely no chemicals and will not off-gas or smell. This all natural non-slip product is perfect for use as non-slip drawer and cabinet liners! Check out our blog for instructions on how to turn Super Hold rug pads into easy, green DIY drawer liners!

Materials: Supplies

  • Super Hold Rug Pad
  • Scissors
  • Measuring Tap
  • Cleaning Supplies

Step One: Empty and Clean Your Drawers and Cabinets

Start out by picking out what drawers and cabinets you want to put your drawer liners in. Remove all items from your drawers and cabinets and clean them out. I used a basic all-purpose spray and paper towels to clean out my drawers. Once all your drawers and cabinets are clean you can move on to the next step!

Step Two: Measure the Spaces You Want Lined

Take your tape measure and measure out all the spaces you want covered. Be sure to measure the exact length and width of each surface you want to cover. If you have awkward shaped cabinets like mine, it might be best to split up the measurements into two different sections. It will make laying down your Super Hold easier in the long run. You can also measure your drawers and cabinets and order Super Hold cut to those exact sizes!

Step Three: Measure and Cut Your Super Hold Rug Pad

Once you have your surface measurements it is time to measure out your Super Hold Rug Pad. I used leftover scrap from a previous project for my drawer liners. Measure out your rug pad and mark with a pen or marker. This will ensure you keep to the measurements when cutting. Once you finishing measuring your Super Hold sections, you can start cutting them out with your scissors. The great thing about the Super Hold rug pads is that they are very easy to cut with any type of scissors. Repeat this step until you have all your Super Hold liners.

Step Four: Add Liners and Return Dishes to Cabinets

Take your completed Super Hold liners and add them to your drawers and cabinets. The great thing about these liners is they are so easy to make and installation is a breeze! Because of their natural non-slip material, there is no need for adhesives or glues to keep them in place. Simply lay them flat in your drawers and cabinets and place your dishes and utensils back in!

Overall this project took me less than 30 minutes, making it the perfect weekend or afternoon DIY project! Get your Super Hold rug pads today and try it for yourself!