Does a rug pad really extend the life of your area rug?

Yes. As rugs are walked on, they are ground into the hard floor which makes the rug wear faster, especially in areas of high traffic. In a good quality rug, you may not notice the difference in a rug that has had a pad and a rug that hasn't until they are 50+ years old. In older rugs and in flat-weave rugs, the difference will be seen much sooner. When shopping for a pad, get something that is thick and rubber on one side and rough wool on the other. Opt for purchasing rug pad from a rug store as opposed to a linens or hardware store, as this will actually promote better wear. The other pads are usually just to prevent skidding.