I love my Oreck. It works like a dream on my Karastan rug and transitions smoothly to the laminate and vinyl floors. Last time my 87 year old mom came over I demonstrated the pick-up capabilities by sprinkling shredded paper on both rug and floor and then vacuuming it up. She was so impressed she bought one too. It comes with a handheld vac to use on ceilings, walls, curtains, and furniture and is very powerful.

This may be too late, but are you putting down area rugs because you want rugs or because you want to protect your floors? Our KD mentioned that she purchased several inexpensive rugs for her home and puts them at the "pivot" points...the point at which people naturally turn (e.g., in front of sofa) or enter & turn into a room. When she has company, she simply picks up the rugs. We are thinking along those lines as well. We are in the middle of finalizing a kitchen remodel that also includes hardwood throughout the first floor--except the kitchen, foyer, and powder room. These areas will have tile because we have two standard poodles (the big poodles) that spend the day in these areas while we work. A friend of ours has one standard poodle and she's made a mess of their hardwood floors in less than 3 years. (They had the floors finished on-site with 2 extra coats of polyurethane.) So, if youÂre only doing it to protect your floors, why not try what our KD does. Your floor will be protected from everyday use without "permanently" hiding the floorÂso you will still be able to enjoy (and show off!) your wonderful floors!

I'm not sure what felt would do for you, other than to give you yet another material to slid out from under you. ;) I've used those cheap, non-stick pads Brickeye recommended, and they work great. They are so easy to cut to size and they have never failed me. They didn't stain any of my hardwood OR laminate floors either. However, when I was first putting them done, I did briefly worry that they MIGHT stain. Then, I realized I will always have a rug in those locations anyway. So while I don't want the floors to stain....if they do I guess I don't care because I'll never see it. I'd rather have one section a different color, than break my leg with a rug sliding out from under me. Before I put those pads down stepping on those small rugs inside the doors was like hitting ice!

It can be an issue. Latex backed throw rugs have stained vinyl flooring by a chemical reaction that occurs between the latex and the plastic in the flooring. There are polymers in many hardwood floor finishes and that could present a problem. The finish under the throw rugs 'might' yellow somewhat.