Chairs and other heavy furniture can damage your floors by scratching and denting them. There are different ways you can protect your floors from being damaged by the legs of your chair. While most people recommend using felt pads, we’ll provide several alternatives to felt pads for your chairs in this article.
1. Furniture Socks
Furniture socks are a good alternative to felt pads to use on chairs. Like the name, furniture socks are meant to go over the legs of a chair. This protects your wood floors from scratches when moving chairs. This is the way to go if you’re looking for a cute way to avoid scratch marks.
They come in different sizes and colors and can easily fit different chair and furniture leg shapes. They are easy to install, remove, and can be washed to keep them in good condition.
The furniture socks come in different sizes, from large, which can fit bigger leg chairs, to small, which can fit narrow legs. They also come in different colors so you can customize them better for your chair or home decor. The socks are also washable to keep them in good condition.
They have rubber grippers on the inside to prevent the socks from slipping when gliding your chair over your hardwood, laminate, or other flooring. This keeps the socks in place and prevents them from falling off even when the chair is lifted. Furniture socks also work in different shapes, from round to square and other different shapes.
2. Silicone Leg Covers
Silicone leg covers are another option you can use to protect your floors from gliding chairs. Like furniture socks, silicone leg covers go over the legs of your chair for a perfect fit that will not fall off.
Available in five different colors and various sizes, these silicone chair caps protect your floors from damage. Their shape can easily fit different chair leg shapes, and they are easy to install.
They come in different colors, from clear, grey, black, brown, or black walnut. Because of the elastic silicone shape, these can go over different chair leg shapes without a problem. They are also easy to put on and come in different sizes, so make sure you measure your chair’s legs for the best fit.
Once the leg of the chair is secure inside the silicone leg cover, it has a secure fit without popping off. They also easily glide across different floors with ease. To improve the grip of the chairs on the floor, you can install silicone leg covers inside out so that the silicone touches the floor.
3. Screw-on Furniture Sliders
If you’re looking for a more permanent option, the screw-on furniture sliders are a good pick you can try out. They are made of plastic and will effortlessly glide on different floor surfaces without a problem or scratching the flooring.
GorillaGlides are available as self-adhesive or screw-on chairs or furniture sliders. They are available in different sizes, from 1-inch to 2-inch, and can easily be installed and removed. We recommend screwing them for better performance.
The screw-on chair sliders are easy to install by sticking them to the floor of the leg or screwing them. The best option to avoid falling off would be to screw them to your wood chairs. If your chairs come pre-drilled, you have to install them, but if not, just use a drill to make a properly sized hole.
Once installed, these work great and stay secured with the screw. They are also better than the felt pads that collect dirt and other debris, leaving a gummy and sticky mess when removed. They also come in different sizes from 1-inch, popular with office chairs and most chairs, to 3/4-inch.
4. Chair Tennis Ball Sliders
This is a DIY idea popularized by many DIY enthusiasts. To make chair sliders or floor protectors, you take a tennis ball, cut a hole that will fit your chair or furniture legs, and you’re good to go. You can buy a tennis ball and cut a small opening yourself or buy precut tennis balls.
These are precut tennis balls floor protectors that you can use for protecting your floors or reducing noise. You can also order tennis balls and make DIY sliders for your chairs and furniture.
Because the tennis balls are made of a rubber core, they grip your furniture’s legs, making them harder to fall out. The thickness of the tennis ball also means it will last longer, even with all the friction between the floor and the tennis balls.
However, the tennis balls will wipe and carry dirt and other debris from the floors. Make sure you periodically brush the dirt from the tennis balls to avoid a heavy build-up.
5. Nail-on Furniture Sliders
Apart from screw-on furniture sliders, you can also opt for nail-on furniture sliders. These are easier to install because you don’t need to drill holes. You just need a hammer, and you’re good to go. They come in different materials, from plastic, Teflon, or backed with rubber or felt.
Nail-on chair glides or furniture glides come with a single nail, making them easier to install and remove. They are made with Teflon for easier sliding and also durability.
With a single nail holding them, the nail-on floor protector and slider are easy to install and remove. You can use a screwdriver under it and pry it off or pull them out with pliers once they wear off.
