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tracceis

08:00AM | 01/16/04
Member Since: 09/08/02
7 lifetime posts
Bvtools
I got a pair of slipper socks for Christmas and had left them on my dresser for about 4 days. When my husband went to pick them up they were stuck. When he removed them and got the excess rubber off he realized they had eaten through the finish of the top of the dresser and created tiny little potholes where the little rubber grip dots were. How did this happen and what should I do?

I had not walked in any substances before placing them there and the room was not at all hot.

Tracie

hcbph

01:05PM | 01/21/04
Member Since: 09/25/03
47 lifetime posts
I'm assuming it was some form of plasticiser that leached out of the plastic, assuming it's not true rubber. It's a solvent/catalyst used in making plastics. No other guesses.

k2

04:43AM | 01/22/04
Member Since: 06/06/03
1250 lifetime posts
Hello Tracie,

I believe the rubber indeed could have reacted with the finish.

I say this because we just had our wood floor refinished. When I asked the flooring pro about putting down a carpet, he said to be sure it's made of natural fibers. In addition, to be sure that (if I use a backing) that the backing does NOT contain PVC or urethane. (For my particular finish, he said natural rubber or latex would be OK.)

If the dresser has a similar polyurethane finish (to our floor), the soles may not contain natural rubber--but may just look like it--and they may contain one of the other products that, basically, act as a solvent on the finish.

Whether they're natural rubber or not, we both now know to be careful around "rubber-looking" things on wood. This goes for rubber feet on wood floors, as well (felt is a good alternative.)

Hope this helps; I've certainly learned a thing or two myself by hiring my floor done professionally!

Good luck,
-k2 in CO

[This message has been edited by k2 (edited January 22, 2004).]

lisa111

04:40PM | 01/08/11
Member Since: 11/25/10
10 lifetime posts
Eek, I never thought in a million years slippers would react to finish like that. Very good to know. Just make sure you don't wear your slippers and warm your feet by a wood stove ok?

RichardD.

12:38PM | 01/26/11
Member Since: 12/31/10
4 lifetime posts
Some slippers contain a gel-like substance, which I'm sure is easy to melt.
Just a thought.
Sorry about your slippers.


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