LESLIE: Next up, we’re going to welcome Herb from Indiana who has a yellowing on the linoleum.
Is this in the kitchen?
HERB: It’s in the bathroom. You buy those little rug sets. And it’s yellowed the floor; the linoleum around the sink and the tub.
TOM: Yeah, with a rubber-backed carpet that’s on top of the linoleum, when you peel it up it looks yellow?
HERB: Yes, sir.
TOM: Yeah, that’s a chemical reaction between those throw rugs and the linoleum itself. It’s not a stain. It’s a reaction between those two materials. And the bad news is, Herb, that you can’t …
LESLIE: It’s permanent.
TOM: It’s permanent.
HERB: That’s not what I wanted to hear.
TOM: (laughs) I’m so sorry to have to tell you that but it’s permanent. Yep, that’s a very, very common condition. You get those rubber-backed carpets on the linoleum; you know, you put them right there where you step on it to use the sink or a lot of people have them in the kitchen where they stand to wash dishes. And you peel them up and they’re yellow underneath.
HERB: So what do you do to avoid that? Just don’t buy rubber-back?
TOM: Don’t buy rubber-backed carpets. You know, don’t use that sort of a carpet there or use – yeah, don’t use a rubber-backed carpet; just use a regular, small, throw rug with perhaps an anti-slip pad under it. But those rubber-backed carpets do it every single time.
HERB: Ouch.
TOM: Well, think of it this way, Herb; at least you’re only talking about the bathroom. You could probably buy a piece of – a remnant of linoleum and replace the whole thing very easily.
HERB: Yeah, it’s not like it’s going to be 20-foot by 12-foot or something.
TOM: Yeah, it’s a pretty small place. You could probably work around it.
HERB: That does it. Thank you very much.
TOM: You’re welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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