Your Place: Rubber mats may turn vinyl flooring yellow

Question: I have inexpensive vinyl flooring in two bathrooms in my house. The house is now about 11 years old and I am having a problem trying to clean the floors - some of the area has turned yellow.

I have tried several types of floor cleaners. I am seeking a solution to this problem.

Answer: I looked on the Armstrong website for an answer, and rubber-backed bath mats or rugs might be the cause:

Chemical compounds, referred to as antioxidants, are formulated into rubber materials to extend the life of the rubber and prevent brittleness.

Some antioxidants react chemically with ingredients in flexible vinyl to produce a yellowish stain.

This is referred to in the vinyl industry as "antioxidant staining." Any rubber containing these antioxidants in contact with the floor could produce this staining.

Certain types of rubber mats, rubber-backed rugs, and rubber wheels on carts can cause this discoloration.

Ensure that the mats and wheels that will be in contact with the vinyl floor are of the "nonstaining" type of rubber.

The experts say it is highly unlikely that the yellow can be removed. There are mats backed with materials that won't react, so you can at least prevent more stains by buying and using them.

Dos and don'ts for the holidays. The season of carelessness is approaching, when the spiked eggnog we may be drinking clouds our judgment, or so it seems.

From the Electrical Safety Foundation International:

Stay in the kitchen when food is cooking. Turn off burners if you have to leave the room.

Never leave a child unsupervised while cooking, or when an electric or gas stove is within reach.

Keep towels, pot holders, curtains, and other flammable items away from hot surfaces.

With greater activity in and around your home comes increased energy use. Be careful not to overburden your electrical system.

Keep space heaters out of high-traffic and exit areas, and at least three feet from items that can burn.

Turn space heaters off when you go to sleep or leave the room. Never leave a space heater unattended.

ServiceMagic recommends not placing the following in your garbage disposal: fibrous foods, coffee grounds, eggshells, bones, glass, rubber or metal, potato skins and grease.

It is also important that homeowners never overfill their disposal or use chemical drain cleaners to unclog it. It is unlikely that chemical cleaners will work and they leave the sink full of toxic liquids.

When grinding food in a garbage disposal, cold water should be running simultaneously to help the garbage as it is forced through the cutting blades and to keep the disposal cool.

If items get stuck in the unit for too long and the sink begins to produce an unpleasant odor, homeowners can eliminate the smell by grinding up a small lemon peel with ice cubes while running warm water.

And, the advice of a plumber who witnessed it, "Never use your garbage disposal to grind tree limbs."

Government help. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Affairs has introduced a new pilot program that will offer credit-worthy borrowers low-cost loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes.

Backed by the Federal Housing Administration, these FHA PowerSaver loans will offer homeowners up to $25,000 to make energy-efficient improvements of their choice.

These projects will include the installation of insulation, duct sealing, replacement doors and windows, heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems, water heaters, solar panels, and geothermal systems.

Lenders will be applying to qualify to participate in the program, so it will likely be a while before loans are available. Just keep an eye on the HUD website at www.HUD.gov.