We’re removing the old carpet runner on some hardwood stairs and are trying to figure out our options for making them less slippery. We wear socks a lot inside, so I foresee disaster if we don’t do something. Replacing the runner is an option and we might do that if we don’t find something better (although carpet can be pretty slippery with socks too).
Does anyone have experience with something that worked (or didn’t)? I’ve seen clear no-slip tape but have heard it peels up quickly. How conspicuous is it? I’ve also heard suggestions of non-slip sprays or varnishes, or mixing your own varnish with a clear sand added. Does that work? For how long?
get some comfortable grippy bottom slippers. falling especially on stairs is a hazard. use the slippers just for walking if you like, when you get to the spot you want to sit then slip them off.
I was going to say that, while practical, it’s probably unworkable because the kids will never take the time to put on slippers. But honestly, knowing myself and my wife, we won’t take the time for slippers either. So I can’t blame it on the kids.
It’s a good suggestion and we’ll try to do that anyway, but I also want a backup for the times we forget.
There are those mildly hideous stick-on strips of sandpaper…
Most varnish one uses on floors and such is high gloss which tends to be slippery. Now, in the Coast Guard, there’s non-skid paint for deck surfaces. That basically paint with very fine sand mixed in it. You probably don’t want to do that with clear varnish. I’d suggest finding some varnish with a matte finish.
Is a satin finish low gloss?
Put down a runner and be done with it - no worry about “forgetting” or a kid running down the stairs.
Putting a grit product in something applied to wood will chew up the wood.
See Aircraft Spruce (enough to google, and see “wing walk” - here might be a glue-down transparent pad you could adapt, but don’t count on it.
p.s. - if you’re male, stay away from that site - you can spend hours just on materials and tools.
I know of no product for hardwood, but I see no reason why a silica traction additive would not work with hardwood finish. I did put a clear non slip finish on a stamped concrete walkway a few years ago. It was simply a matter of adding a packet of very fine silica to the pail of wet look concrete sealer and stirring before application. It looked fine and turned a slippery wet look finish into a not at all slippery wet look finish. The silica was available in the same aisle I bought the concrete sealer.
Once applied this is likely going to be very labour intensive to remove or refinish, I would do it so you could cover it once again with a new carpet runner if necessary.
Our aging dog had a hard time on our hardwood stairs, so we installed Flor carpet tiles, www.flor.com. Each tile cut in half centered perfectly on our steps and they are easy to pull up when we don’t need them (double sided carpet tape).
any grippy surface you put on the stairs will cause extra wear on your socks.
So before you go getting laquered up, make sure you have made plans for having safe socks.
This deserves a like! 
I did “clear” stick-on sandpaper stuff on my tile stairs (which I was eventually going to KILL myself falling down, it was only a matter of time.) Still on there (no peeling) 6 or so years later. Looks hideous (they are more of a scuzzy brown now) but I am alive!
Thanks for the advice, all. Snowcarpet, thanks for the feedback on the tape (and its hideousness). FluffyBob, how is the silica/sealer holding up after a few years? Does the silica wear away? Any guesses on when you’ll have to re-coat it?
Doctor Jackson, thanks for the safe-socks advice. I definitely want to prevent STDs (stairway tripping disasters).
I just put down a set of stair tread carpets. They have a fairly clingy rubber backing, so they wont slip out when you step on them, but they do creep around.
I’ve got some removable carpet tape on order - the “non-removable” stuff is apt to tear up the finish on your steps if you ever need to remove it.
I researched this for our house and found a whole range of products. Here’s what I ended up using on our stairs: http://www.amazon.com/Krylon-3400-Clear-Non-Skid-Coating/dp/B007RHA5KE
I taped off everything but the steps and did 2 light coats on each step. Each can would do 2 coats on about 5 stairs (10 applications).
We haven’t had to re-apply it yet but I would expect to need a re-application every couple of years. It seems to have held up OK.