Placing a drop cloth on stairs requires constant vigilance. With the Flex & Form Conformable Staircase Runner, you can lay down some protection and then forget about it. A new product from 3M’s Hand-Masker division, this 10-ounce heavy-duty canvas runner has a material sewn into its edges that conforms to the shape of the steps and stays put. After the job, the runner is easy to fold flat and re-use, says the company. The 4-foot-wide runner is sold in a 7-foot length for about $19 and a 15-foot length for about $30. 3M, 800/494-3552, 3m.com.