They work! We have an old wooden stairwell to the roofdeck. Over the many years, have had different anti-slip pieces applied. These work well in that they serve the first purpose of anti-slip function, they also quiet the heavier-soled shoes or heels making their way up to the deck, and finally - are removable and can be thrown in the wash after the roofdeck BBQ! The backing is not a glue type, rather a raised silicone that causes the back of the stair tread to grip the wood.