Buying a Doormat
As we head towards winter it’s a good time to consider the often overlooked item that will help keep your carpets and floors looking cleaner and add to the first impression that guests have of your home. Which item are we talking about?.. The mighty but humble doormat, of course!
Much of the dirt that is bought into your home from shoes can be stopped in its tracks with a good quality doormat. Not only does a doormat stop dirt being brought in and make your life easier but it can also look amazing and set colour tone for rest of your house.
All doormats are NOT born equal. In this blog article we will look at some of the different types and work out which is suitable for you.
Coir Doormats:
Coir is a natural fibre that is extracted from the husk of a coconut. They can come in both a PVC-backed or unbacked form. The unbacked mats will allow water to drain through. These mats are available in a many different qualities, so it’s important to check the thickness and weight. Otherwise, you may find that the super-cheap ones will just fall apart over time. Quality really matters here.
Pros:
These mats are excellent at scraping dirt off shoes and are also some of the best looking (in our humble opinion) mats around.
Cons:
Coir is natural fibre so they generally do shed a bit. This means that over the life of the mat some of the mat will probably come into the house with you. This is quite minimal, but something to be aware of when considering your new doormat.
Rubber Doormats:
Rubber doormats are the most functional mats. Often used in commercial settings, yet still be suitable in domestic situations where appearance isn’t as important, such as the entry from a garage.
Pros:
Very good at removing dirt from shoes, and they generally have holes in them so water can drain through. They can also be used as comfort mats if you need to stand in one place for a long period of time. (More of a commercial use generally.)
Cons:
Not the most attractive door mats around. Generally just black in colour and functional looking. Can sometimes deteriorate in extreme cold (but generally not applicable to our Toronto weather conditions!)
Synthetic Pile Doormats:
These doormats usually have a pile made from Polypropylene and have a rubber dam around the edge. This edge acts as a barrier to stop dirt from coming off the mat. It also helps keep moisture on the pile. These also usually have a non-slip backing.
Pros:
Excellent at removing dirt as well as the best at removing moisture from shoes. This is important to note. These will do the best job at getting most of the rain water off the shoes and stop it from coming inside.
Cons:
Not as good looking as a coir doormat generally. Polypropylene can also flatten over time so the life of these mats is sometimes shorter than a rubber or coir doormat.
Tips for using doormats effectively:
Use doormats at ALL entrances to your home: Even from areas such as garages. It will pay off because you will have to do less vacuuming
Mat both inside and outside: This means one outside the door and one inside. This gives you two opportunities to stop the dirt coming in. Often using a great-looking coir outside the door and then a synthetic doormat inside is a great combination. One will scrape the shoe and then any leftover dirt or moisture will be absorbed by the second mat.
Clean your doormats often: Over time a doormat can get so full of dirt it won’t be able to do its job anymore. Just shake the mat or hit it against a solid surface and it will be good to go once more!