Dirt can't get through: choosing an effective door mat

For many people, a door mat in the hallway is mostly a decorative element, a symbol of home comfort and cleanliness. Light and fluffy rugs with the inscriptions “Welcome” and “Home” really cannot even hold back dirt in the slightest. Sometimes it’s a shame to even step on them, let alone wipe off your shoes after slush. To create an effective stain barrier, you need to take your mat selection seriously. Then the floors in the house will remain clean even in the most inclement weather!

Types of door mats

Conventionally, door mats can be divided into two types:

• Outdoor: lattice, barrier, dirt-proof. These are mats that remove the initial, thick layer of street dirt. Can be made of metal, plastic or rubber.
• Homemade absorbent rubber-based rugs. Placed indoors. They have a surface that instantly absorbs and seals fine dirt, dust and moisture inside.

Outdoor door mats

They are located in front of the entrance to the house. Barrier mats remove dirt from the soles mechanically. As soon as you rub your feet on them, clods of earth, leaves, blades of grass, and other debris come off from the soles.Outdoor shoe cleaners can take the form of scrapers, brushes, or metal grates. But we will talk specifically about rugs.

It is recommended to place the outdoor anti-splash mat in a small recess below the threshold.

"Grass"

The simplest and most inexpensive type is a grass mat with plastic needles. Was widespread in the 90s, but is still sold today. Sharp needles effectively clean the textured sole. The product is not afraid of frost, heat, rain.

Pros:

• cheap;
• wear-resistant;
• effective.

Minuses:

• unsightly appearance;
• easily blown away by the wind, fidgets;
• quickly becomes clogged with dirt and stones.

"Spaghetti"

A modern, high-tech barrier door mat. Its surface is made of interwoven elastic polyester threads. Outwardly, they resemble cooked spaghetti. The rug collects and holds dirt well, both large and small. Polyester is not afraid of moisture, temperature changes, and does not rot.

Pros:

• highly efficient;
• durable;
• absorbs a lot of dirt;
• thanks to the rubber base it does not slip;
• dries quickly;
• universal (suitable for both streets and indoors).

Minuses:

• expensive (about 3000 rub.)

Rubber grill

An outdoor cellular mat made of foamed PVC is considered the most practical. It does not slip and is easy to clean. Dirt falls into the holes. Simply lift the product and sweep away all the debris with a broom. The rubber mat itself is easy to clean with plain water.

Pros:

• easy to care for;
• wear-resistant;
• does not slip;
• affordable.

Minuses:

• unsightly in appearance;
• becomes brittle in cold weather;
• does not cope well with cleaning fine dirt (cleans only large clods).

Absorbent door mats

Absorbent mats almost always have a rubber backing. Thanks to her, they do not slip or wrinkle. The top layer can be made of different materials: synthetics, coconut fibers, jute, cotton, wool, and mixtures thereof.

An absorbent carpet is placed in front of the entrance door in the passage or vestibule. So all the dirt remains behind the door, and the person crosses the threshold in relatively clean shoes.

Super absorbent

A fluffy mat with a microfiber surface is commonly called super-absorbent. The fibers of this fabric have a special structure. They quickly absorb moisture, dust, sand and other small debris.

pros:

• quickly absorb moisture and dirt;
• look nice;
• relatively inexpensive.

Minuses:

• short-lived (microfiber becomes coarser over time and loses its absorbent properties);
• get very dirty;
• difficult to wash off.

Synthetic

The most popular type. Synthetic door mats are made from polyester and propylene. Artificial fibers have good wear resistance, do not fade for a long time, do not rot, and are not affected by mold. They are tough enough to collect and hold dust inside the pile. The products also have the widest selection of colors.

Pros:

• wear-resistant;
• hygienic;
• nice to look at;
• effective against dust and fine dirt;
• easy to care for;
• affordable.

Minuses:

• poorly absorb moisture.

Mixed

Adding natural fibers such as cotton, jute or wool improves moisture absorption. Mixed rugs have all the advantages of their synthetic counterparts. They have only one disadvantage - higher cost.

Natural

Door mats made of natural cotton or wool are less common on sale than all other types.They are made mainly to order (handmade). The undeniable advantages of natural materials are their harmlessness to humans and the environment. They are pleasant to the touch and can serve as a highlight of the interior.

Unfortunately, natural fabric rugs cannot boast of wear resistance and hygiene. They have to be washed often and take a long time to dry. The fabric quickly loses color and strength.

Coconut and jute

Coconut coir and jute are natural materials. But unlike cotton and wool, they are resistant to moisture. Rugs made of jute and coconut fibers do not rot and are not susceptible to mold. They are able to absorb water, but dry quickly. Mats with coconut coir and metal bristles are especially effective at removing dirt. Belong to the middle price segment. They have no significant disadvantages.

How to choose the right rug?

Today the range of door mats is huge. The following tips will help you choose the right model:

• Choose a product based on your living conditions. If this is a private home, it makes sense to purchase two mats at once - a barrier and an absorbent one. For an apartment, one carpet (absorbent) will be enough.
• Consider the number of family members. The smaller the rug, the faster it will get dirty. For a large family, you need a large carpet.
• Pay attention to the colors. It is better if the product is gray, brown or variegated. Every speck of dust is visible on the white and black rugs.
• Semicircular and oval carpets do not have such a disadvantage as folding of the edges.
• The thicker and stiffer the mat, the better it cleans shoes and the more dirt it can hold.
• The best mats are spaghetti, coconut and polypropylene. But before buying, you should first read the reviews for a specific model. The same rugs from different manufacturers may differ in quality.

Questions and answers

Question: Can the doormat be washed in the washing machine?

Answer: Some manufacturers allow machine wash on a delicate cycle. But in reviews, buyers often complain that after washing, the rubber base bursts and begins to deteriorate. It is better not to take risks and wash the product by hand in lukewarm water, and after washing, gently wring it without twisting it, and dry it away from heating devices. You can use a vacuum cleaner (washing and regular) for cleaning.

Question: How often should it be cleaned?

Answer: In bad weather, the rug must be washed every day. If it is dry outside, to maintain cleanliness it is enough to vacuum the product 1-2 times a week, and wash it 1-2 times a month. Instead of a vacuum cleaner, you can use a beater. Naturally, you need to knock out the dust outside.

Door mats have been around for many years. But in Russia many people view them with distrust. Some people, in the old fashioned way, place a floor rag in the apartment near the door. Others don't put anything down and just mop the floor more often. Both approaches are long outdated. Today there is a huge selection of special rugs that prevent dirt from entering the house, and at the same time they cost mere pennies. A striking example is absorbent propylene mats from Ikea, costing about 200 rubles.