A welcoming door mat at the entrance of a home sets the stage for entertaining friends, family, and guests. A stylish door mat can have just the right design element to punch up your front door décor while providing everyone a place to wipe away mud, debris, and moisture from their shoes. While this small addition to your home can add visual interest to your entry, it also is a workhorse that will help keep your indoor flooring cleaner. Door mats can be pricey, but the top three retailers that offer great deals on door mats are Ikea, Land’s End, and The Home Depot. Read on to find out what you need to know about buying the best door mat for your needs.
Many companies place door mats at entrance and exit areas of a building for branding purposes, but they also serve other purposes as well. Door mats clean dirt, moisture, and other debris off the shoes of customers, and their texture traps dirt, debris, and moisture below the surface, keeping walking surfaces safe for visitors.
There are several reasons to use a door mat. The first is to keep mud, dirt, moisture, and debris from tracking into your home. They also add a decorative flair to porches. One of the best reasons to use a door mat is to limit your exposure to liability. As a homeowner, you may become responsible for those who are injured on your property or in your home from slipping on a wet porch or floor. The Home Depot has a variety of door mats starting at only $9.99. One of their best deals is the TrafficMASTER Enviroback recycled rubber and thermoplastic mat in Charcoal.
Generally, rubber-backed door mats are the best. It is grease and chemical resistant, as well as temperature-resistant. Mats with vinyl backing tend to eventually curl, chip on the edges, or get brittle in cold weather. Vinyl-backed mats have also been shown to stain wood or carpet floors.
Yes, door mats require regular cleaning. Your floor mats should be cleaned every two to three weeks, depending on how much traffic they receive. For indoor mats, a good shake or thorough vacuuming is all that is needed. For outdoor mats, sweeping debris off or shaking it and removing any dirt that has fallen through the fibers is good. If it’s made of rubber, wood, or plastic, it a=can be hosed down and left to air dry. Land’s End offers an attractive coir double framed rectangular doormat ($39.95) that can be customized with your personal monogram, name, or word.
Many door mats have a textured material on the underside of the floor mat. Floor mats placed on a hard, smooth surface should have a smooth back that lies flush with the surface. Friction will keep the mat securely in place. Mats placed on carpeting should have a cleated gripper backing to hold the mat in place.
Pets are notorious for coming inside with wet fur and muddy feet. A well-placed doormat will help your furry friends clean their feet before mud, dirt and other debris are tracked throughout your home. If you’re a cat lover, you’ll like Ikea’s Blavand ($7.99) door mat with cute cat footprints. It has an anti-slip backing that keeps the rug in place and reduces the risk of slipping.
Door mats come in many sizes and shapes, so it’s important that you find a mat that fits in size with your door. It needs to be wide enough to fit both feet on it, but also needs to go at least ¾ of the doorway width. Remember to consider height as well so that you don’t select a door mat that gets stuck under the door.
Many door mats claim to be suitable for outdoor use but aren’t actually. Mats made from natural fibers like sisal, jute, and fabrics are best used indoors because they can’t withstand the elements over time. Indoor-only mats are used in addition to outdoor mats and serve as a transitional mat that catches lingering debris, and not for scraping off dirt.