As anyone who has ever tracked dirt into their home knows, Door Mats are an extremely important tool for keeping floors clean. Without a good door mat at every exterior door, it's nearly impossible to prevent debris from being trekked inside on a regular basis. On average, door mats can capture up to 80% of what would otherwise end up coating one's floors.
Types of Door Mats
Rubber Mats
Texture and Performance
Rubber doormats have a pebbled or ridged texture that is very effective at gripping the bottoms of shoes and removing embedded dirt, mud, sand, and grime. The tiny bumps rough up tread patterns to dislodge debris that can then be trapped on the mat's surface.
Durability
Being made of rubber, these doormats can withstand the compression of thousands of footfalls over many months or seasons of use. They hold up well to weathering from rain, snow, sun exposure and extreme hot or cold.
All-climate Performance
While some mat materials perform best in specific weather scenarios, rubber works well everywhere. It does not absorb moisture like coir may in wet areas, but is also insulating unlike thin rugs.
Value
Rubber doormats offer an affordable value. Their longevity and durable construction means they do not need frequent replacement.
Coir Door Mats
Moisture Absorption
Coir doormats contain plant-based coconut fibers that have hygroscopic qualities. This means the material is highly absorbent and can take in moisture from shoes, wiping it away from the floor.
Sustainability
As a rapidly-renewable resource, coconut coir is environmentally-friendly. The fibers come from outer husks rather than the meat of coconuts. Production has low impact and the material breaks down naturally without polluting.
Texture
While softer than rubber, coir Front Door Mat has enough substance to their woven cords to trap dirt and sand between fibers. They perform a gentler exfoliating action than rougher materials to leave shoes largely clean after use. The texture does not wear floors down but coaxes debris away.
Performance in Wet Areas
Coir mats truly shine in climates with frequent rain or snow. Their absorbency prevents water from being tracked indoors and allows them to function well in saturated conditions where other materials could become submerged or saturated.
Wool Door Mats
Plush Texture
Known for its thick, soft feel, wool twists dirt from shoe treads as feet rub against its plush surface. Individual fibers have scales that flex outward, making it easy for dust and mud to be combed away with each stepping motion.
Dirt and Moisture Wicking
Similar to how it keeps sheep dry and clean, wool's crimped structure and scales work together to alter the surface tension of moisture and pull it away from the skin or fabric.
Durability
Though more expensive initially, wool proves its worth through an extensive lifespan. Proper care and vacuuming removes trapped dirt rather than matting it down into the material like other fibers.
Insulating and Cushioning
Wool's fleece-like qualities make it cozy underfoot. It insulates against conduction, convection, and dampness transfer to the floors below. Wool mats provide cushioning to softly absorb the impact of each footstep near doors subject to heavy traffic.
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