Marvellous Mats
Fab Floors - Part 1
This is part 1 of a 3 part series all about caring for your floors!
Make friends with your floor. Cue Aretha Franklin with some R-E-S-P-E-C-T. No really, it’s a great cleaning song, but also the key message of this post is to prevent unnecessary wear and tear to your floors.
A mat by every entrance makes a really big difference whether you have washable hard floors or carpet. We love gardening and den building and splashing in puddles and long walks with the dog, but boots and paws covered with Suffolk Mud cause havoc for floors. So stop it at the door! If you are able to, have an outdoor as well as an indoor mat.
Outside, use a boot scraper to get the worst off and wipe your feet on a mat before you come in if possible, then again on a second mat when you come in. Next, take shoes and boots off as near to the entrance as is practical. Outdoor mats can be sourced from a range of places, but don’t always look all that attractive. One company that is offering a little more style is https://hugathome.co.uk/collections/outdoor-mats but it has to be said the rubber versions are more hardwearing than Coir options for outdoors.
My favourite indoor mats are easy to vacuum, do not lose fibres, and if necessary can be washed in the machine. They come in variable sizes and do not pose a trip hazard. Here is the spiel:
- Microfibre tufts work like magnets, trapping up to 95% of dirt
- Soak up to 3 times their weight in water
- TPR, anti-slip backing prevents sliding
Google ‘dirt buster’ or ‘dirt trapper’ and you will soon find a plethora of designs from the industrial to cosy cottage style. Where you have direct entrance to a lounge from outside these will have a great impact in reducing dust and dirt in your home meaning less dirt to clog up the vacuum filter and a real improvement on home air quality.
Here are a couple of examples:
https://hugathome.co.uk/collections/washable-door-mats-rugs
https://www.turtlemat.co.uk/indoor-mats/
A good mat saves you money. If you hire a cleaner such as Sunflower Shine in Suffolk, it keeps most of the dirt in place rather than tracking through the house which means less spot cleaning. It also reduces wear and tear, saving you money on replacing flooring over time!
Mats and floor coverings are useful for spills and accidental damage prevention. A wipeable or washable mat under the high chair, cat litter tray or potty can save you from repeated mopping of a whole floor. Peapod mats are good for furniture too, and even come in a range of sizes for discreet protection.
Here are some options:
https://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/clear-pvc-floor-splash-mat-b1675.html
https://joizi.com/collections/peapodmats
https://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/Trixie-Cat-Litter-Mat/p/I9302350
Remember to replace your mats when they become less effective; some companies offer a 5 year guarantee for their doormats. Hold them to it! But after 5 years consider whether the mat is still doing the job. Coir mats in particular degrade over time, as a natural substance at this point you can add to the compost!
