The most common materials for door mats and entrance matting to be made from are nylon, polypropylene, coir, cotton, microfibre and natural rubber.
Coco mats, also known as coconut fiber mats or coir mats, are woven mats made from natural coconut fibers – the hairy outside of the husk. These fibers are woven together and secured to make a mat tough enough that it can scrape shoes clean, but still allow dirt and water to pass through and dry without molding.
When it comes to outdoor doormats, coir (pronounced COY-er) is the gold standard, for good reason. Made from coconut husks, it's thick and scratchy, so it's a good material for getting gunk, including snow, off shoes. It also absorbs moisture, so you don't track footprints into the house.
Coir mats are made up of 100% natural fibres. These environmentally-friendly, natural fibres are derived from the husk of the coconut. The husk is the water-resistant layer between the outer coating of the coconut and the hard shell inside.
Outdoor doormats are your first defence against wet, slippery floors. Who knows what's on the bottom of people's shoes as they step into your workplace or, worse, home? Instead of finding out when you clean it up, outdoor doormats trap dirt and water at the door.
Replace your mat every six months.
Additionally, the longer your mat remains at the front of your home, the more foot traffic it sees, which can wear it down and prevent it from doing its primary job: keeping dirt out for good. Ultimately, this is why Patton recommends replacing yours twice each year.
The most common problem with coir is it can have an extremely high salt content, especially in lower grades. Coir high in salts should be leached before use. Coir has a lower cation-exchange capacity and it is high in phosphorous and potassium.
Preventing Coir Mat from Shedding
Coir doormats provide a natural look and an excellent surface to scrape shoes on; however, with the material being natural it is prone to shedding, particularly in the first couple of weeks of use.
Traditional Coir is suitable for all conditions, as it will dry naturally if wet due to the water being able to pass through. PVC backed is more suitable for printing.
You need to get doormats for all the main entrances of your home. This includes back doors and side doors as well as the front door. Even a very small doormat placed at each of these points in your home can do wonders when it comes to protecting your wood floors.
Coir is a sustainable resource that is highly durable and easy to clean. A coir doormat can last for 6 to 10 years at the threshold of your home. Selecting a coir mat of 1-inch thickness, or more will also increase the longevity of the rug, especially for mats used in high-traffic areas.
Doormats should usually be replaced every two years, or even more frequently if they're looking worse for wear.
Rubber mats, typically used outdoors, are great at trapping dirt and debris while providing a non-slip surface. They also resist fading and are extremely easy to rinse clean with a hose.
For these situations — and for shoe-on houses — doormats are essential. “With a good brush and stomp, doormats can prevent debris, wet snow and dripping rainwater from entering your home,” says Lindsey Handel, a buyer for the garden and home store Terrain in Pennsylvania.
You can either have one outside the door and one inside, or put both inside. If you can only purchase one mat then choose coir as it has an excellent scraping action and is still absorbent, but less so than a washable mat.
Coir carpeting is made from the husks of coconuts, and makes for an incredibly durable and long lasting carpet option that might just be perfect for your home!
A spongy material that binds the coconut fibre in the husk, coir pith is finding new applications. It is an excellent soil conditioner and is being extensively used as a soil-less medium for agri-horticultural purposes.
Coir matting, also known as coconut matting, has been a subject of debate for the matting industry for quite some time, so it's time to set the record straight.