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A good, heavy-duty floor mat (not to be confused with a rug) is an essential piece of household equipment with a wide variety of uses. This is one item where function beats form every day of the week. So what kind of things should you look out for?
Well, it depends on what you’re using the mat for. Do you need something to keep under exercise equipment like a treadmill or home spin bike? Are you trying to keep a puppy from scratching the floors? Or maybe you just need a solid, absorbent mat by the door to soak up any gunk you might be bringing home with you. Whatever you’re using it for, practicality is key.
What To Look For In a Floor Mat
Durability: When making our recommendations for the best floor mat, we first took into consideration durability. Chances are high your mat will see a lot of use and you need something that can take a little wear and tear. Because these mats were chosen for convenience above all, we also chose ones that are easy to clean.
Traction: You’re going to want to look at traction, meaning how well your mat grips to the floor and how effective it will be at preventing you from slipping on it. It’s also one of the reasons why a floor mat is good for exercise equipment, as it will prevent your rowing machine or bike from shifting or moving, even during your most intense workouts.
Absorbency: A final consideration: absorbency. The best floor mats should effectively wick away water, sweat and grime. Wipe your shoes down on a floor mat before entering the room; the mat’s fabrics should trap dirt and debris, so you’re not tracking it into the rest of the house.
Design: This isn’t the kind of thing that needs to be pretty, but we’ve included floor mats available in a variety of patterns and textures as well, to help you find something that will fit your decor style.