The Sunday News
Amanda Ncube
A DOORMAT is a wonderful way to express a whole-hearted and welcoming household. It has a lot more to offer a household than the traditional greeting it has always been known for.
Mr Freeman Chikowe, a carpet expert said doormats have multiple functions than most people would give them credit for other than decorative purposes.
He said: “A front doormat has the potential not only for safety and keeping the house clean from outside rubbish, but it also has the ability to show off a little bit of your personality.”
“The duties a house mat performs for its owner are as valuable as any other resource within that home. There are very few items out there that can indicate to having as many functions as door matting one finds at the front door,” said Mr Chikowe.
He said there are different types of doormats that people can place at their front door. People need to take a few things into account when selecting a doormat for their front door.
“Quality, texture, and size are very important when selecting a doormat. There are several types that people can choose for their front door and these include coir plush, boot scrapper, grid stopper and panama,” he said.
He said coir plush mat is eco-friendly, thick and it can withstand any weather condition.
“Coir plush mat is recommended for your front door because of its aesthetic . . . it is welcoming and the moment you step on it you feel at home indeed. The material that was used is fluffy and the good thing with it is that it is weather resistant,” he said.
Mr Chikowe said: “Grid stopper is also perfect for your front door because of its thickness. It is made of rubber material.
Scraping dirt off of shoes is easily done with rubber as the material is durable enough to withstand people wiping their shoes on it all day long. Investing in a rubber mat is a good idea for safety precautions.”
He said homeowners should avoid placing the mat where there is too much sunlight because the material is not strong enough for sun but it is water resistant.
“Homeowners can also use boot scrappers for their front door. The material used is robust enough . . . it can withstand any weather condition, whether its rain or heat. Then there are panamas which can also be placed outside. In most cases you will find semi and rectangular shapes which are for decorative purposes,” he said.
