The two most important aspects of carpet care are regular
vacuuming, especially the traffic patterns, and walk off mats. With respect to
walk off mats, there are 2 areas to address. Door mats for the entrance and
exits from your home and internal mats for those transitions from a hard
surface to a carpeted area.
Door mats are very important for keeping the outside dirt
from tracking onto your carpets. They should be placed both at the outside
entrance to your home and at the inside entrance. The outside mat’s purpose is
to scrap debris off shoes and to hold it. Therefore, they should be made of a
more abrasive material. Also, many people do not purposely stop at an outside
mat and wipe both feet. Therefore, the mat should be the width of the door and deep
enough that both feet land on the mat during walking, approximately 3.5 to 4
feet. The inside mat’s purpose is to remove the smaller particles of dirt as
well as oils and other liquids that can be tracked from the outside. Area rugs
can work well for this purpose but make sure there is a non-slip pad underneath.
Once again, it should be the width of the door and deep enough that both feet
land on the rug during a natural walk.
Internal mats are good wherever there is a transition from a
hard surface to a carpeted area. Internal matting addresses two concerns. One
is the difference in height between a carpeted area and hard surface. Typically
the carpet fibers are a little higher than the hard surface and as a result,
feet scrape across the fibers creating excessive wear. The other consideration
is the loose particles on the hard surface being carried into the carpet fibers.
This is especially important if the hard surface is the kitchen. An internal
mat, whether on the hard surface or the carpet, can minimize both concerns.While the function of mats within the home is beneficial, they can sometimes create a conflict with the visual presentation and feel you want to achieve. However, outside matting should never be a problem. Remember, anything you can do, with respect to matting, will help prolong the appearance and life of your carpets.
For more information visit my website at www.graysoncleans.com
