When looking for a mat to keep your home or office clean and dry, you will quickly come across indoor doormats and outdoor doormats. A common question is: what is the difference between these two types of mats? This article delves into the features, benefits, and applications of indoor and outdoor doormats. Ultimately, we conclude that the best choice for your floor is to use both an indoor and outdoor doormat.

What is an Outdoor Doormat?

An outdoor doormat is a true dirt scraper. The Scratch no More outdoor doormat features a coarse spaghetti structure that scrapes dirt, sand, and mud off the soles of your shoes. Typically placed at the entrance of a building, this mat keeps most of the dirt outside.

Advantages of an Outdoor Doormat:

  • Effective dirt-scraping function: the coarse spaghetti structure of outdoor doormats removes debris from your shoe soles, preventing it from being carried inside.
  • Durability: these materials are designed to last a long time, even under heavy use.
  • Easy maintenance: outdoor doormats are easy to clean by vacuuming, shaking out, or spraying with a garden hose.

Where to use an Outdoor Doormat?

  • The outdoor doormat is ideal for placing outside the door, ensuring shoes are largely cleaned before entering the building.
  • Highly suitable for office buildings, schools, and shops with heavy foot traffic.

What is an Indoor Doormat?

An indoor doormat keeps your floor dry by absorbing moisture from your shoes. Available in various materials, the Scratch no More indoor doormat is made entirely of polyamide fibres. This mat ensures wet shoes are wiped dry. Additionally, the Scratch no More indoor doormat has a light scraping function to remove fine dirt from shoe soles, keeping the floor dry and clean.

Advantages of an Indoor Doormat:

  • Excellent moisture absorption: indoor doormats can absorb significant moisture, with the Scratch no More indoor doormat absorbing up to 5 litres per square metre.
  • Comfort: a soft indoor doormat feels pleasant underfoot and is easy to maintain. Additionally, it is less coarse than an outdoor doormat.
  • Safety: by reducing the amount of moisture brought inside, indoor doormats help lower the risk of slipping on wet floors or with wet shoes.

Where to Use an Indoor Doormat?

  • The indoor doormat is suitable for indoor use, ideally placed directly at the entrance.

Which is the Best Choice: Outdoor or Indoor Doormat?

The choice between an outdoor and an indoor doormat depends on where you want to place the mat and the issue you want to address. If you frequently deal with sand around your home, placing an outdoor doormat outside is highly recommended. For rainy conditions, an indoor doormat is ideal for thoroughly drying your shoes upon entry.

The perfect solution is a combination of both an outdoor and indoor doormat. An outdoor doormat keeps coarse dirt outside, while the indoor doormat dries shoes and removes fine debris. This double protection keeps your home clean, dry, and safe.

Conclusion

If you only want to use one mat, the choice between an outdoor doormat or an indoor doormat depends on your situation. These mats are designed for different purposes. For the ultimate floor protection, the combination of an outdoor and indoor doormat is your best option. This keeps dirt and moisture outside, ensuring your floor stays cleaner and lasts longer.