How to Clean a Doormat

Your doormat is working the hardest for you during the winter season. From mud and snow to dirt and sand (Southern California winter over here), there is a lot of grime that your doormat prevents from entering your home. Because of this, it’s important to keep your doormat in great working condition! Read below for how to clean a doormat.

How to Clean a Dirty Doormat

Outdoor doormats are commonly made from sturdy materials like rubber, berber, high performance carpets, or coconut husks (source: American Floor Mats). Each material may require slightly unique care instructions but for general cleaning here are the steps to follow:

1. Shake out heavy debris over grass, dirt, or mulch outside
2. Vacuum berber or carpet mats with the brush attachment to remove dry dust and small remaining debris
3. Alternatively, you can hang the mat over a clothesline and use a broom to bang out any dust and debris
4. Rinse with a hose to remove lingering dirt and dust
5. Dry your mat over a fence, clothes line, or propped up against a wall (avoid drying flat on the ground)
6. Sweep the ground underneath where the mat typically lies
7. Wash the brush vacuum attachment so it’s ready for your next use!

How to Clean a Coir Doormat

Coir doormats are made from the stiff fibers in coconut husks. It’s a popular choice for doormats because the stiff fibers are effective at removing dirt from the bottoms of shoes. Coir is also rot resistant which makes it an excellent material for outdoor products like doormats. Follow these care instructions from Apartment Therapy for coir doormats are very similar to care instructions for regular doormats:

1. Shake out heavy debris outside
2. Use a stiff bristle brush and water to scrub away any stubborn dirt, mud, or stains
3. Lay flat or lean against a wall to dry

How to Clean Carpet or Fabric Doormats

Many indoor doormats are made with softer carpet or woven fabrics and can be treated more like a small rug than a sturdy outdoor doormat when cleaning. According to HGTV, most fabric rugs and doormats (rubber backed carpeted mats as well as cotton or synthetic rugs) can be machine washed in cold on a gentle cycle. For an even more gentle cleaning approach that may help your mat last longer, see the cleaning instructions from Bob Vila below:

1. Shake outside to remove debris
2. If possible, hang on a clothing line and bang with a broom or use the brush attachment of your vacuum to remove smaller dirt and dust particles
3. If there are stains, use a damp brush or sponge and dish soap to scrub out the stain (test on an inconspicuous spot first!)
4. Rinse with water and hang to dry

How Often Should You Clean Your Doormat?

Monthly for a deep clean but a good shake out once a week is good practice. Depending on the material of your doormat it might require a rinse once a quarter and possibly a scrub with some dish soap (depending on the material of your doormat) to remove stains.

Recycled and Biodegradable Doormats

If you don’t already have one, consider investing in a sustainable doormat. Below are a few that are either made from upcycled materials, biodegradable natural materials, or materials that are easy to recycle.

1. Biodegradable woven coir coco fiber mat
2. Kempf biodegradable twisted coir mat
3. Rainbow stripe handmade coir mat
4. Wooden doormat
5. All weather coco boot scraper mat
6. Recycled lobster rope doormat