Coir Mat Cleaning

LSainsbury · 15-02-2009, 10:24

Hi,

We've got a Rug Doctor (carpet deep cleaning machine) for the day - can we use this on the coir mat by the front door?

I've read that they should just be replaced, but we we thinking it should be ok to the machine over it??

Any ideas is this is ok??

Cheers

Lee

Raistlin · 15-02-2009, 10:30

You shouldn't clean it really, it's quite thick dense stuff (and I seem to recall that in some variants of the product the backing can get a bit porous). What's likely to happen is that you will get moisture trapped either within or underneath it, this will lead to damp/smells and a fairly rapid deterioration of the matting (and possibly whatever is underneath it depending on your floor type). Cleaning (in the sense that we're discussing here) also loosens the bristles significantly and will lead to a fairly rapid breakdown of the matting.

Your best bet (especially given the price of it) is to replace it if it's really minging. Most coir installations can be carefully lifted out of the well that they're in, you can then take them ourside and beat them gently to get any loose dirt/grit out. Be gentle though, you're going to knock some of the bristles out doing this.

Failing all of the above get a vacuum cleaner with a lot of suction and use the hose attachment to get into the pile and get loose bits out. You can use the beater bar on the bottom of the cleaner if you wish, just don't leave it in one place too long.

LSainsbury · 15-02-2009, 10:58

Thanks for that Rob!

We won't clean it then...I'll beat the s*** out of it!! :-)

Might be good as a remedy for anger management!

Raistlin · 15-02-2009, 11:09

Sounds like a plan

papa smurf · 15-02-2009, 11:19

i chucked mine out 2 weeks ago and got a magic mat its so much cleaner.

LSainsbury · 15-02-2009, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf

i chucked mine out 2 weeks ago and got a magic mat its so much cleaner.

Our one is kinda "built-in" - i.e. we left a gap of 4ft from the front door nad had one put it when we had the carpet put down, so it's not so easy to replace....well it is, if I can buy an off-cut length to put back down!

Raistlin · 15-02-2009, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

Our one is kinda "built-in" - i.e. we left a gap of 4ft from the front door nad had one put it when we had the carpet put down, so it's not so easy to replace....well it is, if I can buy an off-cut length to put back down!

Get yourself into Carpet Right (or similar) and ask if they do it on the roll.

Take a measurement of the width and length of the piece that you have at the moment.

I bet you'll find that one of the dimensions is pretty close to the width of their rolls, all you nee to do then is buy the length that you require.

Most fitters will do a piece either to a custom length of the width of the roll is equal to the width of the hall, or to a fixed length (ie. the width of the roll from door to where the mat ends) if the hall is slightly narrower/wider - then you make up the wall to wall size by buying the right length off the roll.

---------- Post added at 12:01 ---------- Previous post was at 11:59 ----------

From memory I think the rolls are about 1.2m wide, so that's your 4'.

Taf · 15-02-2009, 12:06

Fold it over a washing line but cover it with an old sheet... then beat it.. this stops the dust rising so much and protects the surface more...

Raistlin · 15-02-2009, 12:06

Good tip

joglynne · 15-02-2009, 12:17

Off topic but I'm sorry I just have to say you guys are great. It's not that may years ago that gentlemen wouldn't dream of letting people know that they were doing housework. Let alone discuss ways and tips on how to do it.

to you all.