Rubber Mat and Flooring Guide

If you're like most people, chances are you've stepped on a rubber mat today. We use rubber floor mats at home, at work, in the office, in the gym, and in our cars. Rubber matting protects our floors, keeps us from slipping, lets us clean our feet off if it has ridges as in a rubber door mat, and can make a space look complete. The rubber floor mat is one of those things we take for granted, but that we would probably miss if they ever were to vanish for some reason. Although they don't look as nice as some of the other floor coverings out there that can serve similar purposes, like sisal carpet and woven floor mats, rubber is durable and doesn't grow mold. It's also easy to clean- you can just hose rubber mats right off, in most cases. Oftentimes they just make life easier, like rubber car mats that collect all the gunk that would otherwise accumulate on the floor of your car. Anti fatigue mats can be a great boon to people who have to be on their feet all day and in one spot, as it can make things much easier for the legs and feet. And let's not forget the rubber bath mat, which has been a real life saver in the shower for the elderly as well as probably just about everybody else.

Speaking of safety, which we all know comes first, one of the best uses of rubber is for safety. Whereas we once trod on dirt and other natural, usually non-slippery surfaces, our some of our floors nowadays are as smooth as a baby's butt. This presents a hazard for the elderly, obviously, but rambunctious kids or even adults walking normally are also not immune to the occasional slip on a slick floor, especially one that's just been waxed or is wet. In certain key locations, rubber mat flooring is good insurance against having someone fall and seriously injure themselves. If you own a business, you want to use a rubber mat any place where there's a chance someone could slip- around a sink or water cooler, for instance. Spending a few bucks on some non-skid rubber mats can let you avoid a much costlier lawsuit later on. And make sure they are non-skid even if they get wet, because some rubber mats can actually get very slippery if they are not dry! Obviously you will want a rubber shower mat that meets this standard as well, as getting one that only offers cushioning but no protection against slipping is a disaster waiting to happen.

Rubber door mats are the norm for most households. They have the unglamorous but necessary job of cleaning off the bottom of your shoes when you return home. People overwhelmingly prefer rubber for their door mats because they hold up to the abuse without complaint. Contrast this with a mat made of natural fiber, which may mold in a wet area or come apart with age.
A necessity for gyms, rubber gym mats protect the floor from heavy machinery and weights used in weight training. It is important for these to be non-skid as well, because a slip in the gym could mean some very nasty injuries. Quality is important for the gym as rubber mats here can get abused. A good idea is to get interlocking rubber mats for use in the gym. Areas that get worn out more quickly can then be easily replaced without having to redo the whole floor. An interlocking rubber mat is also easy to set up, as all that is required is putting the pieces together. Quality varies widely and you will want to get good quality, vulcanized rubber as these mats will last longer and also will tend to have less of a rubber stink- some mats are made from recycled rubber of dubious quality and glued together, resulting in a shoddy product that emits so much fumes it could be considered a health hazard. The same goes for many other mats, whether interlocking rubber mats for the home or a rubber yoga mat- unless you're getting outdoor rubber mats, you should be careful to get mats made with better quality rubber, or even virgin rubber. Otherwise, the smell can be a real nuisance.
With rubber car floor mats, quality and good fit are also important. You don't want to be inhaling toxic fumes all day, and while some people are able to use the mats that came with their car for years on end, if you ever find yourself replacing your car mats, do yourself a favor and get ones that don't stink or that will stop giving off a smell after a brief period of use. The right fit is extremely important. A ill-fitting car mat will cause discomfort for passengers, but a mat that doesn't fit right in the driver's location is downright dangerous. Such mats can easily get stuck under the brake pedal or accelerator, which can stop you from braking or make the car accelerate without the driver wanting it to. The same goes for "shifty" mats that can slide around and do the same thing. Be safe with rubber mats and get quality!