How to Prevent Your Door Mat from Sliding on The Floor

A door mat that slips and slides is a nuisance at best and a hazard at worst. Yes, door mats increasingly take on an aesthetic purpose. That’s why you see an abundance of customised door mats and eye-catching designs on the market today.

But they also serve a utilitarian function of preventing dirt from entering your home; hence, their place of honour inside your door. If people are at risk of  slipping and falling every time they enter your home, not only are you not getting your money’s worth, but you could have far bigger problems on your hands when your guests get injured.

Homeowners might scoff at this trivial detail, but knowing how to keep a door mat from sliding is really a very useful skill. Here are simple and effective ways to make your floor mats stay in place.

1. Buy a non-skid door mat with rubber backing.

2. Use a non-skid spray.

3. Use a rubber pad.

4. Use carpet or double-sided tape.

5. Build a mat well.

6. Install a mat frame.

Some of these fixes are temporary, and some are permanent solutions. Choose what suits your preference or priorities. Let’s get into the detail of each.

Smart Purchase

Invest in a non-skid mat with rubber backing. Having rubber material at the bottom helps the mat cling to the floor surface and prevents it from sliding even when pushed from one side. Even if the mat budges, it will only move a short distance because the rubber surface will create friction with the smooth tile or wood plank beneath it.

Temporary Fixes

Use a non-skid spray or coating. Apply a generous amount on the back of your door mat and let it dry according to the product’s instructions. Once it’s ready, position the rug in place before your door. A non-skid spray will not glue your mat to the floor but will make it cling more strongly to the surface beneath it. You may also have to reapply the non-skid spray or coating after you wash your mat.

Put a rubber pad beneath the mat. A cross between a rubberised mat and a non-skid spray, this option is ideal if the mat you want to buy is not rubberised and you don’t want to keep reapplying non-skid product on your door mat.

Use carpet tape or double-sided tape on the edges of the mat. These are temporary, and you can remove them from your mat in case you need to move it. However, the tape can leave visible and sticky residue both on the floor and the mat. You’ll need to do extra work cleaning and laundering the mat if this bothers you.

Permanent Fixes

Build a mat well. This is a lot easier to do if you’re redoing your floors. A mat well is a recessed area where a mat can fit and lie flush against the rest of the floor. The depth of the mat well has to be just right, though. Too deep, and the mat well can be a tripping hazard. Too shallow, and it will fail its purpose of keeping door mats in place.

Install a frame for your door mat. This option is more practical and affordable than carving a mat well. Mat frames are metal edging strips that you can glue or screw into the floor. Once in place, the mat and the frame will become permanent fixtures on your floor (you can remove them, of course, but there will be visible marks and damage on the tile, wood, or concrete flooring).

A sliding door mat may seem something out of your control, but you can stop this nuisance for good. Follow these tips to keep your floor mats in place for your safety and peace of mind.