
It’s been raining all day long, but your dog doesn’t care. They just want to go outside and play in the mud and puddles. Of course, when they come back into the house, they bring all of that dirt and mud in with them. A doormat for dogs can help to keep some of that dirt and mud off of your floors and make clean up a little easier.
Here is a rundown of our selections for the best doormats for dogs:
Best Microfiber/Chenille Doormats:
- Pacapet Muddy Mat For Dogs
- Dog Gone Smart Dirty Dog Doormat
- Purrugs Dirt Trapper Door Mat
- Gorilla Grip Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat
- HOMEIDEAS Durable Chenille Door Mat
Best Waterhog Doormats:
- Orvis Recycled Water Trapper Mat
- Bungalow Flooring Waterhog Doormat
- L.L.Bean Everyspace Recycled Waterhog Doormat
- M+A Matting Waterhog Eco Commercial Grade Entrance Mat
- American Floor Mats Masterpiece Windmill Mat
What Is A Doormat For Dogs?
A doormat for dogs is a mat that is made of absorbent material that soaks up water and contains the dirt and mud that may be brought into your home from shoes or paws.
How Do I Keep My Dog From Getting The Floor Muddy?
A doormat for dogs can help, but it may not get all of the mud off your dog’s paws. You may still have to wipe off your dog’s paws even if you use a doormat. The doormat can help to get the initial, soaking wetness and mud from their paws. It is still possible to have muddy paw prints on your floor even if you use one of these mats, but it should be more muted and easier to clean than if you didn’t use one.
If you don’t want to wipe your dog’s paws at all, have them wear dog booties, which will help keep their paws dry and mud free.
What Makes A Doormat Good To Use For Muddy Paws?
There are a few things you may want to look for when choosing a doormat for muddy paws.
- Material. What type of mat are you looking for? One that is soft and absorbent or one that can rub off caked on mud? Mats for muddy paws tend to be made of two different types: microfiber/chenille or recycled materials. Microfiber/chenille mats are soft and absorb water and trap dirt. Mats made of recycled materials that work well for muddy paws are waterhog mats. Waterhog mats are not fluffy, but are made of a rougher material, with fibers of different lengths. These fibers scrape dirt off the bottoms of paws. They also contain gaps that trap water and debris.
- Backing. Choose a mat with a non- slip backing. This will help it stay in place, especially if water gets on the floor.
- Size. Choose a size bigger than you think you will need. Most people are surprised at how small these mats can be. Measure the area you want to put it and choose one that will fit best.
- Height. If you are placing the mat by a door, you still want to be able to open and close the door without it getting stuck or having the mat roll up on one end when you open the door.
- Maintenance. Is the mat easy to clean? Can you machine wash or dry it? Does is vacuum easily?
- Indoor/Outdoor Use. Some doormats are for indoor use only. Make sure to choose a mat that can be used in the area you would like to keep it.
What Are The Pros/Cons Of Each Type Of Doormat For Dogs?
If you decide to choose a mat made of microfiber/chenille here are a few things to keep in mind.
Pros:
- Made of very soft material.
- Absorbs water well.
- Machine washable.
Cons:
- Your dog may want to sleep on it.
- Can only be used indoors.
- Fibers can come apart after washing.
- Non-slip backing can start to break up after being washed in the washing machine or put in the dryer.
Using a Waterhog mat made of recycled materials has its own pros/cons.
Pros:
- For use indoors or outdoors.
- Absorbs water well.
- Can scrape off dirt or mud from paws.
- Cleaned by hosing it down.
- Holds up to heavy traffic.
- Durable.
Cons:
- Not as soft a material as the microfiber/chenille mats.
- Cannot go in the washing machine.
How Do I Clean My Doormat?
This will depend on the type of mat you buy. All of these mats can be shaken out to remove any loose dirt or debris that the mat has trapped. They can also be vacuum cleaned. Some will hold up to the vacuum better than others depending on how thick the mat is.
In terms of washing your mat if they need a deeper clean, this depends on your mat’s material.
If it is made of microfiber/chenille, you can either hand wash it or put it in the washing machine. Some mats can also be put in the dryer. Be aware, if you do put it in the dryer, this can decrease how well the non-slip backing will hold up over time. For this reason, even if your mat says it is safe to be put in the dryer, it is best to air dry it.
If your mat is made of recycled materials, it can just be hosed down to clean it and air dried.
Best Doormat For Dogs
Here are some of the top rated doormats for muddy paws according to users. The product information is according to the manufacturer. All of these mats are highly rated for their absorbency and ability to decrease the amount of mud tracked into the house by users’ dogs. Each dog mat listed is also easy to clean.
We have separated the doormats into two categories: mats made of microfiber/chenille and waterhog mats made of recycled materials.
One thing to note: all of the microfiber/chenille mats look the same and all of the Waterhog mats look the same. It is really a matter of choosing the one that has the design, color, and size to suit your preferences.
Best Microfiber/Chenille Doormats For Dogs
Pacapet Muddy Mat For Dogs
- Available in 3 sizes.
- Made of chenille.
- Non- slip PVC backing.
- Traps mud and moisture.
- Machine washable.
Dog Gone Smart Dirty Dog Doormat
- Available in 15 colors.
- Comes in 4 sizes.
- Made of microfiber.
- Non-slip backing.
- Soaks up water, mud, and dirt.
- Machine washable.
Purrugs Dirt Trapper Door Mat
- Available in 4 colors.
- Comes in 5 sizes.
- Made of microfiber.
- Non-slip TPR backing.
- Stain and fade resistant.
- Machine washable.
Gorilla Grip Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat
- Available in 38 colors and designs.
- Comes in 8 sizes.
- Made of chenille.
- Non-slip TP Rubber backing.
- Made of chenille.
HOMEIDEAS Durable Chenille Door Mat
- Available in 7 colors.
- Comes in 4 sizes.
- Made of chenille.
- Non-slip TPR backing.
- Machine washable.
Best Waterhog Doormats For Dogs
Orvis Recycled Water Trapper Mat
- Available in 9 colors.
- Comes in 5 sizes.
- Available in 4 patterns.
- Commercial grade fiber construction.
- Thin fibers remove moisture from paws.
- Thick fibers scrape away mud and snow.
- Side channels allow for water to drain.
- Mold and mildew resistant.
- Non-slip rubber backing made of up to 20% recycled material.
- Rug made from PET post-consumer recycled material.
- Hose off to clean.
- Made in the USA.
Bungalow Flooring Waterhog Doormat
- Available in 6 colors.
- Comes in 4 sizes.
- For use indoors or outdoors.
- Commercial grade.
- Non-slip rubber backing.
- Holds up to 1.5 gallons of water per square yard.
- Rubber border.
- Made with up to 94% recycled material.
- Hose clean.
- Certified skid resistant by the National Floor Safety Institute.
- Made in the USA.
L.L.Bean Everyspace Recycled Waterhog Doormat
- Available in 8 colors.
- Comes in 4 sizes.
- Crush resistant design.
- Thick and thin fibers to scrape dirt and contain water.
- Raised border.
- Holds up to 1.5 gallons of water per square yard.
- Non-slip rubber backing.
- Stain resistant.
- Quick drying.
- Resists mildew, shedding, and fading.
- For use indoors and outdoors.
- Made from 90% recycled polyester.
- Made in the USA.
M+A Matting Waterhog Eco Commercial Grade Entrance Mat
- Available in 8 colors.
- Comes in 10 sizes.
- Feature PET fabric made from 100% repurposed plastic bottles.
- Non-slip backing comes from 20% rubber from used tires.
- Stain and fade resistant.
- Border holds1.5 gallons of water per square yard.
- For use indoors or outdoors.
American Floor Mats Masterpiece Windmill Mat
- Available in 19 colors.
- Comes in 3 sizes.
- Can contain 1.5 gallons per square yard.
- Quick drying.
- Stain and fade resistant.
- For use indoors and outdoors.
- Rubber backing.
- Made with 20% recycled materials.
- Made in the USA.
When your dog comes inside the house after being outdoors in the rain, snow, or mud, they can track dirty paw prints into the home. A doormat for dogs can help to reduce the amount of mud and dirt tracked into your home from your dog’s dirty paws.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.