Question from Sara L

Hi there, we just moved into a new house, and I have been loving your website (although regretting certain choices we made when we were less informed!)

We have three young kids, and we are in rather desperate need of absorbent mats at the various entry doors to our house, especially in the mud room space. I see a lot of good ratings for Waterhog, but I can’t tell if these will off-gas significantly into our home.

I welcome your thoughts about this particular mat and/or suggestions of other eco-friendly, water absorbent mats that can handle heavy kid and mud traffic.

Thanks so much for all you do! Sara

Debra’s Answer

This mat looks like a great choice for what you need. It’s made from 100% polypropylene plastic, which does not significantly outgas, and will not contribute to air pollution inside your home.

My only reservation about this mat from a materials viewpoint is that it won’t biodegrade, but if you get a biodegradable mat–say one made of coconut coir–it won’t have the same water, mud, and snow absorbancy that you are looking for. So for that use, this is a good nontoxic choice.

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