The Best Materials To Consider When Buying A Kitchen Rug

Your kitchen is the heart of your home. From time spent cooking up masterpieces to little tots and pets trotting around, this area is a high-traffic zone, which can also make it a high-dirt zone. Reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning the space with the help of a kitchen rug. When you head to your favorite home decor stop, you will find countless rugs with each company or product description claiming it's a great choice in your cooking space.

But don't be fooled — not just any mat will do. Some rugs stain easily and require even more cleaning. Equip your space with the right one by knowing the best materials for the job. When looking at mats, it's important to understand that cleaning a rug heavily depends on its pile (the consistency and height of the fabric used). While several brands have fantastic machine-washable kitchen rugs, the best type of easy-to-clean kitchen mat material that you'll want to be on the hunt for in general are rugs made from low-pile and natural fibers, like flat-weave, polypropylene, cotton, and jute.

While your feet may love high pile rugs, these fluffy, shaggy mats should stick to low-traffic areas like a bedroom or office. With many feet coming in and out of the kitchen, you should look for any rug that is low-pile to avoid ruining the look. Mats such as flat-weave, polypropylene, and natural fibers are some of the best materials to choose from for this room because their aesthetic won't be compromised by compaction. Flat-wave and polypropylene rugs are two of the better rug fabric picks because they are easy to clean, don't absorb spills, and have low or no pile. What makes these options even better is that once you're done with them inside your home, you can easily place them on a porch or deck, making them great indoor-outdoor statement pieces.

Natural fiber rugs are a popular, durable choice. Many of them, such as sisal, jute, cotton, and wool, are easy to spot clean, making your cleaning routine a little bit easier for smaller messes. However, these natural fiber mats do need more care than flat-weave or polypropylene, so it's always a must to read the care instructions before finding a rug you love. If no care instructions are included, look at the tag for the laundry codes so you'll know how to clean it the right way. Alternatively, who says you can't get creative with your mat choices? Instead, be an upcycle baddie by setting down a surprising kitchen rug alternative — a yoga mat.