Dayton Home & Office
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Coconut Floor Matting (casa pura)
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I was offered this product to evaluate and, since we use these natural fibre mats in several locations around the house, I was happy to accept. We seem to go through them quite regularly but, once this coconut fibre matting arrived, I realized that the mats that we normally buy locally are considerably thinner than this one.
This product is available in twelve sizes, from 40 x 60 cm all the way to 200 x 400 cm (that's 2 x 4 metres!), so it can cover relatively large areas. The coconut fibre can take rain but the mat is pvc-backed and very slow to dry when wet. Since the matting is so very thick, I was curious to see how easy it would be to cut to size. The mat was delivered in one large roll (100 x 200 cm) and I first decided how many pieces I needed and how large they would be. It is a luxury to do that, and we ended up with six much wider mats than we can buy. So, if you need several of these mats, buying them in a single big piece is the way to go. Also ideal for places where an irregular shape is required as you can cut these any way you wish. Cutting was very easy (as you can see in my video). We first measured and traced some lines on the back, then did the cutting with a standard utility knife using a tile as straight-edge, and over a plank of wood to protect the blade and the surface below. The individual mats have been in use for several weeks and are holding up extremely well to heavy traffic from muddy boots and wet shoes. They clean up easily using my normal vacuum cleaner or they can be lifted and shaken. |
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The only downside is that they shed around the perimeter where they have been cut, which I think is normal when fairly new. To me that's a minor annoyance, which is easily resolved when I clean the floor, but I thought it worth mentioning. I could not see a way to “seal” the edges, so I expect the shedding to continue for a while, but the savings and the durability, in my opinion, make up for this.
As a final (but important) note, my cats wholeheartedly approve of the quality and thickness, and use these as both scratching surfaces and napping locations. |
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Amrum Carpet Floor Runner (casa pura)
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This carpet runner was sent to me so that I could evaluate it and prepare a review. It's one of those items that, in person, far exceeded my expectations. Not that the photos are not reliable, it's just that you cannot appreciate the texture and the feel. Also the colour is warmer and more caramel than it shows (it's called Terracotta). You can see how it looks in place.
Although there is no rubber backing, this runner stays put and does not slide about even on the tiled floor where I have placed it. I'm using it in the kitchen, between a row of cabinets and a central island and I was surprised to feel that standing on it to wash dishes or cut up veggies is much more comfortable than standing on the bare tiles. It's a small difference but noticeable. We have no wall-to-wall carpets in our house to eliminate allergens, but I would cover the whole floor with this type of carpet, if I could! The description mentions that these German-made carpets have earned the GUT seal (Environmentally Friendly and Free of Pollutants). The weave is also anti-static, to which I can attest because despite multiple cats in the house, this runner shows no signs of becoming a fluff magnet. The quality of the material is such that it looks like a natural fibre (it is actually made of polypropylene) and the edging and finishing are faultless. It is available in so many sizes and configurations that it should be easy to achieve a custom-made look. Although this runner has been placed in a high-traffic and less than pristine environment, it has remained remarkably clean so far. It's very easy to vacuum and does not show dirt very readily. It looks like it can take a hose-down to wash it, although I'll have to check and see if this kind of cavalier treatment is frowned upon by the maker. I'm just so pleased with this beautiful addition to my home. Oh, and the final accolade: my cats love it, too! |
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