Waterhog Rugs for wood floor protection

13 years ago

I have just had hardwood floors installed throughout my first floor and am obsessing about keeping them dry and clean, especially with the winter months fast approaching. I have been looking at the Waterhog line of rugs that seem to be ideal, if you are to believe the sales pitch. They are pricey so I wondered if they were worth the money. Has anyone had any experience with these rugs and would you recommend them?

Featured Answer

andersons21

13 years ago

Yes, I have two Waterhog mats, and they are awesome. Definitely worth the money to me. However, they seem to be made of some fibrous, colored material over top of rubber, and in the high spots the fibrous material can wear off over the years. The mat then does not look as good as it did when new, though it still continues to function well. I bought some with an attractive leaf pattern, in a medium brown color to match most dirt, years ago, and they're still working great for me today.

Comments (8)

idrive65
13 years ago
I have a Waterhog pet bowl "rug" from LLBean. Lots of spills from the water dish and absolutely nothing gets on the floor underneath. My only issue with them is that the rough fiber material holds pet hair like velcro.
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Hi. The occasional water spill is not a problem with hardwood floors. Remember that wood floors have been used for hundreds of years in all types of climates, most notably the harsh Northern and Midwestern winters; snow & sleet not withstanding. Take normal precautions you'd take with your carpets. Clean up spills as soon as possible. Do not allow standing water, etc. For your dog bowls, a nice rug under the bowls will prevent them from slipping and scratching the floor, as well as help absorb the occasional sloshing. As for snow, the salt, sand, and other abrasives tracked in are of more concern than the water. I would definitely have a really good rubber mat or something to protect the floor at the entrances, more to protect the finish that the wood it self. If the design allows, it might be good to leave a "foyer" of tile or marmoleum to allow for wet boots, etc. And if mom or the girls favor high heels, leave them there too. High heel shoes is one of a wood floors worst enemies. Those little devils and really mark up all but the hardest woods. If your other kid is a large dog, keep those nails trimmed. Otherwise, wood is pretty carefree. Have fun!
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I just bought two herring-bone mats and two larger everyspace mats. I do realize I will be able to see the dog hair but our three dogs are in and out of the doggy door chasing squirrels all day and bring in a lot of dirt after digging but I do love the pups very much. Hopefully this will help control the dirt they bring into the house but it's nice to read the comment about placing a mat underneath it to keep it in place. I'll get back to you and let you know how they work. I'm still waiting on two which will arrive tomorrow. I bought them in sage and they are nice looking.
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When my old dog became incontinent we used doggie diapers (for those of you reading this who have dogs) but like you I was concerned about protecting the floors as well as couches and mattresses. For our area rugs I bought a large roll of plastic (Visqueen) from HD. I attached the plastic to the back of the rugs using duct tape. I tucked part of the rug under the sectional. That and the coffee table kept the living room one from sliding. Tucked the rugs partially under the beds in the bedrooms. For the couch I covered the seats in plastic and then put a modified couch cover on it. This way I could wash the covers and wipe down the plastic. I covered the mattresses in plastic as well because the waterproof mattress covers I bought were flimsy and cheaply made. Miss my doggy- she passed in February. What a doll she was. Hope this helps.
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I'd match the floor as closely as possible, and as stated above Terra Cotta seems to do just that. I have one Waterhog at my front (entry) door and love it. Sometimes little particles do get trapped in its waffle-ish design, but I'd rather have them trapped there than tracked through my house. What the regular vacuum doesn't suck up is remedied with the hose to the hand-held vac that I use for the carpeted stairs at the entry. I want to replace my other two Target-bought mats with Waterhogs.
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littlewomen
13 years ago
I came on here to ask about the same product as we have french doors at our back that are used constantly and track in lots of dirt/sand/mud. I think the reviews show that it is not just a sales pitch, I just want to make sure they don't harm my floor (engineered wood). Trying to justify the price in my head.
susanelewis
13 years ago
I don't have hardwood, but I do have laminate and I bought one 3' x 9' (approx) so it would cover the entire back entry from garage to where the shoes get stored. It didnt make a mark on the floors when I took it up in the spring (I dont use it during the summer or fall). It soaked up all the excess water during our Michigan winter and never saw any water on the laminate.

Very pleased.
mrhouse
13 years ago
You can use some floor protection film for construction to waterproof the area then anything on top to soak it in. Maybe not as simple a floor protection solution as the water hog mats, but it woudl allow you to use any other material on top as a floor protector.

Here is a link that might be useful: floor protection
clothesidwear_gmail_com
12 years ago
As an alternative, I have ordered from www.floormat-store.com a few times in the past for mats and stair treads on some jobs. Their Aqua Trap mat sounds like a good fit for your application. A direct link for that one is... http://www.floormat-store.com/commercial-mats/aqua-trap-150.html

From what I've found, they are priced very competitively and have high quality products.

Hope this helps.

Here is a link that might be useful: alternative matting options
Patricia Hedges
7 years ago
I have the waterhog floor mats on vinyl flooring and there is a wide yellow stain all the way around the edges of the mat. I've tried everything to get rid of it but it's there to stay.
jakkom
7 years ago
Because of the rubber backing, it's not advised to keep such floor mats, regardless of vendor, permanently on almost any type of flooring. Best to use them only during the rainy season, and switch to a regular rug during your dry season months.

Waterhog Rugs for wood floor protection

andersons21

Comments (8)

idrive65

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littlewomen

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mrhouse

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