New doormat fights germs

Most people think they are doing a good job if they wipe their feet on a doormat before stepping inside.

But have you ever thought you might be wiping as much dirt ON your shoes as you are OFF your shoes?

Wipe your feet
1. Make sure every entrance to your home has a doormat.
2. Keep the area around the entrances of your home clean of debris.
3. The best kind of doormat is commercial quality. Although it is tempting to buy something because it is stylish, think about your family's health first. Avoid coco fiber (Coir) mats; they shed and track loose fibers into your home. Also avoid rope, rubber, plastic mats, wood and metal. These mats provide a reservoir for microbes and pollutants.
4. Regularly shake out your mat outside and vacuum.
5. Wipe your shoes twice on your Dr. Doormat to remove up to 99 percent of the debris on your shoes.
6. Take your street shoes off and replace them with house shoes that have good support if you can. Some members of your family can't easily take their shoes off (the physically challenged may be wearing orthopedic shoes, using a walker or cane, babies just walking who need shoes. Moms and Dads carrying a baby up and down the steps regularly need to wear a good supportive shoe.)
7. Teach your young children to wipe their shoes and make a game of it.

A new product called Dr. Doormat is being sold as "the first antimicrobial treated doormat designed for home use."

The mat's manufacturers say it is infused during the manufacturing process with a special antimicrobial treatment that permanently bonds to the fibers of the doormat and cannot be tracked through the house.

"Dr. Doormat goes to work for you the moment your shoe makes contact, instantly penetrating the cell membrane of the invading microbe (germs) and rendering it harmless," company foundert Debbie Estis Greenspan says. "We recommend that your family and guests wipe their shoes twice on Dr. Doormat before entering the house to guarantee the greatest results.

"This antimicrobial technology has been verified by its use in consumer and medical goods including diapers, socks and medical drapes for the past 25 years," she added.

She said the mat's antimicrobial treated surface of never depletes and keeps its active level for the life of the product.

It is designed for indoor use and will work effectively outdoors providing the mat is not directly exposed to the elements.

An entranceway that is covered with a portico or some kind of protection would be fine.

You are supposed to shake the mat outside (never inside the home) regularly and whenever you see debris. Vacuum it twice a week, especially in heavy traffic areas and shampoo when it becomes embedded with excessive soil.

Dr. Doormat sells for $59 on www.drdoormat.com and is available in several colors.

- Staff report