6 Best Washable RV Entryway Mats For Mud That Nomads Swear By
Keep your RV clean with these 6 nomad-approved washable mats. They are top-rated for trapping mud from trails and are incredibly easy to wash.
You’ve just finished a beautiful, muddy hike and you’re back at the rig, boots caked in dirt. That tiny entryway is the only thing standing between the great outdoors and your clean living space. The right doormat isn’t just a welcome sign; it’s your first line of defense against turning your home on wheels into a swamp.
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Why a Washable Entry Mat is an RV Essential
In a sticks-and-bricks house, a dirty mat is an inconvenience. In an RV, it’s a crisis. Every square inch of floor space is precious, and once mud gets tracked past the door, it’s a full-on cleaning mission with limited tools and water.
A standard household mat just won’t cut it. They’re often too bulky, too hard to clean on the road, and not designed for the concentrated abuse of an adventurous lifestyle. The key feature you need is washability. You need a mat you can shake out, hose off at a spigot, and have dry in a few hours.
Think about it. You don’t have a mudroom, a garage, or a utility sink. Your "cleaning station" is often a campground water hookup or a bucket. A mat that holds onto dirt, gets waterlogged, and takes days to dry is worse than useless—it becomes a source of mildew and a pain to store on travel days.
GrassWorx Clean Machine: The Ultimate Scraper
Trap dirt and protect your floors with the CLEAN MACHINE Astroturf Doormat. Its scraper blades capture up to 1 pound of dirt weekly, and the all-weather design is easy to clean with a shake or hose rinse.
When your primary enemy is caked-on mud, sand, or snow, you need a scraper, not a sponge. The GrassWorx Clean Machine is exactly that. Its iconic artificial turf design features stiff bristles that actively scrape debris from the soles of your shoes.
This mat excels where others fail. It doesn’t just wipe; it scrubs. I’ve seen these things pull an unbelievable amount of grit out of hiking boot treads. The dirt falls down into the base of the mat, keeping the surface relatively clean for the next person. When it’s full, you just pick it up, give it a hard shake, and you’re good to go.
The tradeoff is absorbency. This mat does very little to soak up water, so it’s not ideal for rainy days unless paired with a more absorbent mat just inside the door. But for pure, unadulterated grime removal, it’s the undisputed champion and a boondocker’s best friend.
Gorilla Grip Mat: Superior Absorbency Option
Keep your home clean with this durable, 100% waterproof doormat. Its deep grooves capture dirt and moisture, while the stain and fade-resistant design ensures long-lasting use indoors or out. The low-profile, natural rubber construction allows doors to open easily.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Gorilla Grip mat. This one is all about tackling water and fine dust. Its soft, plush microfiber pile acts like a thousand tiny sponges, soaking up moisture before it gets tracked onto your vinyl or laminate floors.
This is the perfect mat for full-hookup campground life, where you’re dealing more with morning dew on the grass than thick mud. It feels great on bare feet and does an incredible job of grabbing that last bit of dust. The strong rubber backing is also a huge plus, as it genuinely doesn’t slide around on slick RV flooring—a common and frustrating issue.
However, its strength is also its weakness. That super-absorbent pile can get saturated quickly in a downpour. It’s not a scraper; heavy mud will just get smeared into the fibers, requiring a thorough washing. Think of this as your indoor defender, best used after a tougher scraper mat has done the heavy lifting outside.
WaterHog Classic Mat: Durability for All Seasons
This Waterhog Classic entrance mat features a raised-square pattern to effectively trap dirt and moisture. Its durable polypropylene surface dries quickly and resists fading, while the water dam border holds up to 1.5 gallons per square yard.
If you can only have one mat, the WaterHog is a serious contender. It’s the versatile all-rounder that nomads have trusted for decades. Its genius lies in its bi-level design. The tough, raised pattern scrapes dirt and mud off shoes, while the deep channels trap the debris and water, keeping it off the floor and below foot level.
Constructed from a quick-drying polypropylene, these mats are built to withstand everything from desert sun to freezing snow without cracking or fading. They are incredibly durable. The "water dam" rubber border is also a critical feature, capable of holding up to 1.5 gallons of water per square yard. That’s a lifesaver when you come in soaked from the rain.
The main consideration is stiffness and price. They aren’t as plush as a microfiber mat and they command a higher price point. But you’re paying for longevity and performance. A WaterHog is an investment in a clean rig for years to come, not just a seasonal purchase.
Dexi Mud Scraper: A Low-Profile Powerhouse
RV screen doors often have very little clearance at the bottom. I’ve seen countless nomads buy a great, thick mat only to find their door gets stuck on it every time. The Dexi mat solves this problem with its effective low-profile design.
Despite being thin, its ribbed polypropylene fabric is surprisingly aggressive at scraping off dirt. It provides a good balance of scraping and moisture absorption without the bulk. It’s easy to shake out, vacuum, or hose down, and its slim profile means it dries fast.
This is a fantastic, no-fuss option for those who prioritize function and fit. It may not have the deep channels of a WaterHog or the plush feel of a Gorilla Grip, but it does its job reliably without getting in the way of your door. It’s a practical, workhorse solution for daily use.
L.L.Bean Waterhog: A Tried-and-True Favorite
While "Waterhog" is a type of mat, the original L.L.Bean Waterhog deserves its own mention. It’s the one many of us grew up with, and for good reason. They take the standard Waterhog design and elevate it with top-tier materials and construction, often using recycled plastics for the surface and heavy-duty rubber for the backing.
What you get with the L.L.Bean version is legendary durability and a proven track record. These mats last. I’ve had one that’s moved between a van, a skoolie, and now an RV over the span of a decade, and it still performs. They come in a huge variety of sizes and patterns, making it easy to find one that fits your specific entryway dimensions.
Yes, you’ll pay a premium for the name. But if you subscribe to the "buy it once, buy it right" philosophy, this is your mat. It’s a piece of gear you can depend on, season after season, mile after mile.
Mighty Mud Scrubber: For Heavy-Duty Foot Traffic
For the most extreme conditions, you need an extreme mat. The Mighty Mud Scrubber and similar industrial-style mats are designed for one thing: demolishing mud. These are often made of heavy-duty rubber or molded plastic with aggressive cleats and deep channels.
This isn’t a mat for wiping your feet; it’s for scouring them. It’s the perfect solution to place outside your RV steps, especially if you’re parked in a muddy field for a rally or boondocking in a wet climate. It handles the thick, clay-like mud that would instantly overwhelm a fabric mat.
The downside is purely functional. They aren’t comfortable to stand on and they don’t absorb water. This is strictly an outdoor, first-stage mat. But by handling the worst of the mess outside, it allows your indoor mat to stay cleaner and focus on water and finer dust.
Comparing Mat Materials for Your RV Lifestyle
The "best" mat is entirely dependent on how you travel. There is no single right answer, only the right answer for you. Breaking it down by material helps clarify the choice.
Polyethylene "Grass" Mats (like GrassWorx) are for scrapers.
- Best For: Boondockers, desert campers, winter travelers.
- Primary Job: Removing caked-on mud, sand, and snow.
- Tradeoff: Offers almost zero water absorption.
Polypropylene/Olefin (like WaterHog & Dexi) are the all-rounders.
- Best For: Nearly everyone. A great default choice.
- Primary Job: Balancing scraping with water and dirt containment.
- Tradeoff: Can be stiff and more expensive, but incredibly durable.
Microfiber/Polyester (like Gorilla Grip) are for absorbers.
- Best For: Full-hookup campers, travelers in less messy climates.
- Primary Job: Soaking up water and trapping fine dust.
- Tradeoff: Gets saturated easily and is poor for scraping heavy mud.
Ultimately, the most effective system I’ve seen in thousands of rigs is a two-mat approach. Use a heavy-duty scraper mat like a GrassWorx or a rubber scrubber outside the steps, and an absorbent or all-rounder mat like a WaterHog or Gorilla Grip inside the door. This combination tackles every type of mess and drastically reduces indoor cleaning time.
Your entryway mat is a small piece of gear that has a massive impact on your quality of life on the road. Don’t just grab the cheapest option at a big-box store. By matching the mat’s material and design to your travel style, you invest in a cleaner, more comfortable, and more manageable home, no matter how muddy the adventure gets.
