This has been around a while. Chilewich, the creation of NYC's Sandy Chilewich, is a woven vinyl fabric that makes floor mats, tablemats, handbags, and more. We've always liked the Chilewich product for their soft, neutral look.
The photo above shows new floor mat colors coming out for Spring 2007.
Also new for Spring 2007 are the tablemats pictured here. These are a departure from the original weaves. They have a graphic pattern placed to the side of the mats instead of the continuous weave we're used to seeing from Chilewich.
Chilewich is also jumping on the modular flooring bandwagon with the Plynyl Tile, shown above.
Also check out their Cubes, which is woven vinyl-covered foam that can be used as a side table.
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There are Chilewich sample sales in the 30's atleast twice a year...STEEP discounts.
I used this, in one of the light, creamy, colors, for the floor in my kitchen/foyer in my apartment. It cleans surprisingly well. It's really great looking.
susan - i have an aluminum basketweave mat in my kitchen but have never had success cleaning it. what do you use? thank you.
How much are the tiles?
Very nice! I own a couple of the mats but the basketweave is very slippery when wet. For the kitchen I purchased the looped style.
Oh boy, now the truth comes out, my husband is the cleaner in the family, he has far higher standards than me (well, his standards are ridiculous, not that mine are so low...)
Anyway, I HAVE spot cleaned it a few times and just grabbed a sponge with the rough side of it to gently rub out any spots. They came right out. I suppose I just put a little dishwashing detergent on the sponge. I called him and he said the same thing, referring to a "damp rag".
I saw a DWR catalogue showing the chilewich floormats with bound edges. Looks like a real improvement-- my only problem with my chilewich runners is that the eges eventually looks a bit frayed.
I tough not to like some of these applications, but do remember that vinyl is still vinyl- a product very unfriendly to the earth.
I just bought a mat for in front of my sink and the salesperson told me he throws his in the shower!
Looks nice, folks, but vinyl is illegal in much of Europe: it's carcinogenic. yep, it causes cancer. Look up the documentary Blue Vinyl. scary.
I had used several Chilewich mats to cover up hideous linoleum in a previous kitchen. I consider other alternatives like Flor, but the extreme thinness of the mats let them blend in with the floor more easily, and they are indeed easy to clean.
As mentioned by other posters, I would just dump them in the tub, squirt on some dishwashing liquid and scrub away with a dish brush or scratchy sponge. So far, the mats have lasted for four years and counting in an apartment with two cats where I entertain regularly. They also make great interior doormats since the door slides right over them.