JML Magic Carpet > Reviews (9)

JML MAGIC CARPET

COST

I picked my small one up from W H Smith for £5.99, but the usual retail price is £11.99 for a small one or £19.99 for a large one.

STOCKISTS

You can buy them on-line directly from www.jmldirect.com or from one of the high street stockists. You can find them in Asda, Super Drug, Boots, Pound Stretcher, Wilkinson, Makro, Debenhams and B & Q.

JML

John Mills is the JM in JML, the L being for Limited, and started the family run company in London in the mid 60's.
The products were originally demonstated live in store, then by the 80's significant developments in video technology changed the public face of JML.
They began to introduce short films played on videos in store to describe the benefits of their products. This is still done in store today but also via the internet and television.

JML now have various television channels on Sky dedicated to selling their products. JML sell a wide range of handy household gadgets and time savers such as the Magic Carpet and the Magic Eraser.
They also now have products for Beauty, Lifestyle and Fitness, DIY and Motors and the Kitchen. There products are expensive but generally seem to be well thought out and adapted to the changing times.

CLAIMS OF THE MAGIC CARPET - As I already mentioned the Magic Carpet is available in two sizes and I have the smaller of the two. The small carpet is 40cm x 70cm and the large carpet is 60cm x 90cm. The small carpet is the same size as an average doormat and fits neatly inside my front door. The door easily opens over it as it is relatively thin.
The carpets are available in a variety of colours. You can get it in Blue, Brown, Green, Grey, Purple, Red, Teracotta, Turquoise or Yellow-Green.
The Magic Carpet is said to soak up water, mud and dirt that your shoes and boots bring into the house. To use you are supposed to step on the carpet and lightly rub your feet. Apparently you should then see the dirt collected in the carpet before it magically disappears! It is said to be so absorbent that it can even be used as a bathroom mat and if it gets dirty just shove it in the washing machine. It is said to be suitable to protect all types of flooring.

MY RESULTS AND THOUGHS ON THE MAGIC CARPET - I had seen this product advertised on television multiple times, especially during the snowy Winter period but although it looked useful, I just considered it too pricey.
Fair enough if it could do all it said, but what was the likely hood of that? Products never usually work like they appear to on television. However when in W H Smith after christmas there was a single solitary Small Red Magic Carpet in the sale and I just had to buy it!
The carpet is rectangular in shape and is rubber-backed with a small visible edge of rubber about 2cm in size outlining the red carpet. The carpet has about ten black vertical stripes at either edge of the same carpety material. The carpet does not look or feel fluffy and does not appear to look super absorbent. It actually looks similar to a foot mat you would have in your car.

It is not the most beautiful mat to look at and red would probably not have been my colour of choice but given I had paid half price then surely it was a bargain?
I wasted no time in testing in, pulling it out the bag as I arrived in my landing and carefully placing it at the door before stepping in. My daughter of course just had to try it first and she over enthusiastically wiped her feet on the carpet and sure enough when she stepped off there were two little black muddy marks where her feet had been.
I then did the same, standing on the carpet and just by sliding my feet gently over it, when I too moved there were two little wet muddy marks where my feet had been! Sucess!
I have wooden floors all through my house and usually end up with gravel, dirt and wet bits being stamped everywhere. Even when we take our shoes off at the door we end up with grit, dirt and wet muddy bits lying at the door!

This was the first time we had been able to walk in with our shoes and leave no trace of the snowy weather outside.
Twenty minutes later I checked the mat and the wetness had indeed disappeared but there was dryed mud and gravel still left on the mat. I simply picked the mat up and shook the remnants in the bucket and it appeared once again good as new.
After using the mat for about a week I noticed that the marks were no longer disappearing and instead the red Magic Carpet was now stained a muddy brown. At least I could see what had not bee dragged though my house! However I decided as per the instructions to pop it in the washing machine on a 40 degrees wash. I decided to put it in alone incase dye came out of the mat.
When watching the cycle no colour appeared to leek from the mat but I will carry on washing it singularly just incase. Upon taking the Magic Carpet out of the wash I could already see the muddy marks had completely vanished but the mat was extremely wet. You are not able to put them on a rinse cycle or in the tumble dryer which is rather inconvenient but instead I hung it over my shower and turned the central heating up in the bathroom. It dried surprrisingly fast apparently because of the fibres it is made from. I left it in the bethroom overnight but our heating goes off at eleven and by the morning it was bone dry and ready to take pride of place inside the front door!

RECOMENDATIONS

I was extremely pleased with my purchase and it certainly worked as advertised. However would I pay full price for one?
Even being a bit of a grip, I would have to say yes! It really did minimise if not eradicate completely the dirt being brought in off our shoes.
We only have one entrance into our home but if we had a back door I would most definately purchase one for there.
I recommend buying a small one of these for each door in your home or a large one for Patio Doors.
They definately cut down the mess dragged into your home, especially if you have children who tend to go out and play but end up running in and out rather than playing in one spot!