Effective Mat Maintenance Keeps Facilities Cleaner and Safer
A strong mat maintenance program starts with choosing the right mats for each area and keeping outdoor walkways clear to reduce the amount of soil entering the building. Once mats are in place, consistent mat maintenance preserves their appearance and performance. Daily vacuuming removes dust and debris, while scheduled extraction or shampooing lifts deep soil before it damages fibers.
Use spotting kits, portable extractors, and proper detergents to treat spills quickly and stop stains from setting. For rubber, PVC, and wet‑area mats, rinse with mild soap and controlled water pressure to remove oils and buildup. When you follow a clear mat maintenance routine, you extend mat life, lower maintenance costs, and support a healthier indoor environment. With the right tools and consistent care, your mats stay clean, functional, and ready to protect your floors every day.
Proper Planning
The first step in reducing soil and moisture being tracked into a building is to prevent as much of it as possible from entering in the first place. This begins outside, with keeping walkways and parking lots clean. In winter, removing snow and ice from walkways helps prevent moisture from entering buildings.
Many people assume purchasing one mat and placing it in their building is adequate. The assumption is that all mats are the same. This is a general and common misconception. In fact, every mat we offer is designed with certain qualities and functionality intended for a specific application. Selecting the proper matting system incorporates three stages.
Stage One
The first stage is to invest into a good quality outdoor scraper mat. Scraper mats, like our MultiGuard Finger Mat, are aggressive mats designed to remove large pieces of soil, snow and ice from shoes. These mats should be placed at all entrances into a building.
Stage Two
The second stage involves placing a second mat directly inside the door extending 4-8 feet to capture any remaining large soil particles, as well as dust and moisture, from shoes. It is a good idea to use a mat with a rubber water-dam design. This design, constructed with barrier ridges on the edges, keeps moisture on the mat. Our rubber-backed WaterHog Entrance Mats are ideal for this application. They have the ability to hold 1-1/2 gallons of water per square yard of carpet.
Stage 3
The third stage is a walk-off mat with dense fibers capable of capturing any fine dust or soil residue still on shoes. The mat selected should also be based on the amount of traffic that enters your building. We offer several high-quality mats designed to meet these criteria. Review our Entrance Mat section for a wide selection of Rubber Backed or Vinyl Backed mats. Refer to our Frequently Asked Questions for a review on selecting rubber vs. vinyl. These should be placed in the main lobby or foyer area of a building. The size of this mat depends on the area to cover.
For a lasting impression consider adding your company’s corporate message with a Company Logo Mat. These mats should be cleaned frequently to maintain an attractive appearance to visitors and because dirty mats loaded with soil are not as effective in decreasing the amount of soil tracked into buildings. But maintaining a good image isn’t the only reason to keep floors clean and aesthetically pleasing.
Cleaning carpets promotes a healthier indoor environment and better working conditions. Removing dust, mold, allergens, and bacteria-laden particulates is just one way a cleaner carpet contributes to a healthier facility. Mat maintenance using regular cleaning also extends the life and wearability of the carpet and allows managers to use financial savings in their budget elsewhere.
Choosing the Right Cleaning Equipment
Carpet cleaning machines can be expensive, and large carpeted areas often need walk‑behind extractors, shampoo machines, wide‑area vacuums, and other high‑cost equipment. These big‑ticket tools play an important role in a carpet maintenance program, but a complete system also relies on smaller tools that remove soil and spots throughout a building.
A spotting kit serves as one of the most important tools in any carpet‑care program. These kits include cleaning chemicals formulated for specific soils and stains, a spotting chart, and a general spotting agent. Cleaning crews use the chart to choose the right chemical when a general spotter doesn’t remove a stain. Spotting kits typically include chewing‑gum removers, scrapers, and brushes to agitate carpet fibers.
A portable extractor helps crews remove spills and spots before they turn into permanent stains. These machines come in many sizes. Handheld units make it easy to extract and rinse small problems like beverage spills. Some compact extractors include up to three tanks—one for cleaning solution, one for recovered dirty water, and one for clear rinse water. Larger portable extractors offer bigger tanks and accessories such as hoses and wands, making them ideal for cleaning entrances, lunchrooms, and break areas.
Water vacuums with carpet wands give crews the ability to remove large amounts of water quickly. These vacuums feature larger recovery tanks than small portable extractors. Although crews typically don’t use water vacuums for carpet cleaning, they can attach cleaning‑solution hoses when needed.
Establishing a Maintenance Plan
For best results, schedule regular mat cleanings. Our carpet and entrance mats lower your maintenance costs and still allow you to maintain them easily. Follow these instructions to keep your mats looking great and performing effectively. Clean carpet mats the same way you maintain your carpeting. Vacuum them daily and extract or shampoo them when dirt builds up.
A successful maintenance plan starts with proper daily care. Daily cleaning relies on vacuuming. In areas where a wide‑area vacuum won’t work, smaller upright vacuums and backpack vacuums handle the job well. Smaller, portable vacuums offer easy maneuverability, and backpack vacuums let users’ clean stairways, landings, and other tight spaces. They also work well in crowded areas such as offices. Newer backpack and upright models deliver stronger suction and better filtration, and many now include high‑efficiency particulate‑arrestance (HEPA) filters.
Check mats weekly for stains and dirt, adjusting the frequency based on traffic levels. Many departments use a steam‑vapor cleaner to remove stubborn stains. These machines inject steam into the carpet, and the operator then blots out the stain. Their high heat and low moisture make them effective for cleaning and disinfecting spots on carpet and hard surfaces.
Use steam cleaning or shampooing based on the amount of traffic the mat receives. Cleaning once a month works well for most facilities. We recommend purchasing two identical mats for indoor areas so you can rotate them. When one mat is being cleaned, replace it with the second mat. This approach keeps your floors protected at all times and extends the life and wearability of both mats.
An effective carpet maintenance program requires planning and commitment. The right equipment and supplies, combined with regular training, help your carpets stay clean and attractive, last longer, and support a healthier indoor environment.
Specific Mat Surface Cleaning Guidelines
The following recommendations are based on the surface of your mat. We always recommend contacting us directly before using any chemicals or cleaners on your mat that you’re not sure of.
SpongeCote Mats, PVC Sponges and Urethane Mats (Dry Area Mats)
Sweep regularly or dry mop the surface. These mats can be wet mopped with mild soap or detergent. For best results use a detergent like Ivory Liquid with a ph between 4.0-9.0.
Molded Rubber and PVC Anti-Fatigue Mats (those designed for Wet Areas)
Use a high-pressure hose (not to exceed 1800 psi) and hot water (max 160 degrees F) to rid the mats of oils. For best results use a mild soap or detergent like Ivory Liquid with a ph between 4.0 – 9.0, to clean the mats. Do not use steam, degreasers or caustic chemicals. Do not machine wash or mechanically scrub the mats.
ESD Mats (Conductive and Non-Conductive)
When cleaning ESD mats, it is important to sweep or dry mop the surface regularly. Also, wet-mop or wipe off with mid soap of a static control cleaning solution that will not leave a residue. This will allow the mat to continue to function effectively.
Runner Mats
Simply sweep the surface with a broom or vacuum (bare floor setting). Our runners can be wet mopped with a mild soap.
Carpet and Entrance Mats
For scraper mats, shake them outside to remove any loose dirt and debris. If necessary, use a hose (avoid extremely high pressure or high temp) to wash them off. A mild soap can be used for heavy soiled or dirty mats.
Carpeted mats can also be shaken outside, if manageable. Carpeted mats can be cleaned the same way you maintain your regular carpeting. Vacuum them daily and extract or shampoo them when dirt builds up. Stains should be blotted with an approved product for regular carpeting. The most important aspect to maintaining clean carpets is establishing a routine cleaning schedule.
