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It’s easy to overlook floor mat hygiene. Heavy foot traffic makes day-to-day floorcare challenging, yet it’s essential for preventing dust, dirt, and allergens from entering your premises.
Our cleaning and hygiene tips will keep your workplace mats looking their best and encourage hygiene from the ground up all year round.
Why is floor mat hygiene important?
Clean mats make a great first impression, and commercial mat cleaning also creates a healthy, safe environment for employees and customers while providing a barrier that protects flooring from scratches and spills.
Multiple factors can affect floor mat durability and lifespan, but using a professional mat cleaning service can help counteract wear and tear, preventing early replacement of expensive materials.
It’s also worth noting that the number one cause of workplace accidents is slips, trips, and falls. Fixed Entrance Mat Cleaning promotes a safe walking environment and contributes to a healthier workplace with fewer allergens.
Why is floor mat hygiene important?
Clean mats make a great first impression, and commercial mat cleaning also creates a healthy, safe environment for employees and customers while providing a barrier that protects flooring from scratches and spills.
Multiple factors can affect floor mat durability and lifespan, but using a professional mat cleaning service can help counteract wear and tear, preventing early replacement of expensive materials.
It’s also worth noting that the number one cause of workplace accidents is slips, trips, and falls. Fixed Entrance Mat Cleaning promotes a safe walking environment and contributes to a healthier workplace with fewer allergens.
How often should different types of floor mats be cleaned?
Depending on foot traffic and the materials used, commercial mats require a general cleaning schedule:
- Daily shaking, sweeping or vacuuming
- Weekly mopping with a mild detergent and spot cleaning as necessary
- Monthly cleaning with safe-to-use detergents
- Commercial deep cleaning every 3-6 months
For hygiene best practice, here’s our cleaning breakdown by location and mat type:
Entrance mats
Commercial Entrance Mats in high-traffic areas require a daily shake to get rid of any debris, plus vacuuming to dislodge dirt particles. Pay attention to any spills and stains and deal with them immediately. Wash entrance mats weekly with a mild detergent. A three-monthly deep clean will help your entrance mats look their best and stand up to heavy foot traffic.
Kitchen floor mats
Daily cleaning is critical in high-grease zones like a commercial kitchen. Shake and vacuum mats in high-traffic areas, and clean up any spills immediately. Commercial floor cleaning is vital for hygiene in kitchens and hospitals, helping to prevent bacteria build-up.
Urinal mats
Urinal Mats require regular cleaning. Aim to change mats every 5-7 days in high-use areas and thoroughly clean the floor underneath to reduce bacteria. Properly dispose of disposable mats, or wash reusable ones using an appropriate detergent.
Rubber mats
Different mats require different cleaning methods, and Rubber Mats require special treatment to stop them from degrading. Avoid bleach and solvents. Instead, clean highly durable rubber mats outside every 1-3 months using a pressure washer. Spot-clean as needed to deal with spills, and give them a daily shake to remove dirt and debris.
Logo or carpet mats
Logo or carpet mats are designed to make a great first impression. Keep them looking their best with daily vacuuming (essential in high-traffic areas) and a weekly stain treatment. We recommend our commercial mat cleaning service every 3-6 months to protect your investment from excess wear and tear.
Need superior floor mat hygiene for your business? Read our guide to the hygiene plus points of phs floor mats.
What are the basics of cleaning different mat types?
Effective cleaning involves daily and weekly routines to establish optimum floor mat hygiene. Here’s a simple five-step maintenance routine to get you started:
1. Remove loose dirt and debris.
It’s vital to remove loose dirt before it has a chance to get ground in or tracked through your building. Rubber mats should be dry-brushed, while fabric mats should be vacuumed gently. Small, non-fixed mats can be shaken outdoors vigorously to dislodge any debris.
2. Vacuum/sweep daily
Use an industrial vacuum cleaner with adjustable height settings to extract as much dirt as possible. Start with backwards and forward passes in high traffic areas, and use bristle attachments and crevice tools to dislodge hidden debris.
3. Spot cleaning for stubborn stains.
Stains should be treated immediately using an appropriate method for your commercial mats. Blot stains gently to prevent damage before applying a cleaning solution, and always work from the outside in.
4. Wash, rinse and dry thoroughly.
Robust rubber and vinyl matting can be cleaned frequently using a damp mop. For most high-traffic mats, spraying on a warm water and dish soap solution will do the trick. It’s imperative that you rinse and thoroughly dry your mats before use to avoid slip risks.
5. Always clean underneath.
For optimum floor mat hygiene, always vacuum or mop the floor underneath your mats. Using a commercial floor cleaning service will help prevent build-up and discolouration, resulting in longer-lasting floors.
Additional tips for keeping commercial mats clean
- Assess your mats before cleaning and track patterns of dirt accumulation.
- Always do a spot test on an inconspicuous area before you use a new cleaning product.
- Invest in a HEPA filter to trap fine dust particles and improve air quality.
- Keep a cleaning log that records how often you clean your mats and the specific products and methods you use.
- Schedule deep cleaning every 3-6 months with a professional mat-cleaning service.
Contact phs for trusted commercial floor mat maintenance services
As the UK’s leading commercial mat service provider, we offer a range of advanced hygiene services, including mat cleaning and floorcare maintenance.
Contact us today to find out how the phs team can help extend the lifespan and professional appearance of your commercial floor mats. We support over 120,000 customers across the UK, and will be more than happy to help you and your business.