Floor mats have benefits for any facility – they can help keep dirt from being tracked inside, they keep your associates from slipping, they help prevent fatigue in people who are on their feet all day, and so much more. In fact, floor mats are incredibly important to help you maintain cleanliness and health.

So, do you have enough floor mats in your workplace? Are they working for you the way they should? We outline everything you need to know about floor mats below.

1. Do I need floor mats?

Yes – any building can use floor mats. Floor mats are integral to keeping a building clean. In fact, a good floor matting system can keep 80% of outdoor dirt from entering your facility. And, when utilized correctly, floor matting can contribute to a building’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) score.

2. What kind of floor mat backing I need?

Because floor mats have so many different purposes, they come in a variety of materials, sizes, and colors. A simple answer is that a cleated back is preferred on carpet and a vinyl or rubber back mat is preferred for any smooth surface.

Here are few more tips to help you choose the best floor mats for your facility:

• Your floor mats should have a backing that keeps the mat in place. Some mats come with an adhesive back to help keep the mat in place.
• On a non-carpeted surface you should choose a vinyl or rubber backed mat. For example, most entrances are not carpeted, it is common to use a vinyl or rubber backed mat in this area.
• The backing for entrances should keep moisture from passing through the mat to the floor. Again, this is typically vinyl or rubber.
• On a carpeted floor, use a cleated backed mat. The cleats dig into the carpet to keep it from moving.

3. Where should I place floor mats in my workplace?

There are three primary locations where you should place floor mats to keep dirt from entering your facility:

• On the exterior of all entrances to initially scrape feet.
• Inside all entrances to the facility.
• And, just beyond the entrance mats to finish cleaning and drying feet.

4. What are the benefits of owning floor mats, versus renting them?

Rental mats have to be small, light, and thin enough to be laundered – all qualities that are terrible for floor mats. The thinner your floor mat the more likely it is to move, wrinkle, and curl turning them into tripping hazards. In addition, most rental floor mats come in standard sizes, whereas when you purchase mats you can buy the exact size and shape you need.

5. How often should floor mats be cleaned?

How often you need to clean your floor mats depends on the traffic your mats receive and the current weather.

In general, we recommend vacuuming floor mats daily. This will help your floor mats last longer. And, depending on the foot traffic in your facility, give your floor mats a deep cleaning with a carpet cleaning machine once a month or quarter.

6. How often should I replace floor mats?

Floor mats can last a decade if you properly care for them. However, there are signs that they may need to be replaced sooner. Look for these signs that your floor mats need to be replaced:

• When visitors walk into your facility they leave behind footprints.
• Your janitorial staff is spending too much time cleaning dirt beyond your floor mats.
• Your floor mats no longer look clean after a deep cleaning.
• People frequently trip over wrinkles in your floors mats.
• The floor beneath your floor mats is getting damaged from water, salt, or dirt.

For more questions about floor matting and creating a floor matting system in your facility, contact us at (614) 863-1700.