Since winter walk-off mats will fill with water and soil, proper
maintenance is essential. This is also a challenge since the very days when the mats need
the most attention are likely to be the days when offices are short of people to do the
work.
Mats should be vacuumed to remove dry soil at least daily. If your
building has a hard surface floor, e.g., marble or terrazzo, small sand particles will
ruin this expensive floor in a very short time. If your building has carpeted entrances,
sand, salt, and other residue will act like small razor blades and cut the yarn at the
base of the carpet, in effect cutting the life of your carpet in half.
Rotate the mats in your building frequently. This will help to get more
life out of your investment.
If the weather gets bad, vacuum more frequently, using a wet vac if
necessary. Mats should also be periodically cleaned by extraction. This should help extend
the life and ease the maintenance of your walk off mats. If mats are heavily soaked, be
sure to wet vac them on a dry hard surface for the best results.
Extra sets of matting should be available to replace the original matting
when it becomes saturated with dirt or water. This allows for cleaning of the original
matting at another location. Wet cleaning of mats, whether by extractor or power washer,
should be done at a designated cleaning area, and not at the mat’s point of use. This
will protect both the mat and the surrounding flooring.
