It takes 1,000 people only one day to drag 24 pounds of grime into your building during the winter. When used in combination with other measures like hard floor cleaning and carpet care, mats can help minimize the amount of dirt that gets in and prevent visitors from tracking it farther as they move around your space.
But are you using the right matting?
Keep reading to learn the five tips and tricks of wintertime matting:
1. Get Off to the Right Start
With matting, the first thing you need to do is introduce it to your door (or doors). Leaving a space between the two means moisture and soils won’t be caught early, making your floors dirtier faster and leading to slips and falls if residue isn’t cleaned promptly.
What are the five benefits of day porter and matron services? Read our blog to find out!
2. Find the Right Type of Mat for Your Building
Building managers will find themselves presented with a range of options including:
- Scraper/Recessed Well Matting: This is ideal for high-traffic areas. The wells prevent mats from moving and minimize risks for falls, while raised edges effectively scrape dirt off footwear. This type of matting is also easy to clean.
- Scraper/Wiper Matting: These types of mats are made with tough, durable fabrics that are raised to provide even better wiping action than their recessed counterparts.
- Wiper Matting: This is your last line of defence against winter grime, getting rid of any residual moisture and trapping dust to enhance indoor air quality.
Comprehensive matting systems typically incorporate at least two (if not three) different styles of mat.
3. Take Into Account the Weight of Your Mats
The lighter a mat is, the more likely it is to fold and shift. This will prevent it from trapping moisture and make it easier for people to trip and fall.
Heavier mats are better at keeping their positions, staying flat and absorbent even with heavy seasonal use.
4. Choose Longer Mats for Your Building’s Entranceways
The guideline to remember here is the “Rule of 15,” which says that buildings should have 15 feet of matting of various types to stop dirt at the door.
5. Keep Your Mats (and Floors) Clean!
To help your building stay clean through the winter and keep occupants and guests safe, you need to keep your floors and mats fresh throughout the winter:
- Vacuum regularly (with either a wet or dry vacuum depending on the type of flooring) to remove built-up moisture, dirt, and dust.
- Carry out routine maintenance like spot cleaning with neutral cleaning agents. Make sure mats are able to dry thoroughly before putting them back in their place. Some mats (especially nylon) will take longer to dry than others.
- Perform deep cleaning as needed with solvent-free cleaners to get rid of troublesome marks (grease, gum, etc.).
- Clean the floor around and under the mat to help improve its grip and discourage it from shifting as people walk on it.
The right cleaning frequency will depend on the amount and type of foot traffic your building receives. Some locations will benefit from spot treatments a few times a day, while others can be looked after a few times a week.
Work with a professional cleaning company to determine the schedule that’s best suited to your unique needs.
At Sunshine Building Maintenance, we will treat your floors according to their unique requirements. Our cleaning team members are fully bonded. Contact us today to discuss your cleaning needs!
Read more on floor maintenance from Sunshine Building Maintenance:
