Commercial mat cleaning and care is the difference between a mat that lasts 18 months and one that lasts 5 years. The mats in your facility are working every single day — capturing dirt, absorbing moisture, scraping debris off thousands of shoes. But they can only do that job if they are maintained properly. A neglected mat does not just look bad. It stops functioning, becomes a safety hazard, and needs replacement years ahead of schedule.
The good news is that maintaining commercial mats is not complicated. It takes minutes per day, and the return on that time investment is enormous. This guide covers the specific cleaning routines for every mat type, organized by frequency, so you can build a maintenance schedule that keeps your mats performing at their best for as long as possible, the ROI of making mats last longer .
Before getting into the how, here is why it matters beyond just appearance.
A dirty mat is a mat that has stopped working. When the surface fibers of an entrance mat are packed with dirt, they can no longer trap new dirt. Moisture sits on top instead of being absorbed into the fibers. The mat becomes a smooth, contaminated surface — exactly the kind of surface that causes slip-and-fall incidents. According to the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), proper mat maintenance is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce interior cleaning costs and extend floor life.
Dirty mats also degrade faster. Grit trapped in the fibers acts like sandpaper, grinding the surface material every time someone steps on it. This accelerates fiber wear, crushes the pile flat, and breaks down the backing material. A mat that should last 4 years in your lobby might only last 2 if it is never vacuumed, when it is finally time to replace them.
The financial impact is real. Replacing a set of 6 entrance mats costs $500 to $1,000. Maintaining them properly costs essentially nothing beyond the time your janitorial staff already spends cleaning. Commercial mat cleaning and care is one of the highest-ROI maintenance activities in any facility. Use our ROI Calculator to see how much proper matting maintenance can save your facility over 5 years.
Daily cleaning takes 2 to 5 minutes per mat and should happen at the end of each business day or during off-peak hours, proper cleaning and care.
Vacuum the surface thoroughly using a commercial upright vacuum. Vacuum in multiple directions — not just back and forth — to pull dirt from the bi-level channels in WaterHog mats. For scraper mats, shake off loose debris outdoors if the mat is small enough, or use a stiff broom to sweep between the cleats.
If your entrance experiences heavy rain or snow, check mats mid-day. A saturated mat needs to be swapped out or allowed to dry. A mat that stays waterlogged for hours will develop odor and mildew. Having a backup mat to rotate during wet weather is a smart investment.
Sweep off surface debris and food particles. In kitchen environments, hose off anti-fatigue mats at the end of each shift with clean water. For drainage mats like the Comfort Flow, lift the mat and sweep underneath — debris falls through the drainage holes and accumulates on the floor below. Wipe down solid-surface anti-fatigue mats with a damp cloth.
CleanShield restroom mats are designed for 30-day replacement cycles, but daily spot-cleaning extends their effectiveness during that period. Wipe the surface with a neutral-pH cleaner and allow to air dry. Check the built-in TimeStrip indicator — when it signals replacement time, replace the mat. Do not try to extend CleanShield mats beyond their rated life.
Custom logo mats follow the same daily routine as their base mat type. A WaterHog Impressions logo mat is cleaned like a WaterHog. A ColorStar Impressions logo mat is cleaned like a ColorStar. Vacuum daily and treat them the same way you would the non-logo version.
Weekly cleaning is where you remove the deeper contamination that daily vacuuming misses.
Use a carpet extractor or hot water extraction machine on all carpeted entrance mats — WaterHog, ColorStar, Berber, and any Zone 3 carpeted mats. This pulls moisture, fine soil, and contaminants out of the lower fiber levels that vacuuming cannot reach.
If you do not have a carpet extractor, hose the mat off outdoors with clean water and a neutral-pH detergent. Scrub the surface with a deck brush in the direction of the pile. Rinse thoroughly — detergent residue left in the fibers attracts more dirt and accelerates re-soiling. Hang or prop the mat up to dry completely before placing it back in service. Never place a wet mat on a finished floor — trapped moisture causes floor damage.
Scrub anti-fatigue mats with a deck brush using hot water and neutral-pH detergent. For nitrile rubber mats in restaurant kitchens, use a degreasing cleaner approved for nitrile rubber. Do not use bleach or harsh solvents — they break down the nitrile compound and shorten the mat’s life.
For flow-through drainage mats, scrub both the top surface and the underside. Drainage holes clog with grease and food debris over time, reducing the mat’s ability to let liquids pass through.
Flip outdoor scraper mats over and shake out accumulated debris. Hose off both sides with a pressure washer or garden hose. Scraper mats are solid rubber and handle aggressive cleaning well — they are the most durable mats in your facility. Let them dry before placing back in position.
Monthly is when you assess condition and catch problems before they become safety hazards.
Walk every mat in your facility and check for these issues:
Edge curling or cracking. This is the most dangerous condition — curled edges create trip hazards and indicate the mat has reached or is approaching end of life. If edges are curling, the mat needs replacement regardless of how the rest of it looks. See our guide on when to replace commercial floor mats for more warning signs.
Fiber compression. Press your thumb firmly into the mat surface. If the fibers do not spring back within a second or two, the pile is permanently crushed and the mat has lost its ability to capture dirt and moisture effectively.
Backing deterioration. Flip the mat over and inspect the rubber backing. Look for crumbling, cracking, or separation from the surface material. Deteriorated backing causes the mat to slide on the floor, which is a safety hazard.
Odor. If a mat smells after cleaning, the contamination has penetrated the backing material and cannot be removed. This is especially common in restroom and kitchen mats. Replace the mat.
Drainage clogs. For flow-through mats, pour water on the surface and watch whether it drains through the holes. If water pools on top, the drainage holes are clogged beyond surface cleaning and the mat needs replacement.
If you have high-traffic and low-traffic entrances, rotate mats between them monthly. This distributes wear evenly and extends the life of all your mats. A mat at your main entrance (500+ daily crossings) wears significantly faster than one at a side door (50 daily crossings). Swapping them periodically balances the wear.
Photograph your mats monthly and keep a maintenance log. Document purchase dates, cleaning schedules, and condition assessments. This documentation serves two purposes. First, it helps you predict when replacements will be needed so you can budget accordingly. Second, it provides evidence of your maintenance program in the event of a slip-and-fall liability claim. For more on the liability angle, see our slip-and-fall prevention mats guide.
Once per quarter, give every mat in your facility a thorough deep clean.
Most M+A Matting products with nitrile rubber backing can be commercially laundered. This means running them through a commercial laundry facility — the same type that handles uniforms and linens. Commercial laundering removes deep-seated contamination that extraction and hosing cannot reach.
Important notes for commercial laundering:
Use the proper chemistry for PET yarn — M+A Matting recommends starting with 2 oz of detergent per cwt and 1 oz of alkali per cwt, plus 4 oz of hydrogen peroxide. Consult your chemical supplier for specific recommendations.
Wash temperature should not exceed 120°F (49°C). Higher temperatures can damage the rubber backing and cause shrinkage.
Tumble dry on low heat or hang to dry. Excessive heat in the dryer damages backing materials.
Not all mats are launderable. Mats with SBR rubber backing (standard WaterHog mats) should be cleaned by extraction and hosing, not commercial laundering. Mats with nitrile rubber backing (ColorStar Impressions, WaterHog Impressions HD) are safe for commercial laundering.
WaterHog mats: Extract or hose clean. These mats have SBR rubber backing and should not be put through a commercial washer. Scrub the bi-level channels with a stiff brush to remove embedded debris.
ColorStar Impressions: Can be commercially laundered (nitrile backed). Follow the chemistry guidelines above. The PET yarn maintains color vibrancy through laundering.
Logo mats: Follow the care instructions for the base mat type. Laundering will not damage the printed or inlaid logo when done at the recommended temperatures.
Anti-fatigue mats: Scrub with a degreasing cleaner, rinse thoroughly, and air dry. Do not put foam-backed anti-fatigue mats through a commercial washer — the foam will degrade.
Outdoor scraper mats: Pressure wash. These solid rubber mats can handle the most aggressive cleaning of any mat in your facility.
Different environments create different cleaning challenges. Here are the priorities by facility type.
Grease is the primary enemy. Kitchen anti-fatigue mats and drainage mats need daily hosing and weekly degreasing. Entrance mats in dining areas need daily vacuuming to remove food debris tracked from the kitchen. See our restaurant floor mats page for product-specific care recommendations.
High foot traffic and seasonal dirt (mud in spring, leaves in fall, sand year-round in Florida) mean entrance mats get heavily soiled. Daily vacuuming is non-negotiable. Weekly extraction during the school year keeps mats functional. Summer break is the ideal time for a full deep clean or replacement. See our school floor mats page for more.
Infection control adds a layer to standard cleaning. Healthcare facility mats should be cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants approved for use on rubber-backed mats. Antimicrobial mat surfaces help, but they do not replace regular cleaning.
Appearance is paramount. Hotel lobby mats should look fresh at all times — daily vacuuming plus spot-cleaning any visible stains immediately. Logo mats in the lobby are brand touchpoints and should be maintained to the same standard as any other guest-facing element.
Industrial mats face oil, coolant, metal shavings, and heavy equipment traffic. Weekly hosing is the minimum. Monthly inspection for backing damage is critical — industrial environments are harder on mat backing than any other setting.
Office building mats in lobbies and entrances need daily vacuuming and weekly extraction. Workstation anti-fatigue mats at standing desks need weekly wipe-downs. Monthly rotation between high-traffic and low-traffic entrances extends life.
Daily: Vacuum all entrance mats. Sweep anti-fatigue mats. Hose kitchen mats. Spot-clean restroom mats.
Weekly: Deep extract or hose and scrub all entrance mats. Degrease kitchen mats. Scrub drainage mat undersides. Hose outdoor scraper mats.
Monthly: Full inspection for curling, compression, backing damage, odor, and drainage clogs. Rotate high-traffic and low-traffic mats. Document condition with photos.
Quarterly: Commercial launder all nitrile-backed mats. Pressure wash outdoor rubber mats. Extract and deep scrub all remaining mats. Assess whether any mats need replacement.
As needed: Replace CleanShield restroom mats every 30 days per TimeStrip indicator. Replace any mat showing curled edges, crushed fibers, or backing deterioration immediately.
Proper commercial mat cleaning and care is simple, but it requires consistency. The routines in this guide will extend the life of every mat in your facility and keep them performing the way they were designed to.
When your mats do reach end of life — even with the best maintenance, every mat eventually does — we are here to help you choose the right replacements. Visit our Mat Care and Maintenance resource page for additional product-specific cleaning instructions, or request a free quote when you are ready for fresh mats.
Need advice on which mats to buy for easier maintenance? Call us at 954-751-9800. We have been helping facility managers maintain cleaner, safer buildings for over 45 years.
