Keeping your floors properly clean and maintained is something that needs to be taken care of the entire year. Especially during wintertime, having mats that are appropriate for your business is essential.
Why do mats matter?
More than 80 per cent of dirt in any building comes from being tracked in by pedestrians through entrances and doorways. According to the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), it can cost as much as $600 to remove a single pound of dirt from a single commercial facility, and for every dollar spent keeping dirt out of a facility, it saves the $10 it would cost to remove it once inside. With proper matting, most of that dirt is absorbed before it has a chance to get inside your facility, which results in reduced cleaning costs, fewer slip and falls and improving the longevity of facility floors.
Mats that absorb moisture can even improve indoor air quality by preventing dust and dirt particles from being spread through the air.
Four Considerations To Choose The Right Kind Of Matting
1. Different Mats Work Together
The best arrangement of mats consists of three different types that work best to capture as much dirt and debris as possible. The first kind is a scraper mat that traps and removes coarse debris including gravel and ice melt pellets, which work best when placed just outside the entry of the building. Within the doorway both wiper and scraper mats are the best choice for capturing sand and snow. Further inside the building, wiper mats trap fine dust and the remaining moisture.
2. Consider The Length
The more steps people take on a mat, the more effective will be. Most people entering a building don’t stop to wipe their feet, which means mats have to have enough length and substance for the majority of dirt and moisture to be captured by the mat. Just 30 per cent of dirt is trapped in the first three feet of matting, making it critical to follow the ‘Rule of 15s’ – five feet of scraper, five feet of wiper/scraper, and five feet of wiper mats – installed at all entryways. Entrances with low foot traffic need mats with a minimum of 15 feet of appropriate matting to ensure 85 per cent of soil entering their facility is trapped within the matting. If you need help choosing the right length of matting for your facility, contact your local Bunzl cleaning and hygiene expert today!
3. The Importance Of Entry Mat Cleaning
To uphold the impeccable performance of your entrance mat, a well-structured maintenance protocol is key. The frequency of this protocol hinges upon several critical factors, including the extent of dirt accumulation, the influx of foot traffic into your establishment, and where the foot traffic comes from. For instance, the entrance connected to a bustling street will inevitably confront greater levels of dirt and moisture than an entryway linked to a parking garage.
Explore our comprehensive Winter Matting Maintenance article for insights into preserving your winter matting.
4. The Solution of Being Proactive
The best time to consider matting solutions is before the seasons change. However, it’s not too late to assess your facility’s matting needs and prepare your space for the coming ice, snow and sand by speaking with Bunzl Cleaning & Hygiene experts today!
Did you know we can help customize and brand your entrance matting? Contact us to learn more.
