The Right Mat for the Job

05 October 2020
Anonymous
The Right Mat for the Job

Floor matting is an important, though generally unnoticed, component of countless working environments—from factories to kitchens to corner offices, matting is one of the few common threads. But not all mats serve the same purposes. Understanding a little bit about the most common types will help you make sure that you’re using the right floor coverings in the proper places and maintaining them for the longest possible life.

Entrance Mats

Entrance mats, as the name implies, are intended to be placed inside the entrances of commercial, retail, and office buildings to catch dirt and water (or snow) from the shoes of people coming into the space. These mats are typically either made of textured rubber or synthetic fabric with a rubber backing to scrape away and collect dirt, and they feature a lip to hold water or other spilled liquids. These can easily be cleaned with water and, when necessary, any detergent or degreaser safe for rubber and/or synthetic fabrics.

Scraper Mats

Scraper mats are a compliment to entrance mats. They’re typically placed outside of entryways and have coarser, more purpose-built scraping elements to remove heavier dirt and snow buildup on boots and shoes. Scraper mats are almost always made of heavy rubber or vinyl since they’re primarily intended to sit outside, so they’re easy to clean with water alone.

It should also be noted that scraper mats are sometimes used as inside entrance mats, as well. This is most frequently seen in areas with heavy winter snowfall (and resulting use of salt on roads and walkways) or areas where dirt is especially heavy, like offices on construction sites.

Wiper Mats

Wiper mats are, for all intents and purposes, an alternative to entrance mats. They’re generally made of tough synthetic fibers like olefin and usually have rubber or vinyl backing to grip floors. As the name suggests, these are meant for people entering the space to wipe their feet to trap water and dirt in the mat. These are sometimes used in place of entrance mats in customer-facing areas like retail or office entryways, and they are almost always paired with outdoor scraper mats for the best results.

Wiper mats will require slightly more gentle (and regular) cleaning than all-rubber mats, but the durable synthetic fabrics typically used will stand up to most fabric-safe cleaners and degreasers.

Drainage Mats

Drainage mats are typically found in food preparation spaces—restaurant kitchens, commercial processing and cooking facilities, bars, etc. These mats are relatively tall and have openings that channel liquids down to the floor, which offers workers sure footing over the types of spills that are common in food prep. These mats are usually made of heavy rubber for increased grip.

Because they’re made of material meant to be resistant to common kitchen spills and have large openings intended to channel liquid downward, drainage mats are very easy to clean. Under most circumstances, they can be sprayed with degreaser and then flushed clean with a hose or bucket of water.

Trust Gergely’s Maintenance King as your professional partner. We stock a wide range of floor mats to suit most needs, and our knowledgeable customer service representatives are available to help you make the right choice for your business.

View All Entries