Entrance mats: Why it is important to buy the best entrance mats

Did you know that on average 70-80% of all dirt inside a building has been brought in from the outside on people’s footwear?

Think about the cost of removing all this dirt. The associated cleaning costs, labour, cleaning equipment, electricity and chemicals involved. Think about the cost of replacing worn carpets and damaged hard flooring that has been caused by this dirt.

When all added together the costs are truly staggering, yet much of this cost can be prevented as long as your building has effective entrance mats put in place. So when you come to purchase your next entrance mat, do not base your decision on the initial cost of the mat, think about how effective the mat is and over what time period will it continue to perform. You would be better buying a mat for £100 which lasted 5 years, than a mat costing £50 and lasting 2.

You should check your existing entrance mats, because if they have worn down or if they have not been cleaned sufficiently, they will no longer be stopping dirt and moisture from entering your building. In which case you need to replace them to prevent your money going down the drain.

Below we’ve put together a guide to help you choose the best entrance mats.

 

 What an effective entrance mat must do:

1. Stop dirt and moisture from getting into your building

Choose a mat which scrapes and wipes footwear to remove dirt and moisture. Ensure the mat is big enough so that people make a number of steps on the mat in whichever direction they are travelling.

 2. Hold onto dirt and moisture until cleaned

An effective mat collects and stores dirt and moisture until it can be safely cleaned away at an appropriate time. Check that your mat says it will actually do this and explains how it does this.

3. Minimise tracking of dirt and moisture off the mat

Dirt and moisture should fall to the bottom of the pile where it will not be walked on directly and taken further off the mat. A mat that is bi-level (a scraper surface and lower well for dirt to fall into) will do this most effectively.

4. Ensure a safe walking surface

The mat should not be a slip, trip, or fall hazard. It should allow a smooth transition of footfall and wheelchair traffic. Coir mats and very deep pile mats which stop wheelchairs from turning will fall foul of this rule.

 

 Which entrance mats should I buy?:

We recommend you purchase an entrance matting system for the most effective way of preventing dirt from entering your building. If you only have enough budget to buy one mat, then at the very least purchase a good interior wiper / scraper entrance mat. Otherwise go for an entrance matting system comprising of:

1. An Exterior Scraper Mat

This is your first line of defence. The outdoor mat is used to scrape heavy mud, snow, sand and soil off footwear. It needs to be weather proof and durable. See the Mats4U outdoor mats range for examples of suitable mats.

2. An Interior Scraper / Wiper Mat

This is the one you need if you only buy one entrance mat, so make sure you get the most effective. The mat scrapes dirt from footwear as well as wiping off moisture to leave feet dryer and minimise slip hazards. See the entrance mats section on Mats4U for our recommendations of what to buy.

3. An Interior Finishing / Wiper Mat

The final line of defence. This mat’s main job is to finish off the drying process and remove any fine dirt particles that may still remain on the footwear. These mats can also be placed throughout the building in strategic places such as high-traffic areas (receptions, lifts, corridors, vending etc) to protect flooring. See the interior mats section on Mats4U for these mats.

If you need specific advice on choosing mats suitable for your premises, then give us a call on 0121 351 4444 or post a message here and we will point you in the right direction.