Quick answer: To clean commercial entrance mats, match the method to the mat: vacuum textile and nylon mats daily with a brush-roll upright, deep-clean them by hot-water extraction or hose when soil builds up, and scrub rubber scraper mats with a neutral-pH detergent before hanging them to dry. Raise the frequency in wet and winter weather, rotate spare mats so a wet mat never goes back down, and keep a small spot-stain kit on the trolley. Write the routine into the entrance cleaning schedule so contract cleaners and facilities managers work from the same plan.
Rawlins has supplied cleaning equipment, chemicals and matting to UK businesses since 1981. This machine guide is for cleaning teams and FMs, and it uses only methods the mat makers publish for the products we sell.
Match the method to the mat type
Entrance systems usually mix three surfaces. Cleaning them the same way wastes time and can damage the wrong mat.
- Textile / recycled PET mats — bi-level WaterHog mats in our WaterHog collection trap dirt and moisture between raised nubs. M+A Matting, a brand Rawlins sells, says commercial WaterHog mats are not launderable in commercial washers; vacuum them regularly and extract, clean or hose them off when soil is heavy, then hang them to dry.
- Nylon and polypropylene pile mats — Tri Grip Heavy-Duty uses ECONYL® regenerated nylon on nitrile rubber; Duraguard uses dense polyamide on anti-slip vinyl; Plush Vinyl Backed Mats use a polypropylene cut pile on flexible vinyl. Vacuum with a brush roll first; wet-clean only if the maker allows it.
- Rubber scraper mats — Superscrape Plus is 100% nitrile rubber. Care options are commercial laundering, autoclave sterilisation, or deck-brush washing with a neutral-pH detergent, then a hose or pressure-washer rinse and hang-dry. An outdoor nylon scraper such as Brush Hog cuts soil reaching the indoor mat.
For a WaterHog-only rota with pressure-wash limits, see our guide to cleaning WaterHog mats.
Daily: brush-roll vacuum technique
M+A Matting recommends vacuuming commercial WaterHog mats daily in high-traffic entrances and weekly in lower-traffic ones. Use that default for other textile entrance mats on a busy door.
- Clear grit from the mat edges and the floor just beyond the mat. HSE's slips and trips hazard-spotting checklist (CK4) flags the floor between the threshold and the entrance matting as a slip risk when wet.
- Use a commercial upright with a rotating brush roll. The SEBO Automatic XP20 (SEBO is a brand Rawlins sells) adjusts brush height on carpet and hard floors, so one pass covers the mat and the floor beyond it.
- Vacuum slowly both ways so the brush lifts grit from pile and WaterHog channels, not just the surface.
- Empty or change the bag when the machine signals; a full bag cuts suction.
- Check that edges and corners lie flat. CK4 lists curled mat edges as a trip hazard.
On wet days, take standing water off with a wet/dry vacuum between full cleans.
Periodic: extraction and drying
When vacuuming no longer lifts the soil, move to a wet method the maker allows.
Hot-water extraction (textile mats)
For commercial WaterHog mats, M+A says to extract, clean or hose off as needed to remove heavy soil. If your team already extracts carpets, use the same extractor on maker-approved textile entrance mats with a mild detergent, then rinse well. Hang to dry; relay only when the mat and floor underneath are dry.
We have not published a maker care sheet for every nylon or polypropylene mat we sell. For Tri Grip, Duraguard and Plush, vacuum daily and ask us or the maker before the first extraction.
Hose, brush and hang-dry (rubber scrapers)
For Superscrape Plus, scrub with a deck brush and neutral-pH detergent, rinse with a hose or pressure washer, and hang dry fully before reuse. Never put a wet rubber mat back down.
Drying rules for every mat
- Hang mats to dry where the maker says so (M+A for WaterHog; Superscrape Plus care for nitrile scrapers).
- Both the mat and the floor underneath must be dry before the mat goes back into service.
- Lift textile mats every few weeks and clean the floor beneath — WaterHog's care guide recommends that for every floor type.
Seasonal frequency table
HSE's leaflet Preventing slips and trips at work (INDG225) names entrance matting as a way to stop floors becoming contaminated, and tells employers to leave floors dry after cleaning. In an HSE supermarket entrance case study, wet-weather slips fell after the site raised foyer cleaning frequency with footfall, switched from mopping to a wet vac, and added extra matting.
Use this as a starting point; set final frequencies in the risk assessment and cleaning contract.
| Season / condition | Textile & nylon mats | Rubber scraper mats | Floor beyond the mat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry weather, low footfall | Vacuum weekly; extract when soil builds up | Shake or hose monthly, or when mud builds up | Clean and dry on the usual floor rota |
| Busy doors, any season | Vacuum daily; extract as needed | Inspect daily; scrub and hang-dry when soiled | Vacuum or sweep the threshold band daily |
| Wet autumn / winter | Vacuum daily; remove standing water between cleans; extract more often | Scrub and dry more often; swap to a spare when saturated | Increase cleans with footfall; prefer wet vac over mop |
| Snow, grit and salt | Vacuum daily; lift and clean the floor underneath more often | Hose off grit; hang dry fully | Clear grit past the mat; check for curled edges |
Rotation and spare mats
A saturated mat cannot protect the floor. Build spare mats into the contract so a wet mat can dry while a clean, dry mat is in service.
- Keep at least one spare of the main indoor size for each high-traffic door.
- On wet days, swap as soon as the working mat stops taking up water.
- Hang the wet mat to dry; never stack wet mats face to face.
- Pair an outdoor scraper with an indoor textile mat so less mud reaches the reception pile.
- Label each mat with its door and "in service / drying / spare" so teams do not relay a wet mat by mistake.
Spot-stain kit for the trolley
Keep a small kit on the entrance trolley so stains are treated before they set. For WaterHog mats, rinse first, then apply a bleach-free spot remover or mild detergent, work it in with a soft brush or cloth, wait 10 to 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly and air-dry. Never use bleach or petroleum-based products on WaterHog.
Kit for the method statement: soft brush and cloths; mild detergent and a bleach-free spot remover the maker allows; rinse spray; wet-floor signs and a spare dry mat; gloves; and log fields for door, time, stain, product, dry before relay, and initials. Patch-test new chemicals on a corner first.
Frequently asked questions
How often should commercial entrance mats be cleaned?
Set the frequency in your cleaning schedule and risk assessment. As a starting point, vacuum high-traffic textile mats daily and quieter ones weekly, as M+A recommends for commercial WaterHog, and raise frequency in wet weather. Deep-clean when vacuuming stops lifting soil, and scrub rubber scrapers when mud builds up.
What vacuum should cleaning teams use on entrance mats?
Use a commercial upright with a brush roll so grit comes out of the pile and channels. A machine such as the SEBO Automatic XP20, which adjusts brush height on carpet and hard floors, covers the mat and the floor beyond it in one pass.
Can you hot-water extract entrance mats?
Yes, where the maker allows it. M+A says to extract, clean or hose off commercial WaterHog mats when soil is heavy, then hang them to dry. For other textile mats, check the maker or ask us before the first extraction. Rubber scrapers such as Superscrape Plus are cleaned by laundering, autoclave or deck-brush washing, not carpet extraction.
Should wet entrance mats go back down after cleaning?
No. Hang mats to dry and only put them back when the mat and the floor underneath are completely dry. Use a spare mat so the entrance stays protected while the cleaned mat dries.
Need help with entrance mats and cleaning machines?
Browse our WaterHog mats, or ask us which uprights and mats suit your doors. Call 0121 351 4444, email werner@rawlins.co.uk or use our contact page.
