Quick answer: A recessed mat well is designed to let grit, sand and water fall through the matting and out of sight, which is exactly why it needs its own cleaning routine. Vacuum the mat surface on a daily or every-other-day cycle, then lift or roll the matting back on a planned schedule so you can vacuum the well base, clear the channels, let the well dry and put the mat back level with the floor. If the well is never opened, the dirt the mat removed is still in the building, just underneath it.
Rawlins has supplied cleaning equipment, chemicals and matting to UK businesses since 1981. This guide is for facilities managers and contract cleaning teams who look after fitted entrance matting. It follows on from our machine guide to entrance mat care and focuses on the part of the system most people forget: the well underneath.
What collects in a mat well?
Recessed systems work by taking dirt and moisture below the walking surface. The Rawlins page for Premium Track Entrance Matting, for example, describes nylon carpet inserts set in a PVC base that "allows water and debris to fall below the surface, reducing tracking into interior floors". That is good for the floor beyond the door, but it means the well base slowly fills with:
- Grit and sand that drops through the tile or channel gaps and settles in corners and along the frame edges.
- Water from wet footwear, trolley wheels and cleaning, which can sit in the base if the well has no drainage and the matting is never lifted.
- Litter and leaves, which can hold moisture against the well floor.
Left alone, that layer can lift the matting and leave a damp, dirty base that undoes the point of the matting.
How to lift and clean a recessed mat well
Always start with the maker's own instructions for your system. Interlocking tiles, roll-up aluminium systems and loose mats in a well are handled differently. The steps below follow COBA's published cleaning and maintenance guide, which covers both interlocking tiles and rollable aluminium matting.
1. Prepare the entrance
Pick a quiet period before opening or after close, keep a clear walkway past the work area, and have a vacuum, stiff brush, dustpan and somewhere flat to put the matting.
2. Vacuum the mat surface first
Remove loose soil from the top first, so less falls into the well while you lift. An upright with a rotating brush, such as the SEBO Automatic XP20, a brand Rawlins sells, suits carpet-faced entrance tiles. COBA notes that a vacuum with a rotating brush gives the best results on its matting.
3. Lift or roll back the matting, section by section
- Interlocking tiles with carpet inserts (Premium Track type): COBA says these tiles can be rolled and moved so the dirt in the recessed well can be vacuumed. The Premium Track page adds that individual tiles "can be removed, cleaned, or replaced without disturbing the rest of the matting system".
- Roll-up aluminium systems: COBA's guidance is to roll the mat back carefully, section by section, and never drag it, because dragging can cause damage. For closed (non-rollable) aluminium matting, COBA says to keep to daily vacuuming and wipe the aluminium channels with a mild detergent to help free soiling.
- Modular textile tiles such as REPP-Tile or Waterhog Eco Premier Matting Tiles: check how they were installed first. The Eco Premier page says the tiles can be free-laid or adhered with solvent-free adhesives, so tiles that have been stuck down should not be prised up as part of routine cleaning.
4. Clean the well base and frame
Sweep or vacuum the base thoroughly, paying attention to corners and the edge of the frame where grit packs in. Pick out litter by hand. If the base is wet, soak up standing water and let it air-dry before putting the matting back.
5. Clear the channels and the underside
COBA says any debris caught in the channels of the matting should be removed before the mat goes back. Knock out trapped grit and check the underside for damp or damage.
Drying and re-laying the matting
Wet cleaning needs a drying step. COBA recommends keeping Premier Track-type tiles connected and in place when they are cleaned by hot-water extraction, although the whole matting can be lifted out of the well without disconnecting the tiles if preferred. It also warns that open-surface mats will need to be lifted after extraction to remove moisture, because the water that passes through the mat is unlikely to be pulled back into the machine.
When you re-lay:
- Put tiles back in the same orientation. COBA's Premier Track specification notes that its slip test results are based on the correct direction of travel, perpendicular to the channels and inserts.
- Make sure every tile is fully clipped in and no section has ridden up on grit left in the well.
- Walk the whole mat and the frame edge. Anything that rocks, lifts or catches a foot should be fixed before the entrance reopens.
How often should a mat well be cleaned?
Footfall, weather and matting type all change the answer. COBA's guide gives these frequencies for entrance matting by traffic level; we've added the lift-and-clean step as a starting point you should adjust after the first few inspections.
| Traffic level | Vacuum the mat surface (COBA) | Hot-water extraction (COBA) | Lift and clean the well (suggested starting point) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Every 2–3 days | Annually | Monthly |
| Medium | Daily | Every 6 months | Fortnightly to monthly |
| Heavy | Daily | Quarterly | Weekly, and after storms or snow |
For rollable systems with an open surface, COBA itself suggests rolling back and cleaning the well weekly or monthly. Record each lift in your entrance cleaning log.
Keeping the mat level: an accessibility point
Approved Document M, volume 2 (buildings other than dwellings) says that where mat wells are provided, the surface of the mat should be level with the surface of the adjacent floor finish. It also says internal floor surfaces next to the threshold should not impede the movement of wheelchairs. You can read both points in the Approved Document M volume 2 PDF on GOV.UK.
That is a design standard, but cleaning affects it: packed grit, an unclipped tile or a worn mat can all leave a lip at the frame edge. HSE's slips and trips hazard-spotting checklist (CK4) lists mats with curled-up edges as a trip hazard and says to fix down mat edges or replace the mat if necessary. Make a level check part of every lift-and-clean.
Mat well inspection checklist
- Mat surface is level with the surrounding floor all the way round the frame.
- No standing water or damp smell when the matting is lifted.
- Well base and corners are free of packed grit, litter and leaves.
- Frame is secure, with no loose or raised sections.
- All tiles are clipped in, facing the right way, with no cracked or worn inserts.
- The floor beyond the mat stays free of grit and water on wet days.
FAQ
Do I need to lift a recessed entrance mat to clean it?
Yes, on a planned schedule. Daily vacuuming cleans the surface, but debris that has fallen through stays in the well until the matting is lifted and the base is vacuumed.
Can I use a hot-water extractor on matting in a mat well?
Check your maker's guidance first. COBA recommends keeping its interlocking carpet-insert tiles connected and in place during extraction, and says open-surface mats need lifting afterwards because water that passes through the mat is unlikely to be extracted back into the machine.
How do I stop tiles lifting after cleaning?
Clear grit from the well and tile channels before re-laying, refit every tile fully and the right way round, and replace tiles that no longer sit flat.
Does a mat well need to be level with the floor?
Approved Document M volume 2 says that where mat wells are provided, the surface of the mat should be level with the surface of the adjacent floor finish.
Need help with fitted entrance matting?
Rawlins supplies recessed and modular entrance matting and the cleaning kit to look after it. For advice on an existing mat well, call us on 0121 351 4444, email werner@rawlins.co.uk or use our contact page.
