How to Clean Entrance Mats
An entrance mat works harder than almost anything else in your building, catching the grit, moisture and oil that would otherwise end up ground into your floors. Knowing how to clean entrance mats properly decides whether that mat is still protecting your business in three years, or looking flat and grubby after three months.
Not every mat wants the same treatment. A natural coir mat, a rubber-backed carpet mat and a vinyl-loop scraper mat are built from different materials, and cleaning them the wrong way can wreck them faster than the foot traffic ever would. Here is how to get it right for each one, and how to tell when a mat has earned its retirement.
Quick take
Coir, rubber-backed carpet and vinyl-loop mats all need different care. Here's how to clean entrance mats properly by material, so they keep protecting your floors and your image for years.
Why Proper Cleaning Matters More Than People Think
An entrance mat is doing a job, not just sitting there. It is the first thing customers, staff and visitors step on, and a clean, well-kept mat says something about how the whole business is run. A dirty, curling or smelly one says the opposite, even if the rest of the space is spotless.
There is a practical side too. A mat that is regularly cleaned keeps trapping grit and moisture instead of shedding it back onto your floors, protecting timber, tiles and vinyl from scratching and staining. It also helps reduce slip hazards near entries, which matters for meeting your workplace's WHS obligations, especially in wet weather.
How to Clean Entrance Mats by Material Type
The single biggest mistake we see is treating every mat the same way. The right cleaning method depends entirely on what the mat is made from.
- Coir mats: Natural coconut fibre matting, like our Coir Matting 17mm Natural, should be shaken out or vacuumed regularly rather than soaked. Coir absorbs water, so avoid saturating it or using harsh chemical cleaners that break down the fibres over time. If it needs a proper clean, a stiff dry brush and a light detergent wipe is usually enough, followed by full drying before it goes back into a doorway.
- Rubber-backed carpet mats: Mats like our RainGuard Welcome Mat handle moisture far better thanks to their rubber backing. Vacuum the surface a few times a week, spot clean stains as they happen, and give it an occasional hose down or shampoo, then lay it flat to dry so the backing does not curl or crack.
- Vinyl-loop and rubber scraper mats: Heavy-duty designs such as our Waterhog Classic Mat are built to be scrubbed. Hose them out, use a stiff broom or pressure washer on the loops to dig out embedded grit, and let them air dry. These mats are the most forgiving of the three when it comes to a proper deep clean.
A Simple Cleaning Routine That Actually Gets Followed
The best cleaning schedule is one that is simple enough to stick to. Most entrance mats only need a few minutes of attention to stay in good shape:
- Vacuum or shake out daily to weekly, depending on foot traffic
- Spot clean spills and stains as soon as they happen, before they set in
- Give the mat a proper deep clean monthly, using the method suited to its material
- Always dry mats fully and flat before returning them to the entrance, to avoid mould, odour and backing damage
- Rotate or lift mats occasionally to let the floor underneath breathe and dry out too
High-traffic entries and anywhere prone to wet weather will need more frequent attention than a quiet office foyer.
When to Replace Rather Than Clean
Even a well-maintained entrance mat will not last forever. Flattened pile that no longer springs back, curling or cracking edges, and a musty smell that survives a proper clean are all signs it has stopped doing its job. At that point, cleaning is just delaying the inevitable, and a worn mat can become a trip hazard rather than a safety feature.
A mat matched to the right material and cleaned consistently will comfortably outlast a mismatched one, so getting the cleaning right from day one is the cheapest way to extend its working life.
FAQs
How often should entrance mats be cleaned?
Vacuum or shake out high-traffic mats daily, and give every mat a proper deep clean at least monthly. Wet weather and busy entries call for more frequent attention.
Can you hose down an entrance mat?
Rubber-backed carpet and vinyl-loop mats can generally be hosed down and left to dry flat. Natural coir mats should not be soaked, since the fibres hold moisture and can develop mould if they do not dry out fully.
Why does my entrance mat smell musty?
A musty smell usually means moisture has been trapped in the mat or the floor beneath it, often from drying it while folded or leaving it down on a damp floor. Regular full drying and the occasional lift-and-air fixes most cases.
Find the Right Mat for Easier Cleaning
The easiest mat to maintain is one built for the conditions it faces. For heavy wet-weather traffic, the scraping and water-channelling design of the Waterhog Classic Mat makes cleanup fast and keeps grit off your floors in the first place. For a smart-looking welcome that still stands up to a hose or shampoo, the RainGuard Welcome Mat pairs a rubber backing with genuine scraping performance. And for a natural look with proven scraping ability, our Coir Matting 17mm Natural is worth a look, provided it stays dry and is cleaned gently.
Browse the full range in our entrance mats collection, or explore natural fibre options in our coir mats collection, and pick the mat that will be easiest to keep looking sharp for years to come.
