Removing heavy mud and dirt from boots and shoes can be very difficult if you don't have the right mats in place. The wet weather brings with it more mud, but there are several industries which can have a muddy problem all year round. Here's the Mats4U quick guide to which mat or mats you need to deal with heavy mud and dirt.
Best mat for removing mud outside?
The type of mat you need depends on if the mat is going to be exposed to the elements or not. If the mat is to be placed outside, it will need to be resistant to all types of weather. Changes in temperatures, snow, ice and rain can crack, split or curl inferior mats. The best mat to choose for going outside is an all rubber scraper mat.
Here's a sample of suitable heavy duty, weather resistant rubber mats for placing outdoors that we supply at Mats4U:
Superscrape Outdoor Scraper Mat:
Raised rubber nubs scrape heavy mud off footwear. The dam system means the mud is stored on the mat until cleaned away at a later stage.
Fingertip Rubber Outdoor Mat :
Uses thousands of scraper tips to remove the heavy mud. The dirt falls to the lower level of the mat where it is stored until cleaning.
Comfort Flow Outdoor Entrance Mat:
Raised scraper nubs remove the dirt which then falls through the holes in the mat. Water also flows directly through the mat and so off the standing surface. The mat can be lifted for cleaning the mud away.
Best mat for taking off mud indoors?
If the mat is to be placed indoors then you're best to have a mat which has a bit of scraping, but also drying properties too. To remove the mud, you need a mat which will scrape the mud off footwear but will also hold onto it so that it is not tracked off the mat as subsequent people walk over it. Â To remove the water you need drying fibres and a mat that is capable of holding a good deal of water.
A standard mat can become quickly saturated with mud and water, particularly in very wet or busy conditions. When this happens the mat will no longer be able to hold onto the dirt or remove any more and therefore becomes ineffective. The water can begin to seep off the edges of the mat onto surrounding floors which can damage flooring or cause a slip hazard.
What you need for an effective interior mat is a bi-level mat. One that has an upper surface to scrape and wipe footwear and a lower surface to store a good quantity of mud and water until it is removed or has time to dry off.
Here's a sample of the bi-level heavy duty entrance mats we do on Mats4U.
Waterhog Classic Bi-Level Entrance Mat:
Crushproof reinforced rubber nubs give good scraping and wiping action. The water damn can hold onto a hefty 6.5 litres of water per square metre.
Waterhog Eco Bi-Level Entrance Mat:
As per the Waterhog Classic mat, but with a 25% heavier pile for even tougher conditions. The Eco choice of mat is actually made out of recycled plastic bottles and used car tyres.
Need help choosing?
If you want to speak to an expert and get the right mat/s for your individual needs you can speak to the sales team at Mats4U on 0121 313 6478.
