How to Clean an Entrance Mat: A Complete Guide by Mat Type

An entrance mat is your first line of defence against dirt, grit and rainwater, but it can only do that job if it is kept clean. A mat that is full of grit or saturated with water simply passes the mess straight onto your floors. This guide explains how to clean an entrance mat properly, with daily, weekly and deep-clean routines and specific advice for coir, rubber, scraper, nylon and Waterhog-style, logo and washable mats.

Whether you look after a single front door mat at home or a full entrance system in a school, shop or office, the principles are the same: remove dry dirt often, deep clean with the method your mat can take, deal with stains quickly and always let the mat dry before it goes back down. The advice below is based on the care guidance Mats4U and our parent company Denis Rawlins Ltd publish for the mats we sell.

Table of Contents

• Quick Answer: How to Clean an Entrance Mat
• Why Cleaning Your Entrance Mat Matters
• Know Your Mat Before You Start
• How Often Should You Clean an Entrance Mat?
• How to Clean an Entrance Mat: Step by Step
• How to Clean Each Type of Entrance Mat
• Stain Removal: Tackling Spills with Stain Lift
• Drying and Relaying Your Mat Safely
• Common Mat Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid
• When to Replace an Entrance Mat
• Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Answer: How to Clean an Entrance Mat

• Daily (busy doors): vacuum, clear grit from the edges and check the mat lies flat.
• Weekly: shake or beat smaller mats outdoors, vacuum thoroughly and clean the floor underneath.
• When soil builds up: deep clean by hosing, pressure washing, extraction or laundering, depending on mat type.
• Straight away: blot and treat spills before they set.

Why Cleaning Your Entrance Mat Matters

Most of the dirt and moisture that ends up on your floors is carried in on shoes. A clean, well-maintained entrance mat scrapes that soil off and holds it below the walking surface, but every mat has a limit. Once the fibres are packed with grit or the mat is saturated, it stops working.

It Keeps Your Entrance Safer

Wet footprints spreading beyond the door are a common cause of slips. The Health and Safety Executive's leaflet Preventing slips and trips at work (INDG225) names entrance matting as one way to stop floors becoming contaminated, and its slips and trips hazard spotting checklist recommends large, absorbent entrance mats to dry shoes, as well as fixing down or replacing mats with curled edges. A mat only delivers those benefits if it is cleaned and kept in good condition.

It Protects Your Floors

Grit acts like sandpaper on carpets, wood, vinyl and tiles. Keeping the mat clean means more of that grit is trapped at the door instead of being ground into the floor further inside.

It Makes the Mat Last Longer

Dirt left in the pile wears fibres down, and a mat that stays damp can develop odours and break down faster. Regular cleaning keeps the pile upright and the mat absorbent for longer.

It Creates a Better First Impression

For businesses, the entrance mat is often the first thing a visitor notices, especially if it carries your logo. A clean mat says a lot about how well the rest of the building is looked after.

Know Your Mat Before You Start

The right cleaning method depends on what your mat is made of. Using the wrong method, for example soaking a coir mat or putting a heavy rubber-backed mat in a domestic washing machine, can damage the mat or the machine. Check the care label or product page first, or contact the Mats4U team if you are unsure.

Mat type	Routine clean	Deep clean	Avoid
Coir (coconut fibre)	Shake or beat, vacuum with strong suction	Stiff brush, minimal water, spot clean, dry carpet powder	Soaking, machine washing, steam cleaning
Rubber and rubber scraper mats	Sweep or brush, shake out	Deck brush with neutral-pH detergent, hose or pressure wash	Bleach and harsh solvents unless the maker approves them
Bi-level Waterhog-style mats	Upright vacuum with brush roll	Hose, extract or pressure wash with mild detergent	Bleach, petroleum-based products, commercial washers
Nylon and textile pile mats	Upright vacuum with brush roll	Hot-water extraction or carpet shampooer; launder if label allows	Too much shampoo, fabric conditioner
Logo and message mats	Vacuum	Hose or extraction; smaller sizes can be machine washed	Bleach, harsh scrubbing on the printed face
Washable cotton mats	Vacuum or shake	Machine wash	Fabric conditioner, tumble drying unless the label allows

What You Will Need

• An upright vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush roll (a commercial upright for busy entrances)
• A stiff brush or deck brush, and a soft brush for stains
• A hose, and a pressure washer for rubber and bi-level mats
• A mild or neutral-pH detergent
• Clean cloths for blotting, and a stain remover made for mats and textiles
• Somewhere to hang the mat to dry, and ideally a spare mat to put down while it dries

For businesses cleaning lots of mats, our sister company Denis Rawlins Ltd supplies commercial vacuums, extraction machines and cleaning chemicals suitable for entrance matting.

How Often Should You Clean an Entrance Mat?

How often you clean an entrance mat depends on footfall, the weather and the type of mat. As a starting point, vacuum busy entrance mats every day and quieter mats at least once a week, then increase the frequency in autumn and winter. WaterHog's maker recommends exactly that for its commercial mats: daily vacuuming in high-traffic entrances and weekly in lower-traffic ones.

Situation	Textile, nylon and Waterhog-style mats	Rubber and scraper mats	Coir mats
Home, light use, dry weather	Vacuum weekly; deep clean when soil builds up	Shake or hose when mud builds up	Shake and vacuum weekly
Busy business entrance	Vacuum daily; extract or hose as needed	Inspect daily; scrub and rinse when soiled	Vacuum daily; beat out loose mats regularly
Wet autumn and winter weather	Vacuum daily; remove standing water; swap for a dry spare when saturated	Clear mud and hose more often	Vacuum daily; let wet patches dry fully
Snow, grit and salt	Vacuum daily; lift the mat and clean the floor underneath more often	Hose off grit and salt; dry fully	Vacuum and beat out grit frequently

In workplaces, cleaning frequency should be written into your cleaning schedule and risk assessment. HSE's store entrance case study shows how a busy site reduced wet-weather slips by cleaning its entrance more often when footfall rose, switching from mopping to a wet vacuum and adding more matting. For a detailed machine-led rota, see the Rawlins entrance mat care guide for cleaning teams.

How to Clean an Entrance Mat: Step by Step

This general routine works for most entrance mats. Adjust the deep-clean step to suit your mat type, using the section below.

Step 1: Remove Loose Dirt

Take smaller mats outside and shake or beat them firmly to release grit, gravel and dried mud. For large or recessed mats, roll the mat back from one side and sweep underneath, then repeat from the other side.

Step 2: Vacuum Both Ways

Vacuum slowly in both directions with an upright vacuum cleaner. A rotating brush roll agitates the pile and lifts dirt out of the base of the mat; set the brush to its lowest setting on bi-level and textile mats. Make sure the mat is completely dry before you vacuum it.

Step 3: Clean the Floor Underneath

Dirt and moisture work their way under every mat. While the mat is up, sweep and clean the floor or mat well beneath it and let it dry. A clean, dry floor also helps the mat stay in place.

Step 4: Treat Any Stains

Spot treat stains before a deep clean so they do not spread. See the stain removal section below.

Step 5: Deep Clean When Needed

When vacuuming no longer lifts the soil, deep clean with the method your mat allows: hosing, pressure washing, hot-water extraction, a carpet shampooer or machine washing. Use a mild or neutral-pH detergent and rinse well, as leftover detergent attracts more dirt.

Step 6: Dry Completely

Hang the mat or stand it on its edge somewhere airy until it is completely dry, top and bottom.

Step 7: Relay and Check

Put the mat back only when both the mat and the floor are dry. Check that the corners and edges lie flat and the mat does not move underfoot.

How to Clean Each Type of Entrance Mat

How to Clean a Coir Mat

Coir is a natural fibre made from coconut husks. It is an excellent scraper, but it holds a lot of water and dries slowly, so the golden rule is to keep cleaning as dry as possible.

• Weekly: shake or beat the mat outdoors, then vacuum it with strong suction to reach dust deep in the fibres. In a mat well, lift the coir and clean the well underneath.
• If it gets wet or muddy: let mud dry first, then beat and brush it out with a stiff brush. Use only a little water for stubborn dirt.
• Stains: blot spills immediately, then spot clean sparingly with a little mild detergent and a soft brush. A dry carpet cleaning powder, vacuumed up once it has absorbed the stain, is another option.
• Avoid: soaking, machine washing and steam cleaning, which can damage coir fibres.
• Dry: always let coir air dry fully in a well-ventilated area before relaying, to prevent mould and mildew.

New coir mats often shed loose fibres for the first few weeks; regular vacuuming clears this. For more detail, read our Complete Guide to Coir Mat Maintenance or browse our coir mats.

How to Clean Rubber Mats

Rubber entrance mats and rubber scraper mats are among the easiest to clean. Mats4U's guidance is simply to use a hose and/or a pressure washer to blast off the dirt.

• Routine: sweep or brush off debris, or lift and shake smaller mats.
• Deep clean: scrub with a deck brush and a neutral-pH detergent, then rinse with a hose or pressure washer.
• Mats with holes: on open mats such as the Ringmat Honeycomb Rubber Mat, you may need higher pressure to clear debris from the holes, or lift the mat and brush the dirt away underneath.
• Avoid: bleach and harsh solvents unless the maker approves them. Our chemical compatibility chart shows which chemicals suit which mat materials.
• Dry: hang the mat to drain and dry fully. Never put a wet rubber mat back down.

How to Clean Outdoor Scraper and Brush Mats

Outdoor scraper mats take the heaviest mud and grit, so they need clearing often. Shake or sweep them out regularly, then hose them down when mud builds up. Synthetic brush mats such as the Colour Brush Mat can be shaken or vacuumed for routine cleaning and rinsed with a hose for a thorough clean; the synthetic fibres dry quickly. Simple rubber scrapers like the Value Rubber Scraper Mat can be cleaned with a hose or pressure washer.

Pairing an outdoor scraper mat with an indoor absorbent mat means less mud reaches the indoor mat, so both are easier to keep clean. Browse our outdoor entrance mats.

How to Clean Waterhog-Style and Nylon Mats

Bi-level mats such as the Waterhog Classic and Waterhog Eco Elite trap dirt and water between raised nubs, below shoe level. That design makes them very effective, but grit settles deep in the channels, so a brush roll is essential.

• Routine: vacuum daily at busy entrances and weekly at quieter ones, using an upright vacuum with the brush roll on its lowest setting. Smaller mats can be shaken out first.
• Deep clean: hose off, extract or pressure wash with a mild detergent when soil builds up.
• Pressure washing: WaterHog's care guidance is to apply a mild detergent first, use a 40° (white) nozzle, stay at or below 2,000 psi and keep the nozzle at least 30cm from the surface.
• Avoid: bleach, petroleum-based products and commercial washing machines. Waterhog mats are not recommended for areas exposed to grease or petroleum products.
• Dry: hang the mat to dry and lift it every few weeks to clean the floor underneath.

Nylon pile mats such as the Tri Grip Heavy Duty Mat should be vacuumed with a brush roll in the same way. For a deeper clean, use hot-water extraction or a carpet shampooer, just as you would your carpets, but do not use too much shampoo or the solution will become too foamy. The Rawlins guide on how to clean Waterhog mats sets out a full commercial rota.

How to Clean Logo Mats

Mats4U Heavy Duty Logo Mats are made in the UK, with your design dyed deep into a P.E.T. yarn face that is bonded to a nitrile rubber backing. Because the dye penetrates the fibres, the colours hold up well to regular cleaning.

• Routine: vacuum with an upright vacuum, working in both directions.
• Deep clean: hose down or use an extraction or carpet shampooing machine. Mats4U's logo and message mats are fully launderable, and smaller sizes can go straight into a washing machine.
• Avoid: bleach, fabric conditioner (it reduces absorbency) and aggressive scrubbing on the printed face.
• Coir logo mats: a Coir Logo Mat should be cleaned like any other coir mat: shake, beat and vacuum, and keep it dry.

Explore our full range of logo mats.

How to Clean Washable Indoor Mats

Lightweight indoor mats are the easiest to deep clean because many can simply go in the washing machine. The Cotton Fleck Entrance Mat, made from absorbent cotton fibres on a latex backing, is fully machine washable. Mats4U's cleaning guidance also lists the Tri Grip range and our welcome, message and logo mats as launderable, with smaller sizes able to go straight into a washing machine.

• Check the care label and your machine's capacity first. If you are unsure whether a mat is launderable, ask us before washing it.
• Use a mild detergent, no bleach and no fabric conditioner, which reduces the absorbency of the mat.
• Air dry the mat flat or hung up, unless the label says it can be tumble dried.

See our washable mats collection, or read more about the Cotton Fleck Entrance Mat.

Recessed Mats and Entrance Systems

Recessed mats and modular systems such as Frontrunner Plus Entrance Mats collect fine dirt in the mat well beneath. Vacuum the surface daily, and periodically roll or lift the matting to vacuum or sweep the well itself. Large, heavy mats are easier to handle if you roll them from one side to the middle, clean, then repeat from the other side.

Stain Removal: Tackling Spills with Stain Lift

Shop Stain Lift Ultra Strength Mat & Textile Stain Remover

Muddy marks, coffee, oil from car parks and food spills are all common on entrance mats. The faster you deal with a stain, the easier it is to remove. This general method works for most textile, nylon, Waterhog-style and logo mats:

1. Remove the excess: scrape off solids and blot liquid with a clean, dry cloth. Blot rather than rub, so you do not spread the stain or push it deeper.
2. Test first: try your stain remover on a hidden area of the mat to check for colourfastness.
3. Treat the stain: apply the product, give it time to work, then agitate gently with a soft brush.
4. Rinse or wipe: remove the residue with a damp cloth or a rinse, so no cleaner is left to attract dirt.
5. Dry: let the area air dry fully before the mat goes back into use.

Using Stain Lift on Your Mats

For stubborn marks, we recommend Stain Lift, a stain remover made specifically for mats and textiles. Stain Lift Ultra Strength Mat & Textile Stain Remover comes in a 500ml ready-to-use trigger spray, so there is nothing to measure, mix or dilute.

• Made for mats: the label promise is that it eliminates stubborn wine, blood, oil and grime on mats and textiles.
• Plant-powered and biodegradable: it contains more than 30% plant-derived non-ionic surfactants and vegetable extracts.
• Not classified as hazardous under GB CLP, according to its safety data sheet.
• Made in Britain.

How to Use Stain Lift

1. Prep: remove excess dirt or liquid with a clean cloth.
2. Apply: shake well and spray directly onto the stain.
3. Dwell: leave it for 1 to 2 minutes to break the stain down.
4. Lift: agitate gently with a soft brush or scour sponge.
5. Finish: wipe clean with a damp cloth and allow to air dry.

Always read the label and test in a hidden area first. You can find out more about what is in the bottle on the How it's Made page at stainlift.co.uk, and Stain Lift is also available from Mats4U on the Stain Lift product page. Keeping a bottle by the door, or on the cleaning trolley, means spills can be treated before they set.

Stain Tips by Mat Type

• Coir: use as little liquid as possible and let the area dry thoroughly. A dry carpet powder can help on coir.
• Waterhog-style mats: rinse first, use a bleach-free spot remover or mild detergent, rinse thoroughly and air dry. Never use bleach or petroleum-based products.
• Rubber mats: most marks scrub off with a neutral-pH detergent and a rinse; check our chemical compatibility chart before using anything stronger.
• Oil and grease: treat promptly and give the stain remover its full dwell time. If an entrance is regularly exposed to oil or grease, choose a mat suited to those conditions.

Drying and Relaying Your Mat Safely

Drying is the step most often rushed, and it matters. A damp mat goes back down, traps moisture against the floor and can develop odours, mildew or a slippery floor underneath.

• Hang it up: hang mats over a rail or stand them on their edge so water drains away and air reaches both sides. Never stack wet mats face to face.
• Dry the floor too: relay the mat only when both the mat and the floor beneath it are completely dry.
• Use a spare: on busy doors, keep a clean, dry spare mat to put down while the other dries. On wet days, swap as soon as the working mat stops absorbing water.
• Check it lies flat: curled edges and corners are a trip hazard. HSE's hazard spotting checklist advises fixing down mat edges or replacing the mat if necessary. If your mat moves, read our guide on how to stop mats moving.

Common Mat Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

• Vacuuming a wet mat: always let the mat dry before vacuuming it.
• Using bleach: bleach can discolour fibres and damage rubber backings.
• Using fabric conditioner: it coats the fibres and reduces absorbency.
• Too much shampoo: excess detergent leaves a sticky residue that attracts more dirt. Rinse well.
• Soaking coir: coir holds water and dries slowly, so keep water to a minimum.
• Machine washing the wrong mat: heavy rubber-backed and commercial bi-level mats can damage a domestic machine and the mat. Check the label first.
• Forgetting the floor underneath: grit under a mat scratches the floor and can make the mat slide.
• Relaying too soon: a damp mat on a damp floor is a slip and odour risk.

When to Replace an Entrance Mat

Even a well-cleaned mat will eventually wear out. Replace your entrance mat when:

• The edges or corners curl, lift or ripple and cannot be fixed flat.
• The pile, bristles or nubs are flattened or bald, especially in the main walking line.
• The backing is cracked, crumbling or no longer grips the floor.
• Wet or dirty footprints carry on past the mat, even straight after a thorough clean.
• Stains, odours or damp remain after deep cleaning and drying.

Wet footprints past the mat can also mean the mat is too small for the entrance. Our guide to choosing the right size door mat and mat placement guides will help you get it right. When you are ready to replace, browse our full range of entrance mats, including indoor entrance mats and rubber mats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you clean an entrance mat?

Shake or beat out loose grit, vacuum both ways with an upright vacuum using a brush roll, then deep clean when vacuuming no longer lifts the dirt. Rubber and bi-level mats such as Waterhog can be hosed or pressure washed; textile mats can be extracted or, if the care label allows, machine washed; coir should be kept as dry as possible. Always let the mat and the floor underneath dry fully before relaying it.

How often should you clean an entrance mat?

Vacuum busy entrance mats daily and quieter ones weekly, and clean more often in wet, muddy or wintry weather. Deep clean whenever vacuuming stops lifting the soil, or when the mat looks dark, smells damp or stops absorbing water. For workplaces, set the frequency in your cleaning schedule and risk assessment.

Can you put a door mat in the washing machine?

Only if the maker says it is launderable. Smaller logo and message mats, the Tri Grip range and the Cotton Fleck Entrance Mat can be machine washed, while coir mats and commercial Waterhog mats should not go in a washing machine. Use a mild detergent, no bleach and no fabric conditioner, then air dry.

Can you pressure wash an entrance mat?

Yes, for rubber scraper mats and bi-level mats such as Waterhog. WaterHog's own care guidance is to apply a mild detergent first, use a 40° (white) nozzle, stay at or below 2,000 psi and keep the nozzle at least 30cm from the surface. Do not pressure wash coir, and always let the mat dry completely before putting it back.

How do you clean a coir doormat?

Shake or beat the coir mat outdoors, then vacuum it with strong suction at least once a week. Spot clean stains sparingly with a little mild detergent and a soft brush, avoid soaking, machine washing and steam cleaning, and let any wet patches air dry fully in a well-ventilated area.

How do you get stains out of an entrance mat?

Act quickly: lift off any solids, blot liquid with a clean cloth, then use a stain remover made for mats and textiles. With Stain Lift, you spray the stain, leave it for 1 to 2 minutes, work it with a soft brush or scour sponge, wipe with a damp cloth and let it air dry. Always test on a hidden area first, and never use bleach or petroleum-based products on rubber-backed mats.

When should you replace an entrance mat?

Replace an entrance mat when its edges curl or lift and cannot be fixed flat, when the pile or bristles are flattened or bald, when the backing cracks or crumbles, or when wet footprints carry on past the mat even after a thorough clean. Curled mat edges are a trip hazard, so deal with them promptly.

Need Help Choosing or Cleaning Your Mats?

Mats4U is the matting trading name of Denis Rawlins Ltd, supplying entrance mats to homes and businesses across the UK. If you are not sure how to clean a particular mat, or you need a replacement, get in touch with our team. You can also see our mats in action on our demonstration videos page and our YouTube channel, read more in our mat cleaning FAQ and guide to cleaning your floor mats, and follow us on Facebook.