Good entrance mats mean cleaner premises

By Mike Yabrove

It sure is evident this winter season that it takes a lot of hard work and material to keep the floors clean and free of all the moisture, road salt residue, sand and grime from the outdoors. In fact, statistics show that 70 to 80% of the dust, grime and dirt in public buildings has been tracked in from the outside. Tracked in dirt can permanently scar hard surface floors and resilient tiles, while oil and grime tracked onto carpets become permanent stains.

Further studies show that one square yard of commercial grade carpet can accumulate one pound of dirt over a one week period and up to twice as much during inclement weather. The cost of removing a single pound of dirt can run in excess of $500.00. Dirt can cause nine out of ten computer failures! One of the most effective “preventative maintenance” measures that any facility can use is good quality entrance matting. A proper mat should be able to trap liquid and dirt. Some mats are also have static dissipative properties. Good entrance mats will also aid in preventing slips and falls which can lead to expensive liability issues.

Traditionally, rental mats have had a poor track record in this regard because of their design, however new advances in cleaning machinery have made it possible to rent better quality mats that will retain the dirt and moisture plus have much better aesthetic value. It is estimated that only about 10% of the dirt is removed from mats with a vacuum so it is important to have the mats properly cleaned on a regular basis especially during inclement weather. Be sure and keep those mats on the floor all year long. There is always dirt coming in no matter what the outside weather! For further information, contact Janitor’s Market Inc., 902-468-8082 or visit www.janitorsmarket.com.

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