Short answer: Many businesses start with a weekly swap in winter. Busy entrances, heavy storms or large buildings may need two visits a week. The best test is simple: if the mat is soaked, matted down or muddy by midday, it needs to be changed more often.
There is no universal schedule. How often a mat needs to be changed depends on how many people walk on it and what is on their shoes. In winter, both increase.
What makes a mat fill up faster
- Traffic. A door used by hundreds of people a day fills a mat quicker than a side door.
- Weather. Snow, slush and ice melt add water and grit.
- Length of the mat. A short mat gets saturated sooner because each step lands on a smaller area.
- Mat type. Absorbent mats hold water until they are full. Scraper mats hold grit but little liquid.
Signs a mat needs to be changed
- It is soaked, and water squishes when you step on it.
- Shoes come off the mat still wet.
- Grit and salt are packed into the surface.
- The edges curl, or the mat slides.
- There are wet footprints past the mat toward the main floor.
- It has started to smell.
If you see more than one of these, the mat has done what it can do for now.
How to set a swap schedule
- Start with weekly service. It works for many offices, shops and facilities.
- Watch for a month. Check the mats at the start and the end of the day. Note when they are saturated.
- Adjust. If a busy entrance is soaked before the week ends, add a second visit or an extra mat for that door.
- Plan for storms. Ask your provider how to add a swap after heavy snow.
- Keep a spare. If you manage your own mats, keep one dry mat per busy entrance to rotate.
A rental service takes the work away
With a rental program, clean mats are brought on a set route and used mats are taken away to be cleaned. You do not need to wash or dry anything, and worn mats are replaced. Read about the benefits of using a mat rental service or see our mat service.
A note on safety
A saturated mat becomes a slip hazard, not a protection. OSHA’s walking and working surfaces rule asks employers to keep floors clean and, as far as feasible, dry. Regular swaps are one of the easiest ways to follow it.
Frequently asked questions
Is weekly enough in winter? For many businesses, yes. Heavily used entrances may need more.
Can I ask for an extra swap after a storm? Many providers can arrange it. Ask your provider how extra visits are handled.
How do I know if my mats are too short? If they are soaked quickly and wet footprints continue past them, a longer mat or a second mat helps.
Ask us about your schedule
Balfurd Linen Service has served Pennsylvania businesses since 1927. Contact us to talk about the right mat schedule for your location.