Business owners and facility management companies alike are known to store rubber floor mats during the summer. A floor mat might remain in place at the main entrance, but the rest of the mats are typically stored away until winter’s foul weather returns. It is not a bad strategy for extending the life of a floor mat for as long as possible.
That said, there are better ways to store the mats in order to extend life even further. Rubber mats are like any other facility maintenance tool. Take care of them and they will last a long time. Proper care extends to off-season storage.
Always Clean Before Storage
The most important thing business owners and facility management companies can do is ensure that rubber floor mats are thoroughly cleaned and dried before storing them away. As tough a material as rubber is, it is still subject to degradation if dirt and debris gets embedded in it. On the other hand, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to clean mats before they are stored.
A typical rubber floor mat can be cleaned with a mild detergent and some water. You wet the mat down, scrub it with the water and detergent solution, and rinse it off with the hose. Then you hang it up and allow it to air dry.
Especially dirty mats or those with embedded stains may have to be cleaned professionally. Fortunately, most commercial laundries are capable of laundering rubber floor mats.
Roll Mats or Store Them Flat
Clean and dry mats should be stored either flat or rolled up. This is especially important for a facility management company that could potentially store hundreds of mats. Simply throwing them in a heap on the floor is a bad idea. Why? Because doing so could result in creases, cracks, and tears that are ultimately irreparable.
Ideally, rolling rubber floor mats up is the best option because a rolled mat is less likely to be damaged. Rolled mats are also easier to move and transport if necessary. When rolling is impossible, storing mats by laying them flat is still better than tossing them all in a huge pile.
The Storage Area Should Be Dry
The storage location for a company’s rubber floor mats should be dry. That may sound strange given the fact that floor mats are often utilized as protection against rain, sleet, and snow. But mats in storage can be a haven from mold and mildew if left in a wet environment.
We recommend choosing a storage location that remains consistently dry, has sufficient ventilation, and limits mat exposure to direct sunlight. And of course, floor mats should be thoroughly dried before rolling or stacking.
Don’t Place Heavy Objects on Top
There may be a temptation to place heavy objects on top of a stack of floor mats to save storage space. When floor mats are rolled, placing heavy objects on top can cause deformation – deformation that remains even when a mat is unrolled.
Storing heavy objects on top is less of an issue when floor mats are stacked flat. But it should still be avoided. Keeping floor mats separate from other stored items minimizes the risk of damaging them while in storage.
Small businesses and facility management companies that take good care of their rubber floor mats get the most out of them. As a cleaning company that also offers facility management services, we do everything we can to guarantee that our clients’ rubber floor mats last a long time and perform as expected. They deserve nothing less.
