With summer long gone and fall being half over, winter is on the doorstep. It will not be long now before the snow and sleet arrive in full force. For many companies, this is a signal to throw down the rubber floor mats. Here is what we want you to know: rubber floor mats are more than just a cleanliness thing. Make them part of your routine floor care for safety and maintenance reasons as well.
Organizations can purchase their own floor mats or rent them from commercial providers. Either way, they are an important tool for keeping employees and guests safe during the winter months. Throwing down rubber floor mats also protects floors and makes routine maintenance easier.
More About the Basic Floor Mat
The basic floor mat designed for all-weather use offers a number of key features ideal during the winter months. First is a rubber backing to prevent slipping and sliding. The backing holds firmly to the floor, limiting the amount of water that can get underneath. The mat grips the floor rather than slipping.
Next is the surface that guests actually walk on. Some mats have a carpeted surface that absorbs moisture. As it becomes saturated, the moisture is wicked away to the surface underneath.
Other types of floor mats feature a rubber walking surface that has been scuffed and treated to provide traction. Small holes allow water to flow through rather than collecting on the top. These types of mats are not as aesthetically attractive as their carpeted counterparts, but they are just as effective at preventing slips and falls.
Safety Is the Primary Concern
As stated earlier, throwing down rubber floor mats during the winter is about more than cleanliness. Sure, you want clean floors even during the rough winter months. But safety is the primary concern here.
Commercial cleaning services can take care of dirty floors. It is nothing to clean up snow, salt, and winter grime. But professional cleaning will not do much if a guest slips, falls, and breaks a leg. That’s the last thing an organization wants.
Safety is a primary concern because none of us really wants to see someone injure themself on a slippery floor. But there is the liability issue to consider as well. Failing to take every possible step to prevent slip-and-fall accidents opens a company to liability. As such, liability concerns dictate using rubber floor mats during the winter.
Keeping the Dirt Contained
From a cleaning perspective, rubber floor mats make things easier on janitorial crews by keeping the dirt somewhat contained. Imagine a typical scenario. Without a floor mat in place, a guest arriving with wet and dirty shoes simply walks across the floor and tracks all that stuff with them.
On the other hand, a rubber floor mat encourages the guest to wipe their feet before proceeding. Most of the water, salt, and grime is left in the area of the mat as the guest walk song. Floors stay cleaner overall.
Don’t Do Winter Without Them
Regardless of how your business handles daily janitorial tasks and routine cleaning, be sure to utilize rubber floor mats during the winter months. Don’t do winter without them. Rubber floor mats keep you, your team, and your guests safer. They make life easier on cleaners and lend themselves well to better long-term floor maintenance.
As long as you’re thinking about floors, we invite you to consider All Pro Cleaning Systems’ commercial cleaning services as well. All Pro Cleaning Systems provides services for office, industrial, warehouse, medical (no hospitals are nursing homes), and retail spaces.
