Commercial floor matting serves several purposes in commercial foodservice establishments. There are a few distinct types of matting available, each designed to enhance the experience of employees and guests.
The Importance of Floor Mats in a Food Service Operation
Safety
It’s no secret that the kitchen environment is chaotic at times. Food and drinks whirl about in frantic blurs while everyone is pushed to capacity to meet the demands of hungry guests. We all know that regardless of precautions, sometimes accidents happen; drinks spill, items get knocked over, hysteria ensues. In the U.S. each year, there are approximately eight million slip and fall accidents; however, it is possible to reduce this risk. Commercial floor matting first and foremost serves to address these safety concerns. Wet area mats and entryway mats, two different types that are both designed to reduce such risk, prevent workers from slipping in the kitchen, or customers from slipping upon entry.
Cleanliness
In addition to addressing everyday safety concerns, foodservice matting serves to enhance cleanliness and sanitation efforts. Commercial floor mats keep your space cleaner, designed to endure the natural wear and tear from commercial kitchens. They won’t easily deteriorate from food substance or cleaners, lasting for years. Many come specially designed for easy cleaning, so make sure to do your research to verify. Choosing the right mat can also help prevent cross contamination.
Comfort
Another solution floor matting provides in the kitchen or common work spaces is comfort for the workers. Standing for long stretches of times isn’t healthy; however, there are plenty of jobs, especially in a kitchen environment, that require this. Did you know that it only takes 90 minutes of standing for fatigue to set in? Not only is this uncomfortable, but can result in less concentration and, therefore, less productivity. Anti-fatigue mats reduce physical strain, preventing joint stiffness, back pain, foot pressure and headaches, while promoting good posture and increased focus and productivity. Anti-fatigue mats help workers feel refreshed and energized throughout their shift, while simultaneously adding traction to protect against slips and falls.
Branding
Matting also offers another opportunity to display your logo, sharing your brand and story with visitors. Many manufacturers offer customized mats to be placed strategically around establishments, such as at the entrance or reception area, to be used for advertising purposes.
Noted above and by its name, commercial anti-fatigue matting helps to alleviate fatigue that accompanies standing non-stop for hours on end. They’re designed specifically to ease the stress on legs and backs, and ideal to place beneath cash registers for the cashiers, host/hostess stations, assembly lines, or any singular spot in which the worker will be standing for a consecutive stretch of time.
These foodservice mats provide additional traction in wetter areas, reducing risk of slipping and enhancing overall safety. These mats are ideal in dish rooms and food prep areas, walk-in coolers, behind bars, outside ramps, etc.
Note that not all wet area mats are grease resistant, so consider how big of a factor this might play into your decision. Do you plan to place your mat in a commercial kitchen? How much grease is cleaned up at the end of the day? Does it splatter? Grease-resistant mats are extremely durable, able to stand up to grease while maintaining slip-resistance. They have a longer lifespan, not eroding as quickly as other mats.
Some wet area floor mats can also double as anti-fatigue mats, combining heavy-duty performance under slippery conditions with more comfort and less physical strain demanded on employees. These are especially important in a bar-setting for unbeatable comfort and safety for staff.
One of the biggest considerations for carpet and entrance mats is how they will look from your customer’s point of view. You’ll want to make sure they match your establishment’s aesthetic. Carpet mats serve to protect carpet in busy hallways and high traffic areas of your business. This helps to maintain overall flooring quality and business presentation.
A general-purpose entryway mat, sometimes referred to as a scraper mat, is great for guests to use to scrape off their shoes on their way in to avoid tracking in unwanted debris or water. There are some mats designed specifically for outside, serving the same purpose to scrape shoes prior to entering, while others are designed more for interior entryways or reception areas. If you plan to use your mat outside, make sure to double check that it is designed to withstand the exterior elements.
Interlocking mats, aso called Zone mats, have interlocking sections to allow for custom fit solutions. They are offered in center and end configurations so you can cover the required length of shape effectively. These mats are designed for more wet-areas, such as in locker rooms, behind bars, and poolside because they resist mold, bacteria and fungus growth.
Deep freeze mats are specifically designed to perform and hold up to deep freeze temperatures. Notrax offers a line of deep freeze mats that withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Deep freeze mats have added traction elements for slip-resistance. They are formulated for use in meat lockers and walk-ins with anti-microbial power.
As the name suggests, restroom mats offer slip-free spaces underneath urinals or toilets. Restrooms can be messy but having protection for guests and cleaners is important. Restroom mats are either easily cleaned or disposable.
Cleaning Your Restaurant Floor Matting
Cleaning your mats regularly is important for maintaining food safety and sanitation efforts. For general carpet and entryway mats, vacuum at the end of each day to pick up loose debris. In addition to daily vacuuming, interior mats should be cleaned routinely with a neutral carpet cleaner followed by a deep rinsing. Allow time for the mat to dry thoroughly before returning to service. You may also want to deep clean your interior carpets every once in a while. In this case, you can typically use any method used for carpeted floors. Use a solvent-free cleaner and make sure to rinse thoroughly, allowing sufficient time to dry. For outdoor entryway mats that are water and weather resistant, you can use a hose for a deeper cleaning. Prior to introducing your clean mat back into service, prepare the floor space where it will go by removing dust and dirt. This works to ensure the mat will grip to the floor more effectively with reduced movement due to foot traffic.
Clean anti-fatigue mats daily by sweeping to remove loose debris. The longer impurities sit, the more wear and tear they cause. Because of this, daily sweeping helps to extend overall product life. A weekly routine cleaning with a water-based cleaner is highly recommended to remove grease and oil. Even “grease-resistant” rubber matting can become affected by grease if contact is prolonged. Use cleaners that are strong enough to properly agitate to remove fats and oils. Solvent-based cleaners are not recommended for rubber anti-fatigue mats.
For rubber mats, a daily cleaning is recommended, but this is all dependent on usage. For a thorough clean, mix a mild detergent or non-butyl degreaser with hot water and use a brush or broom to scrub the mat, rinsing afterwards with hot water and setting out to properly dry.
A few important notes on cleaning rubber mats:
- Do not use bleach or any butyl-base degreaser because these will most likely void any product warranty
- Exposure to any other chemicals could potentially adversely affect the quality and service of the mat
- Improper cleaning and handling, such as running the mat through a commercial dishwasher, will shorten the expected lifespan of the mat and may void the warranty
Additional tips for cleaning restaurant floor mats include:
- Taking the mat outside. Cleaning kitchen mats on the kitchen floor can result in chemical contaminants finding their way into food, as well as excess water that could lead to slips and falls.
- Consider a mat transport rack. This makes it easier to maneuver mats around and allow for them to air dry properly.
- Use a deck brush and deck both sides of the mats with cleaning solution, paying special attention to the holes in the mat because this is where oil and grease is most likely to build up.
- Reinstall the mat over a clean, dry floor.
Cleaning your commercial mats regularly and correctly is the best way to ensure product longevity and quality of use, continuing to reduce the risk of injury due to slipping.
Matting Types
Commercial Floor Matting Accessories
There are additional accessories available to help users continue to get the most out of their commercial floor mats.
- Connectors are a popular accessory that allow for multiple mats to be linked together to cover more space.
- Ramps are a great accessory that improve the quality of foot traffic in the area because they enable better transport of goods across the space, eliminating rough protrusions and smoothing the transitions of travel. Ramps improve traction and reduce the risk of slips, stumbles and injuries.
- Corner pieces are similar to connectors and ramps as they can be used to link multiple mats together or assist in additional traction. They're designed to fit in corners.
- Transport racks, as discussed earlier, make it easier to maneuver mats around, while providing a convenient air-drying solution.
Browse our entire assortment of commercial matting and accessories here.
