How to Clean Tufty Mats What Do Commercial Spaces Need Them?

Tufty mats or tufted mats are a common kind of flooring or carpet you may see when you’re entering a commercial place like an office, retail store or shopping centre. They are also a common household item known as welcome mats that are placed in from of the house entrance. Tufty mats have several benefits like reducing the amount of dust, keeping the interior cleaner and so on.

In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and disadvantages of tufty mats and how to clean and maintain them properly.

What is a Tufty Mat?

Tufty mats, also known as tufted mats are a type of floor mat made from specific yarn-like or organic fibres. Tufty mats are commonly used at the entrance to houses or other areas as their purpose is to prevent dust, mud and moisture from getting inside.

Generic Tufty Mat / Welcome Mat at Entrance

The term “tufted” comes from the original manufacturing process of tufty mats. First tufty mats had loops of yarn or fibre on a backing material (often rubber).

Different Types of Tufty Mats for Commercial Spaces

There are several types of tufty mats used for different purposes:

Fibre-based tufty mats: Preventing dust, mud and moisture from getting inside as people walk in.
Patterned or dotted fibre/rubber tufty mats: Has anti-slip surface and can prevent dust, mud and moisture from getting inside.
Rubber-based tufty mats: Has anti-slip surface and used for protecting the floor surface.
Punched rubber tufty mats: Heavy-duty rubber used in workshops and factories. Has an anti-slip and anti-fatigue surface.
Carpet-lined tufty mats: Preventing dust, mud and moisture from getting inside as well as aesthetic look.
Polypropylene/fabric interlocking tiles: General purpose tiling for offices and similar commercial spaces.

Where Are They Necessary?

Depending on the type of tufty mat, they are used in various spaces. However, the most places you may see a tufty mat is the entrance to any building, office, home, retail store or shopping centre. They are also used in office spaces as a surface to protect the floor below it when office furniture and chairs are placed or moved on it.

Tufty mats of anti-fatigue and anti-slip types are also common in industrial settings like workshops, commercial kitchens and similar settings where the floor may get slippery.

In general, any space with high foot traffic or any space where the floor may get slippery requires a tufty mat. This not only provides a safe surface to walk or work on but also helps with the general cleanliness of the space as tufty mats prevent dust and mud from entering the space when people walk in.

Advantages

Tufty mats have several benefits when used correctly in appropriate spaces. Here is a list of the most important benefits and advantages of tufty mats.

High Absorbency: Tufty mats have high absorbency, which prevents moisture from getting into the space. This is especially useful for properties situated in tropical and rainy climates.
Keeping Dust Away: Tufty mats trap dust inside as people walk on them when entering a building. Therefore, they keep the dust away from the interior and help with improving the interior air quality of the building.
Keeping Mud Away: Tufty mats stop mud from entering the building during the wet season when the weather is rainy or snowy. This is because as people walk in, they wipe mud on the tufty mat and clean the bottom of their shoes before entering.
Improve General Cleanliness: Tufty mats prevent dust, mud and moisture from getting into the space, which helps the space to remain clean for longer, reducing the cleaning frequency and overall cleaning costs.
Protects the Floor: Tufty mats, when used in office spaces and underneath each office workstation can protect the floor from scratches and other damages.
Have Anti-slip Surface: In many commercial and industrial settings, tufty mats provide a safe and anti-slip surface that absorbs or passes the liquid through and keeps the surface dry and safe.
Have Anti-Fatigue Surface: In commercial and industrial settings where staff and employees should stand while working, tufty mats can provide a comfortable feeling and prevent fatigue.
Aesthetic Properties: Tufty mats for retail stores or shopping centres are specifically designed to have stylish, modern looks to help with the aesthetics of the space while retaining all the benefits of general turfy mats.

Disadvantages

While tufty mats have several benefits, there are some disadvantages associated with tufty mats. However, the benefits of tufty mats still outweigh their disadvantages. Here’s a list of disadvantages of tufty mats.

High Wear & Tare Rate: Tufty mats have high wear and tear rates, especially in high foot traffic areas. Prolonged use of tufty mats will cause loops and fibres to flatten or snag over time which leads mats to lose the ability to trap dust or provide a comfortable surface to stand on.
High Initial Costs: High-quality tufty mats are often expensive. While this may not be an issue for homes or small commercial spaces where only a few tufty mats are required, it is a significant investment for larger spaces where many surfaces should be covered with tufty mats.
Retail Moisture: One of the properties of tufty mats is absorbing moisture. If they are not left to dry in open air, they can retain moisture for a long period of time. This may damage the flooring underneath it. Moisture in tufty mats may also cause mould growth and can enter the interior atmosphere and increase the humidity.
Cleaning Challenge: Tufty mats have a complex structure of inter-woven fibres. This turns cleaning and deep cleaning them into a challenge that requires skill, time and equipment.
Movement: While most tufty mats have non-slip backing, they may still move, shift or curl, making them a potential safety and tripping hazard.

How to Clean Tufty Mats

Tufty mats, like everything else, require cleaning and maintenance. Cleaning tufty mats can be divided into three types:

Regular cleaning
Spot cleaning
Deep cleaning

Regular cleaning of a tufty mat involves vacuuming it with the beater bar attachment or the brush attachment. It is recommended to vacuum tufty mats every day or every other day depending on the amount of foot traffic in the space.

Spot cleaning refers to cleaning spills and stains when they occur. This is a form of emergency carpet cleaning and can be done using regular cleaning solutions and a carpet cleaning brush or sponge.

Deep cleaning, on the other hand, requires skill and equipment. It is recommended to deep clean tufty mats once every 1 to 3 months depending on the amount of traffic in the space as well as the climate and overall condition of the property.

Tufty mat deep cleaning requires carpet shampooing or hot steam extractor carpet cleaner, which is a special carpet cleaning equipment. In the case of rubber-based mats, jet washing is a perfect way to deep clean tufted mats.

Drying tufted mats is also important. This is not only after deep cleaning but also in case tufted mats are wet and have absorbed too much moisture. The best way to dry tufty mats is by air drying. You can hang the tufted mat outside, in shade or in sunlight for 8 to 12 hours to completely dry it.

Conclusion

Tufty mats are commonly used in the entrance areas of commercial and residential buildings. They have several benefits that help with air quality and general cleanliness of the property. We explored tufty mats, their different types, benefits and disadvantages in this article. We also discussed how to clean tufty mats, how to deep clean them and how to dry them effectively.

The information in this article can help you make a better decision regarding investing in a good tufty mat for your commercial or residential space and what to expect when using it in a high-foot-traffic area. You can also use the information in this article to effectively clean and dry your tufty mats.

Benefits of Tufty Mats for Commercial Spaces & How to Clean Them