Obviously, you should always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before washing any commercial mat. But it’s not complicated, and we even prepared a pdf file specifically for washing urinal mats.
Here’s what you need to know:
- We generally recommend (unless the manufacturer says something different) a break temperature of 140oF.
- Drying is usually not necessary. If the mats have a lot of lint you can put them in the dryer on air (no heat) for a few minutes.
- It’s a good idea to wear latex gloves when handling soiled bathroom mats to minimize any contact with microbes, but there’s no evidence that you are at high risk of catching anything from them. If you’re allergic to latex, then there are lots of non-latex gloves available. Furthermore, most of the bathroom mats have anti-microbial technology built into them. This not only cuts down on microbes, but also the odor that tends to come with them.
- The OSHA doesn’t consider housekeeping or maintenance staff to be particularly at risk from coming in contact with urine, unless the urine is obviously mixed with blood, but further says that the onus is on the employer to determine if an employee is at risk while doing his or her job.
- Wash them frequently as they will get dirty quickly.
- Lay mats flat to dry.
- Be sure to have more than one set of mats so that you can immediately put a clean one down while the dirty ones are being washed or drying.
The fact is that bathrooms tend to get wet floors, whether it’s from sloppy bathroom users or leaky plumbing. Wet floors contribute to slip, trip, and fall accidents. So, putting mats in your bathrooms is an easy way to improve the safety record in your commercial space.
Do you have other questions? We have been providing sales and installation of commercial flooring products to the following market segments for over 35 years: Corporate, Education, Hospitality, Government and the commercial real estate community. It’s easy to contact us, and we’re happy to help. You can always call us at (301) 762-2000 or email us at sales@eaglemat.net for more information.
