The WaterHog family of products works so well that many customers ask how to clean them effectively. One might think since they trap more dirt, debris and moisture than just about any other residential or commercial floor mat on the market, they can become soiled themselves in a hurry. But in reality, they just collect more dirt and would need cleaning less because the dirt is trapped below the surface.

While many measure cleanliness by different rules, there are certain measures consistent with good housekeeping that most will find acceptable. First, let us all agree that it is better to contain the maximum amount of moisture and soil at the doorways, instead of allowing the contaminants to be tracked into any facility. This alone will pay for any extra time needed to clean a more effective matting system. That being said, one can still reduce maintenance time by know how to clean a WaterHog rug. Our customers come to us all the time with WaterHog cleaning questions, such as: What type of vacuum should you use for loose dirt? How do you clean pee from a WaterHog mat? Are WaterHog mats machine-washable? (Short answer: yes, if you have a heavy-duty machine.) We hope this guide will help WaterHog owners maintain a great-looking mat at their home or business.

The Six Biggest WaterHog Cleaning Tips

We have surveyed many janitorial reps who have experience with WaterHog mats. One thing everyone agrees on is that end-users do not maintain the mats with enough consistency. The longer one allows soil to build up in a WaterHog mat, the longer it takes to clean it. Sticking to a regular cleaning schedule can greatly reduce the overall time spent on maintenance.

As for the most effective way to clean WaterHog mats, here is what the industry experts say:

1. Clean with enough frequency to prevent soil and water build-up, according to the amount of foot traffic and weather conditions outside.

2. Make sure that the equipment being used is in good working order. Vacuum bags should be replaced frequently while belts and brushes should be working.

3. Make certain that the equipment is being used properly. This creates the most effective results. Many cleaners try to vacuum at light speed to save time. However, this reduces the effectiveness and results in longer cleaning times as the job has to be done over again.

4. Consider soil types before cleaning. Is the soil wet or dry? Are there sticky or loose impediments? Are you dealing with stains or heavy soil? o For wet soils, a self-contained extractor with a brush and vac system is recommended. Several passes may be necessary at a slow speed to attain the best results. o For dry soils, a good two-motor vacuum with the brush adjusted all the way down will give you the most agitation of the soil and best results. Backpack vacuums offer a higher CFM than some uprights, but more passes over the mat are needed to compensate for the lack of agitation.

5. For dry, crusty salt stains, it is recommended that the mat be soaked in hot water with a neutral soap solution for half an hour and extracted as per wet soils above.

6. If your WaterHog mat is stained, you may use various carpet spotting solutions to loosen the soil stuck to the fibers. WaterHog mats are solution-dyed, so you need not worry about the colorfastness.

Keep Your WaterHog Mats Beautiful

By following these tips and advice, your mats will be effective and look great for years to come. If you have further questions about how to clean a WaterHog, call or email the Ultimate Mats staff. Our customer service team can help you with specific situations or recommend various cleaning products that are proven to be effective on WaterHog mats.