Winter Entrance Matting Guide
How do you keep winter slush off commercial floors?
Short answer: with a layered entrance matting system. Think about 15 feet of mats, split into three zones and cleaned on a schedule. Get that right and most of the snow, salt and grit stops at the door instead of ending up on your floors.
Okanagan winters are sneaky. One day it’s sunny on the lake, the next your lobby looks like a ski chalet boot room. Every set of boots that walks in brings slush, gravel and road salt along for the ride. That mess wears down floors, eats up cleaning time and turns tile into a slip hazard.
The good news? Your best defence is already sitting at your front door. Here’s how to make your mats actually pull their weight this winter.
Why does entrance matting matter so much in winter?
Entrance mats are the cheapest floor protection you’ll ever buy. According to the Winter Matting Guide from our friends at Bunzl Cleaning & Hygiene, up to 80% of the dirt and moisture in a building comes in through the front door, and every $1 spent on matting can save up to $10 in dirt removal.
A solid matting program pays off in three ways:
- Lower cleaning costs. Less grit on the floor means less labour, fewer chemicals and less wear on equipment, right when winter pushes those costs up.
- Longer-lasting floors. Road salt and gravel act like sandpaper on finishes. Stop them at the mat and your floors (and your floor care budget) go a lot further.
- Fewer slips and falls. Wet tile is a liability. Dry feet are happy feet, and a happy insurance provider.
For property managers and strata councils, a clean, dry entrance protects more than floors. It’s the first thing tenants, owners and visitors see, so it protects your building’s reputation and your investment too.
How much matting does a commercial entrance need?
Aim for at least 15 feet of matting from the door inward, roughly 5 feet in each of three zones. That’s enough for most people to take several steps on matting, even if they never stop to wipe their feet.
One mat can’t do every job. Each zone has its own:
- Outside: scraper mats (about 5 ft). Tough, aggressive surfaces knock off snow, ice and gravel before they get inside. Keep them under an awning or overhang, since a mat left fully exposed can freeze into its own slip hazard. Heavy-duty rubber or drainable mats are made for this spot.
- The vestibule: scraper/wiper mats (about 5 ft). These catch the leftover grit and start soaking up moisture. Look for absorbent fibres that can handle wet boots all day.
- Just inside: drying mats (about 5 ft). The final pass picks up fine dust and the last of the moisture before anyone reaches bare flooring.
No vestibule? Stretch the wiper and drying zones inside the door to keep the full 15 feet.
What are the most common entrance matting mistakes?
Plenty of buildings have mats. Far fewer have mats that work. These are the ones we see most often around the Okanagan:
- Mats that are too short. A single doormat catches the first step or two. Everything after that lands on your floor.
- One type of mat for everything. A cosy indoor mat at the front door won’t scrape off packed snow, and a scraper mat inside won’t dry anyone’s boots.
- Mats that don’t fit the space. If a mat is narrower than the doorway or doesn’t follow the way people actually walk in, slush goes around it.
- Mats that never get cleaned. A saturated, grit-packed mat stops trapping dirt and starts spreading it. At that point it’s a hazard, not a help.
How often should commercial floor mats be cleaned in winter?
Vacuum entrance mats daily in winter, and deep clean them regularly, and even more often when the slush and salt are flying. A mat only protects your floors while it still has room to hold dirt and water.
A simple winter routine looks like this:
- Every day: vacuum mats to lift loose grit, paying extra attention to the high-traffic paths.
- As needed: wet-vacuum soaked mats after big snow days so they don’t overflow onto the floor.
- On a schedule: deep clean or extract mats to pull out embedded salt and moisture. Salt left in the fibres keeps tracking white residue onto your floors.
- Through the season: check for curled edges, worn spots and gaps in coverage, and move or add mats as traffic patterns change.
Treat your mats as part of your floor care program, not an afterthought. They’re working harder than anything else in the building this time of year.
Let Good Sorts handle the dirty work
Good Sorts rents, sells and professionally cleans commercial floor mats for businesses and strata buildings in Kelowna and across the Okanagan. You get the right mats at the door, swapped out clean whenever you need them. No wrestling soggy mats into the dumpster. Sweet as.
- Rent or buy. Short-term winter rentals or long-term mats built to last. Your call.
- The right mat for each zone. Entrance, drainable, anti-fatigue and custom logo mats, including durable M + A Matting rubber mats.
- Clean mats, delivered. Scheduled or on-demand pickups, with a 24-hour turnaround.
- Branded options. Add your logo or colours so your entrance looks sharp and stays safe.
- Your one-stop shop. No need to book separate companies. We handle mats alongside our floor care, carpet cleaning and janitorial services.
Winter’s coming either way, so let’s get you sorted. Don’t stress the mess. Request a quote, call 1 (250) 800 8386 or holla at holla@goodsorts.ca.
Winter matting FAQs
What is the 15-foot rule for entrance mats?
It’s an industry guideline that says commercial entrances should have at least 15 feet of matting: about 5 feet of scraper, 5 feet of wiper and 5 feet of drying mats. That length captures most of the dirt and moisture on people’s shoes before they reach the floor.
Should entrance mats go outside in winter?
Yes, but only under cover. Put scraper mats under an awning or overhang. Mats left fully exposed can freeze and become slippery themselves.
Is it better to rent or buy commercial floor mats?
Renting suits seasonal or short-term needs, like getting through winter. Buying makes sense for permanent, high-traffic entrances, especially with long-lasting rubber mats. Good Sorts offers both.
How long do commercial floor mats last?
With quality rubber mats and proper care, commercial floor mats can last up to 3 years, depending on how much traffic they see.
Can I get floor mats with my company logo?
Yes. Good Sorts can customize mats with your logo or brand colours.
Does Good Sorts offer mat service outside Kelowna?
Yes. We serve the Okanagan, including West Kelowna, Lake Country, Vernon, Penticton, Summerland and Peachland. Not sure about your area? Holla at us and we’ll let you know.
