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Public Safety · Project Guide
Updated October 20262 min readMilitary & First Responders

Cleaning Mats and Rubber Floors in a Fire Training Center

Training floors and mats see sweat, boots, and many users each day. This guide gives the cleaning steps our care guides recommend.

Pro Command EditorialBased on our product pages and guides

In this article

  1. Clean rubber floors
  2. Disinfect shared mats
  3. What to avoid
  4. Large rooms and large mats

Key takeaways

  • Use a pH-neutral cleaner on rubber floors
  • Do not soak rubber floors or mats when you mop
  • Disinfect shared mats after every use
  • Use a scrubber machine on large rooms and large mats
Clean the training floor on a schedule, not only when it looks dirty.

Clean rubber floors

Our rubber care guide says to clean the floor at least once a week. High-traffic areas can need daily cleaning. The best cleaner for rubber is a pH-neutral cleaner, often mixed with warm water. To disinfect the floor, the guide recommends a mild solution of alcohol and water. Follow these steps:

  • Sweep: use a broom, or a vacuum without a beater brush.
  • Spot clean: scrub set-in stains with a soft-bristle brush. Use a scraper for gum, but not a metal scraper.
  • Mop: use a nylon, microfiber, or sponge mop.
  • Dry: let the floor air dry. To dry it faster, remove extra water with a wet vacuum first.

Disinfect shared mats

Our gym mat guide says to wipe and disinfect a mat after every use. Sweep or vacuum the mat. Wipe it with a damp cloth or microfiber mop and a cleaner for the mat type. Let the mat air dry before use. A carpet-topped mat needs vacuuming and carpet shampoo, not a vinyl cleaner.

Our Gym Cleaner / Disinfectant is a spray that you do not dilute with water. Spray it on equipment where people touch or sweat on it. Then let it air dry, or wipe it off after a few minutes. It is also a deodorizer, virucide, and fungicide.

Need cleaners for your training floors?

Tell us the floor types and the room sizes. We will match the cleaners to them.

What to avoid

  • Solvent or oil cleaners: our rubber care guide names Pine-Sol, Lysol, Murphy’s Oil Soap, WD40, and paint thinner. They break down the floor over time.
  • Too much water on rubber: do not soak the floor, especially rubber tiles with many seams.
  • Too much water on mats: do not let water sit on a mat. Extra liquid can damage the foam core.
  • Sealer on black rubber: a sealer is usually not needed or recommended on recycled rubber that is mostly black.

Large rooms and large mats

A mop and bucket are slow on a large floor. For large rubber areas, our care guide suggests an automatic floor scrubber or a buffing machine with a contact pad or a soft nylon brush. For a large mat, use a large damp microfiber mop or a mat scrubbing machine.

Sources

Floor careTraining matsProject guide
Pro Command Editorial

Practical flooring guidance for commercial buyers, contractors, and facilities teams, written from FlooringInc product pages, category pages and guides.