CLEANING YOUR MAT
KEEPING YOUR MAT CLEAN
To help reduce the risk of athletes getting and spreading
infections,
prior
to each use, it is recommended that the
mat be properly disinfected with KenClean Plus or similar
disinfectant.
HELPFUL HINTS
1:
Clean and disinfect mats before each use.
2:
Clean and disinfect all hard, non-porous gear,
and surfaces such as wall mats and floor surfaces.
3:
Read and follow the instructions on your disinfectant.
4:
Your disinfectant should kill MRSA, trichophyton
mentogrophites (causative agent of ringworm), staph,
strep, herpes simplex, hepatitis B & C, and the Aids virus.
These germs must be listed on the label, or the product
may not kill them.
5:
Be aware that products claiming to provide 24/7
protection from microbes may just provide protection from
mold, mildew, odor, and stain-causing organisms, not
those that cause disease.
STAINS & MILDEW
Materials such as grease, tar, gum, or tape adhesive
can be removed with Goo Gone®, or Simple Green®,
available at most hardware stores. Tar can be removed,
but it will leave a permanent stain on the mat. When
removing stains or items from the mat surface, scrubbing
can be done using a soft cloth.
Mildew can be removed with a mildew stain remover
that can be purchased at most local building supply or
hardware centers. Allow the mat to fully dry after cleaning.
This helps decrease the formation of mildew.
ATHLETES & OTHER USES OF THE MAT
In addition to keeping mats clean, all users should be encouraged to:
Shower after each workout.
Wash workout clothes after each use.
Dry skin adequately.
Avoid wearing street shoes on mats or wrestling
shoes off the mats.
Wipe headgear down with alcohol pads or
disinfectant after each use.
Conduct daily total body skin inspections.
CLEANING YOUR MAT FOR THE FIRST TIME
STEP 1:
Use a Swiffer® or dry mop to gently remove as
much loose dirt as possible.
STEP 2:
Clean the mat with a mild soap detergent. Once
any loose dirt has been removed, you may use a mop or
soft cloth to wet the mat surface with a mixture of warm
water and a mild soap detergent. For most detergents,
use a ratio of 1 oz. (2 tbsp.) of detergent to one (1) gallon
of water. Do not allow water to seep underneath the mat
or puddle on the mat.
Puddles of water laying on the
mat can discolor the vinyl coating.
STEP 3:
Use a clean mop or soft cloths to remove excess
cleaning solution from the mat surface.
STEP 4:
After removing all the cleaning solution from the
mat surface, use clean water and a clean mop, sponge,
or soft cloth to remove any leftover residue from the mat
surface. It is important to change the water often.
DISINFECTING YOUR MAT BEFORE FIRST USE
STEP 5:
After cleaning your mat, the next step is to use a
clean, laundered mop with the proper ratio of disinfectant
product to water. Resilite recommends
KenClean Plus
(available from Resilite). Most disinfectants require that
a surface remain wet with the solution for 10 minutes in
order to give the disinfectant time to kill effectively.
NOTE:
Always read the label of
your disinfectant and follow the
manufacturers’ directions.
Use of
too little disinfectant will not disinfect
the mat properly.
Use of too much
disinfectant is wasteful, and your
mats may become slippery and
actually retain more dirt.
STEP 6:
Use a clean, dry mop or soft cloths to remove
excess cleaning solution from the mat surface.
STEP 7:
Allow the mat to fully dry.
Use of a fan will
decrease the drying time. Allowing the mat to fully dry
helps minimize formation of mildew. Puddles of water
lying on the mat can discolor the vinyl coating.
NOTE:
Never roll-up the mat when it is still wet or damp.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Athletes/users with open wounds, broken skin, or diseases of the skin should be discouraged from participating in mat workouts until the skin is healed or the athlete has been
cleared to participate by a licensed physician. If allowed to participate, the athlete/user should have the affected skin covered to prevent cross-contamination.
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