How To Clean Your Martial Arts Mat

Martial arts mats are expensive so they need to be cleaned and maintained. They can also be hazardous to the health of martial arts students if they are not cleaned properly.

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Steps for Cleaning Your Martial Arts Mat

1. If possible, ask your students to keep their "street shoes" off the mat. Students should only use martial arts shoes or bare feet on the mat.
2. Sweep the mat every day in order to remove any debris. Small pebbles & dirt can tear up the mat.
3. Spot clean any problem areas with mild soap & water. Use the least amount possible in order to avoid getting water under the mats because this can cause mold to grow under the mat.
4. Do not use the mat cleaning equipment to clean other areas (i.e. bathroom) in order to avoid contaminating the mat.

Things to Avoid

1. According to About.com, when cleaning a mat, martial arts schools should avoid "Any acidic or acetone based chemical cleansers, or any solution that contains turpentine. Scouring pads, and steel wool sponges can slice and scar the surface of the rubber, damaging it during the cleaning process".

Reference Sources

1. About.com, How To Clean A Rubber Flooring Tiles, http://flooring.about.com/od/floor-cleaning/a/How-To-Clean-Rubber-Flooring-Tiles.htm, Added - 03/17/16