Tacky mats are a type of mat that are used to prevent contamination in controlled or sterile environments in a variety in different industries and sectors.

In these types of environments, having spotless shoes is as important as having clean hands, even though that may not be the first thing that springs to mind. But the reality is that shoes can carry numerous germs and bacteria into a sterile area from the outside, potentially causing significant contamination.

Tacky mats (not to be confused with ones which just look kitsch or unstylish!) therefore have a key part to play within contamination control, and are often found in settings such as hospitals, labs and industrial food production kitchens. People also sometimes call these mats tack or sticky mats.

How do tacky mats work?

Tacky mats comprise a pad of layers of tacky sheets with a sticky coating to trap dirt, dust and other particles in the adhesive. This prevents microbial growth and contamination from being brought in or moved across a building by members of staff. Indeed, these products get rid of more than 90% of dirt particles from people’s feet when they walk just two steps over them.

These floor mats also have an adhesive layer on their underside, and this sticks to the floor to prevent movement. On their other side, tacky mats typically have around 30 sheets per mat. Just peel away each dirty layer to reveal a fresh one once a layer has become saturated with grime to the point of rendering it ineffective. When you have used all the layers, the tack mat can be replaced with a new one if you wish, or you can just use a refill pad to replace the used sheets.

In terms of appearance, they look just like regular entrance mats.

And, finally, they can also remove any contaminants from things like wheeled carts, as well as footwear.

These mats can be temporary or permanent, with the latter being made of polymer. Meanwhile, the peeling process needs to be done carefully, or you may dislodge particles from the mat. With permanent models, you can wash them with a mop and detergent to keep them performing and looking their very best.

Where are tacky mats used?

While everyone understands that cleanliness is important, tacky mats are definitely best suited to areas where hygiene is especially high on the agenda. And they’re not about lifting heavy dirt and water – it’s all about getting rid of very fine dust particles in sensitive spaces.

As mentioned above, these floor coverings are most commonly found in controlled settings, including places such as:

1. Hospitals
2. To keep the carpets clean at home if you’re redecorating
3. Laboratories
4. Kitchens and other food preparation areas, e.g. in restaurants
5. Various medical settings
6. Cleanrooms – (engineered spaces which maintain a very low concentration of airborne particulates)
7. Computer rooms
8. Spray paint workshops
9. Construction sites
10. Factories and manufacturing sites
11. Biocontainment facilities
12. Gyms and sports halls
13. Rooms which have sensitive equipment

Tacky mats are generally placed between different areas or rooms in a building for the purposes of infection control and/or to prevent the spread of contamination from one space to another. They’re ideally placed in areas of foot traffic, such as entrances and doorways.

The benefits of tacky mats

• Longevity

Each layer in a tacky mat is very thin, meaning you can stack multiple layers without the mat getting so thick that it becomes impractical. This means they tend to last for quite a long time.

• Dirt transfers one way

Dirt lifts from people’s footwear and stays trapped in the sticky layer, but none of the stickiness remains on the soles of the shoes.

• Versatility

Tacky mats are available in a good range of sizes, making them ideal for numerous spaces and situations. The fact that they’re lightweight (and don’t take up that much room) also makes them an extremely convenient way of keeping a floor free of external contaminants, temporarily or permanently. They can be placed quickly in doorways as speedy, effective solutions.

Speak to our team about tacky mats today

At UK Mats Direct, we offer a good range of health and safety-focused floor coverings, including anti-fatigue and tacky mats. Additionally, we supply a good range of standard entrance mats and logo mats, alongside other commercial matting, for example, fitted floor mats. Our tacky mats are all available to order online, with swift delivery. Equally, if you have a question about any of our products, a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team will always stand ready to help answer it. Get in touch today to learn more.