We explain why entrance matting is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to reduce cleaning costs in healthcare estates, and it starts from the moment someone steps inside.
If you’re responsible for estates or facilities procurement in a healthcare environment, you will know that cleaning is expensive. Between infection control standards, heavy footfall, and 24/7 building use, healthcare estates face some of the highest cleaning costs of any sector. What’s often overlooked, though, is how much of that cost quite literally walks through the door.
The high cost of cleaning in healthcare estates
Hospitals, clinics and healthcare centres demand exceptional levels of cleanliness. Floors are cleaned more frequently, with specialist chemicals, and often require deep cleaning or machine scrubbing to meet hygiene standards. Add wet weather, high visitor numbers, staff movement, trolleys and wheelchairs, and floors quickly become dirty, slippery and worn.
Without effective entrance matting, dirt and moisture are spread throughout the building, increasing the workload for cleaning teams and accelerating wear on flooring.
The effect of dirt, moisture and contaminants on flooring
Every person entering a healthcare building brings contaminants with them. Mud, grit, water, bacteria and airborne particles are tracked in on footwear and wheels. Once inside, these contaminants:
• Increase slip risks on hard floors
• Spread bacteria and allergens
• Damage vinyl, carpet and safety flooring
• Make cleaning more frequent and more intensive
As up to 80% of dirt in a building is brought in through the entrance, it makes sense that the entrance is the most critical zone to control.
How entrance matting helps
High-performance entrance matting systems are designed to remove and retain dirt and moisture before it reaches interior floors. When correctly specified and installed, entrance mats can stop the majority of contaminants at the door.
Quality entrance matting works in zones, scraping off debris, absorbing moisture and trapping fine particles. This immediately reduces the amount of dirt that cleaning teams need to deal with deeper inside the building. Find out more about what zonal matting is.
Impact of entrance matting on cleaning costs
The financial benefits of efficient, quality entrance matting for healthcare estates are significant:
• Reduced frequency of deep cleaning - cleaner floors mean fewer machine cleans, and less disruption to clinical areas.
• Lower use of cleaning chemicals and water - with less ingrained dirt, routine cleaning becomes quicker and lighter.
• Less staff time spent on floor maintenance - cleaning teams can work more efficiently, reducing labour costs.
• Reduced maintenance and flooring replacement costs - floors last longer when they’re protected from grit and moisture, delaying costly refurbishments.
Over time, these savings can easily outweigh the initial investment in a robust entrance matting solution.
Choosing the right entrance mat for healthcare environments
Not all entrance matting is suitable for healthcare estates and procurement officers should look for:
• Heavy-duty entrance matting designed for high footfall
• Excellent moisture absorption and dirt removal performance
• Wheelchair, trolley and bed-friendly surfaces
• Compliance with slip resistance and accessibility standards
• Easy maintenance and long service life
Recessed or surface-mounted entrance matting systems can be tailored to suit hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes and outpatient facilities.
Benefits of entrance matting for healthcare estates
Beyond cost savings, entrance matting delivers wider benefits:
• Improved cleanliness and patient safety - cleaner floors reduce slip risks and support infection control.
• Financial savings - lower cleaning, maintenance and replacement costs across the estate.
• Sustainability benefits - reduced use of water, chemicals and cleaning consumables supports environmental targets and ESG goals.
• Better first impressions - clean, dry entrances create a professional, reassuring environment for patients and visitors.
Entrance matting for healthcare settings from EMS Ltd.
For healthcare estates and facilities procurement teams, entrance matting is a practical, proven way to control cleaning costs without compromising hygiene or safety. By stopping dirt at the door, you protect floors, reduce workloads and create cleaner, safer healthcare environments — all while delivering long-term financial and sustainability benefits.
EMS Debris Channel Entrance Matting Systems – our Debris Channel Entrance Matting Systems offer a heavy-duty solution with excellent slip-resistance. Designed to remove more foot-borne dirt than any other matting system, this is a perfect solution for hospitals and other healthcare settings, which can be recessed or surface-mounted.
EMS Colortread Entrance Matting System – our Colortread Entrance Matting System offers the flexibility of replaceable infill materials that allow any soiled areas to be replaced in situ at any time.
EMS LU/Multi-Track – our scientifically developed EMS LU/Multi-Track Systems will stand the test of time and are installed with a 15-year guarantee. The most durable of our systems, the LU/Multi-Track has replaceable infills, wheel-friendly surfaces and superior slip-resistance.
Contact us
To find out how EMS entrance matting solutions can help to reduce cleaning costs in your healthcare setting, email us at info@entrance-matting.com or call 01205 761757.
