• “It is estimated that 90% of building maintenance cost is labor.” (Cleaning & Maintenance Management)
• The estimated cost of removing a single pound of dirt from a modern building can exceed $500. (International Sanitary Supply Association)
• “A dollar spent keeping soil out of a building will save 10 dollars in removing the soil once it’s inside.” (Cleaning & Maintenance Management)
• 39% of all custodial time is devoted to floor care maintenance. (International Executive Housekeepers Association)

• 95% of consumers consider a store’s exterior appearance an important factor when deciding where to shop, and more than half will avoid a store if the exterior appears to be poorly maintained. (ServiceChannel)
• A 2019 ServiceChannel survey found that 70% of customers who had a negative retail experience specifically complained about the store being dirty, specifically referring to dirty floors, messy shelves, and filthy restrooms. On the topic of floors as a cleanliness cue, industry experts note that the flooring in a retail space will often showcase dirt and grime more than any other area, making it a key driver of customer cleanliness perception.
• According to a JLL Higher Education survey reported by Cleaning & Maintenance Management, campus cleanliness and indoor air quality rank among the top factors in college selection decisions. Additionally, a 2023 InsideHigherEd survey found that 78% of students rank campus cleanliness as a critical factor in their college decision, with restroom maintenance highlighted as a particular concern — students equate cleanliness with care, and well-maintained restrooms signal that the institution values student well-being.
• According to Technomic’s Consumer Brand Metrics, 93% of consumers say restaurant cleanliness is important or very important when choosing a restaurant — even outpacing kitchen cleanliness, which 89% of customers called important. A P&G Professional survey adds further weight: three in five Americans say uncleanliness would be a deal-breaker when choosing a restaurant (61%), and lack of cleanliness is the top reason respondents would not return to a business.

• A buildup of .042 inches of dirt on a heating or cooling coil can decrease efficiency by 21%. (Environmental Protection Agency)
• To follow up on that, a buildup of just 1/100th of an inch of dirt or film on an evaporator coil can reduce its efficiency by 5 percent. (EPA, via Contracting Business)
• Dirt and dust cause nine out of ten air-conditioning system failures. (Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service / LSU Agricultural Center)
• 100 grams (1/4 pound) per day per 1000 people can be tracked into a commercial building during dry weather conditions. Based on field tests conducted by BST Laboratory over an 11-month period, twelve times as much dirt is tracked in during wet weather conditions.
• Up to 24 pounds of dirt can be tracked in by just 1,000 people coming through an entrance over a 20-day work period. (ISSA)
• ISSA studies found that five feet of matting helps remove approximately 37% of debris from shoes; 10 feet can remove 52% of debris; 15 feet can remove 71% of debris; 20 feet can remove 86% of debris; and 30 feet can remove 100% of debris. (ISSA, via Cleaning & Maintenance Management, 2019)
• One square yard of commercial grade carpeting can accumulate one pound of dirt over a one-week period and up to twice as much during inclement weather. (International Sanitary Supply Association)
• Carpets act as a reservoir for dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, pesticides, and other materials that may originate indoors or be brought in from outside, and inadequate maintenance can allow large quantities of dust and debris to build up. (U.S. EPA, Controlling Pollutants and Sources)
• According to the U.S. EPA’s Controlling Pollutants and Sources, carpets are a trap for dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, and pesticides.

Don’t let poorly maintained floors ruin your image and negatively impact your facility’s safety. The most effective way to maintain your floors and keep them clean is to implement floor mats in the proper locations. Not only do they stop dirt at the door, but they also ensure your floors are well maintained over a long period of time.

If you’re based in DE, NJ, PA, or MD, contact Health Mats today and keep your flooring in top condition with our floor mat services.