Key Takeaways
- Sweep, vacuum, or blow loose bedding, dirt, hair, and barn debris off stall mats before using water or cleaning products.
- Use a damp mop or non-abrasive stiff-bristle brush for spot cleaning manure marks, tracked-in dirt, and surface scuffs.
- We recommend distilled white vinegar during the first six weeks of damp mopping to get rid of the smell of rubber mats.
- Pressure washing works well for caked-on mud and barn debris, but standing water should be removed with a squeegee and the area dried promptly.
Horse stalls collect more than ordinary floor dirt. Bedding gets ground into textured rubber, mud tracks in from paddocks, manure can tough stains, and new mats may carry a noticeable rubber smell.
The best way to clean rubber floor mats depends on the problem. A small scuff doesn't call for the same treatment as a stall covered in packed barn debris. Start with the least aggressive method that gets the surface clean, then move to a deeper cleaning method when needed.
How should you clean rubber floor mats before getting rid of the smell?
Remove all loose material first.
Sweep, vacuum, or use a leaf blower where appropriate. Therubberman.com recommends clearing loose dust, dirt, and debris before damp mopping, scrubbing, steaming, or pressure washing.
In a horse stall, that means removing bedding, hay, hair, manure, and loose soil before introducing water. Dry material is easier to collect before it turns into wet debris packed into grooves and seams.
For the full cleaning process, see Therubberman.com's guide to clean rubber mats.
What is the best way to spot clean a horse stall mat?
Use a damp mop or a stiff-bristle scrub brush on the affected area.
We recommend damp mopping and scrubbing for regular maintenance and spot cleaning rubber floor mats. The brush should be stiff enough to work against the textured rubber without being abrasive.
Spot cleaning makes sense when one section of the stall has a manure mark, muddy hoof print, feed residue, or other localized dirt. There's no reason to pressure wash an entire stall for a small patch.
Test your chosen cleaning method on a small section the first time you use it before committing to a full cleaning.
Gym owners can use the same approach for isolated shoe marks or dirt around a piece of equipment. For rubber floor mats in an indoor gym, localized damp cleaning also avoids introducing more water than the room can easily handle.
How do you get rid of the smell of rubber mats?
For new rubber flooring, we recommend distilled white vinegar during the first six weeks of damp mopping.
Learning how to get rid of the smell of rubber mats means dealing with the normal odor of newly installed rubber rather than persistent odors on an older floor.
Don't try to cover the smell with wax or a petroleum-based cleaner. We advise against petroleum-, bleach-, and wax-based products. Petroleum and bleach can damage the rubber, while wax can make the surface slippery.
After the initial six weeks, use an all-natural citrus-based cleaner on rubber floor mats for damp mopping.
Odor in an established horse stall is a different problem from new-rubber smell. Remove bedding and barn debris first, then clean the mat itself so you're not trying to mask material sitting on the surface or packed into grooves.
How should you remove scrapes and scuff marks from rubber stall mats?
Start by treating surface scuffs as a spot-cleaning problem.
Use the same damp-cleaning method and non-abrasive stiff-bristle brush recommended for routine cleaning. Work on the marked area rather than scrubbing the entire stall, and avoid cleaning rubber floor mats with abrasive tools that can roughen the rubber surface.
There's an important distinction between a scuff mark and physical damage. A surface transfer from a boot, wheel, bucket, or equipment may come off during cleaning. A deep cut, gouge, torn edge, or missing piece of rubber isn't a stain and can't be repaired by scrubbing. Cuts can hold moisture and bacteria, meaning extra maintenance to get rid of smell on those rubber mats.
Inspect physical damage instead of repeatedly attacking it with a stronger cleaner. If a stall mat has been cut or damaged enough to affect how it sits on the floor, contact our experts for guidance before deciding whether to repair, reposition, or replace it.
Gym owners should make the same distinction. Black marks from shoes or movable equipment can be cleaning issues for rubber floor mats, but a slice or gouge from equipment movement is a flooring condition issue.
What works on caked-on mud and barn debris?
Pressure washing is a recommended deep-cleaning method for horse stall mats.
Pressure washing can reach grooves and corners where mud and other barn debris accumulate. Afterward, squeegee standing water away and use fans to speed drying.
This method fits barns, wash areas, and other spaces built to handle water. It isn't automatically the best choice for every location.
For cleaning rubber floor mats in an indoor gym, a steam mop, commercial steamer, damp mop, or scrub brush may be more practical because those methods introduce less uncontrolled water into the room. Both steam cleaning and damp cleaning are effective methods for cleaning indoors.
Can you steam clean horse stall mats?
Yes. We recommend steam cleaning as a deep-cleaning option for our rubber flooring and mats.
A residential steam mop works for a smaller area, and a commercial-grade steamer for larger surfaces. Steam cleaning uses water rather than adding another cleaning chemical to the rubber floor matting.
This option can be useful where pressure washing would create too much standing water. Gym owners may find that especially relevant in finished indoor rooms. Steam cleaning can reduce odors and help get rid of persistent smells in rubber mats.
Which cleaning method fits each common problem?
| Cleaning Problem | First Method To Try | Special Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Loose bedding and dirt | Sweep, vacuum, or blow away debris | Remove all dry material before washing with water |
| Manure mark or muddy hoof print | Damp mop or spot scrub | Use a non-abrasive stiff-bristle brush |
| New rubber smell | White vinegar during first six weeks | Don't cover odor with wax, this traps odors and bacteria |
| Surface scuff | Damp spot cleaning | Check whether it is a mark or damage |
| Caked-on barn debris | Pressure wash | Squeegee and dry the area afterward |
| Larger indoor gym floor | Damp or steam clean | Limit standing water indoors |
Note that the preferred option for cleaning rubber floor mats depends on the area and amount of foot traffic.
Does stall mat installation affect cleaning?
A properly prepared, level stall floor gives the mats a stable base before routine cleaning even begins.
Start with a solid, level subfloor and tight placement against stall walls and the threshold. Work toward the doorway and fit the final piece snugly in your barn.
If you're installing new flooring rather than maintaining an existing stall, review our guide to install rubber mat flooring before laying the mats.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should horse stall mats be cleaned?
Remove loose bedding and debris as part of regular stall maintenance, then spot clean or deep clean when buildup requires it. For odors, distilled vinegar and a non-abrasive scrub brush can help get rid of smells in the rubber mat. The best cleaning method depends on the area and how heavily the flooring is used.
Can I use bleach to clean rubber floor mats?
No. Using bleach on rubber flooring can damage the rubber. Petroleum-based and wax-based cleaning products should also be avoided.
How do I remove a small manure stain without cleaning the entire stall?
Remove any solid debris first, then use a damp mop or a stiff, non-abrasive scrub brush on the marked section. We specifically recommend these methods for spot cleaning.
What should I do if a scuff doesn't come off?
Check whether you're looking at a surface mark or a physical scrape in the rubber floor mat. Continue with appropriate spot cleaning for a surface mark. If the rubber itself is cut, gouged, or torn, stronger cleaning won't repair the damage.
Keep Stall Mats Ready for Daily Barn Use
You don't need one aggressive cleaning method for every mess. Sweep away loose barn debris, spot clean isolated marks, use the recommended approach for new-rubber odor, and save pressure washing or steam cleaning for deeper jobs.
We have supplied rubber flooring to horse owners, barns, veterinary facilities, and fitness spaces since 2004. Review our cleaning instructions before you clean rubber floor mats, or call the toll-free help line for guidance on choosing, installing, and maintaining rubber flooring for your facility.