There's no gentle way to put this: you'll eventually get some type of bodily fluid on your martial arts mats. This is especially true if your training discipline involves grappling. Mat burns, slams and throws, and even a swift punch or kick to the face can cause blood, sweat, saliva, and much more to spill onto your mats. If left uncleaned, this not only presents a hazardous and uncomfortable training environment for you and anyone else you train with, but it can also damage and shorten the lifespan of your martial arts mats. Don't ruin your investment, and don't be that dirty gym with stained mats. What type of fluid or stain do you need to clean off your mats? Let's talk about it.

The Importance of Regular Mat Cleaning

Unfortunately, bacterial infections can be common in MMA and martial arts gyms, especially if the mats are not properly cleaned on a regular basis. It's not entirely uncommon for gym goers to get a highly contagious infection that can be hazardous to their health. Some of these conditions include:

• Ringworm
• Staph infections (Staphylococcus aureus)
• Fungal Skin conditions (tinea corporis, etc.)
• Respiratory Infections
• Gastrointestinal Infections

It's highly important to clean your mats after each session with a mop and approved martial arts mat cleaner/disinfectant. You should also deep clean your mats at least twice a year, if not four times a year depending on your foot traffic. Invest in a quality gym scrubber to deep clean mats or find a professional cleaning company who knows how to properly clean different types of gym flooring (including foam martial arts mats).

How to Get Blood, Sweat, and Other Fluids Off Mats

If any bodily fluid gets on your mats, it's important to put on some gloves and mop it up right away. Do not allow anything to stay on your mats for an extended period of time. If you're involved in a long training session, clean part of the mats and move elsewhere on the mats for training, or take a break. The best way to stain your mats is to be lazy and refuse to clean whatever has spilled on them right away.

How to Avoid Messes

There's no way to completely avoid blood or other bits of dirt and grime from getting on your mats, but you can make your life easier by implementing some rules at your gym:

• No shoes on the mats, ever
• Athletes must shower before training (make sure they clean their feet)
• Require quality gis or rashguards (this will cut down on mat burn). Cheap training apparel will not do the job.
• Ask athletes to help clean up after themselves
• Require athletes to report any blood or other stains ASAP to gym staff so that they can be cleaned immediately

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