Do you clean under your rubber mats?

oscarwild

oscarwild

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Im planning on giving my stable a clean and paint this week but just wondered who all lifts there mats and washes underneath them? And if you do what do you clean the stable with?
Cant make my mind up if i just clean and paint the walls or lift the mats too. haha.
 
I lift my once a year and give them a good clean underneath....usually just before winter sets in. My 3 live out as much as possible, but I like them ready in case they need to come in. Saying that...with this rain they have just about been washed for me! LOL
 
Yes, usually annually although might do a second go this year when pony comes off box rest. I usually do it in Spring (did it in April this year).

My mats don't fit brilliantly as the stable is an odd size and shape and as the mats have already been cut several times for different moves I didn't want to mess with them anymore. Because they don't fit perfectly I do get grot under them, although stable is very well draining.

I use the Virkon S disinfectant to kill of any nasties. Just pick a dry-ish day so that it dries out quickly! :)
 
Tie something like a scarf around your face when you do it - the stench is beyond human comprehension!!! Lol we've now got rubber matting heat sealed down in a couple of our stables so it's not a problem now, hurrah!
 
Yes, every summer. If you do it on a warm day they dry off very quickly. It really, really stinks when you pull the mats up. I clean them and the floor with a power hose and add some Crommesol as a disinfectant and anti-smell device :)
 
I do a mini version when I lift each corner of each mat up and clean/hose underneath. I do that maybe every three months or so then once maybe twice a year the mats come up, scrubbed top and bottom, stable floor cleaned then the whole lot jeyes'd then put back together. OH helps and we have it down to a fine art.
 
No! But only as have beautiful new built mini barn and all the floors slope properly and nothing collects under them, so have no need to! Old stables, yes about twice a year, but not now. When I have lifted and looked underneath, its as clean as a whistle and no stink (even with Madame Stinky) - but it also helps that I switched to wood pellets/aubiose mix and that sucks up any moisture brilliantly.
 
I have field guard matts which are smaller and they started to smell after two months of being down. But my stable only gets wet at the front, so just pull up about 6-8 of them and jeyes fluid underneath. Leave to dry and relay.
 
No I don't but thats 'cause im a lazy cow!! :D

I do keep meaning to do it, but haven't actually got round to it yet!
 
Once a year we remove all mats (9 stables,field guard small mats-takes aaaages!!) and jet wash the mats outside and jet wash the stables,with a liberal application of Fieldguard Green Gloop or Jeyes and then relay mats. They dry pretty quick. I agree with others-the stench of the extremely slippy,beigey red substance that lies beneath them brings tears to your eyes....
 
Mine lives out but always insists on having a pee as soon as my back is turned, when I bring him in for feed or exercise! His stable had gotten pretty grotty so this weekend I lifted the bed and the front two mats and gave it all a good clean with water and some jayes fluid. It's looking much better!
 
I take mine out of the stables every few months and jet wash them. I find that this cleans off any stains and I then leave them outside to dry. It also gives you a chance to clean the floor of the stable with a horse friendly disenfectant before putting the mats back.
 
No.
But then i dont have rubber mats ;)
Cant stand them, the amount of ammonia that collects under them is really bad for horses lungs.
SO, if you have to have them, there is no question of whether to wash under them or not, think of your horses health. Use bleach or virkon s and let it soak for a while before washing out. Do it as many times a year as you can.
 
wash out at least once a year also flood stable with disinfectant once a month during summer to washout under them kill germs. On a hot day it only takes a hour or two to dry.
 
igglepop said:
wash out at least once a year also flood stable with disinfectant once a month during summer to washout under them kill germs. On a hot day it only takes a hour or two to dry.
Click to expand...

As above. I flood the stable using green gloop from field guard as Jeyes may rot mats in time.

Also, avoid lifting if you have baby birds nesting in the stable as the ammonia fumes will kill them. This sadly happened to the swallows nesting in my stable. :(
 
I take the mats up and wash under them with water. It stinks and is pretty disgusting but it needs to be done! Get someone to help you though because lifting rubber mats alone is hard! Oh and get a mask or a scarf so you can protect yourself from the smell!
 
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