Tips for proper Texwipe tacky mats usage

If your company has a cleanroom, you probably know how important it is to keep dirt and dust as well as other contaminants out of the cleanroom, so they don't enter the clean environment. Texwipe sticky mat are a vital component for critical environments to avoid dirt or any kind of particle from your shoes to get into the cleanroom. The importan question is, how should you use them? In this article we give some tips for the right ways to use them:

Have a Long Enough Sticky Mat to Clean Shoes

You need to have a tacky mat long enough for a person walking on it to step on it with both feet at least once. It will be even better if they can step two to three times with each foot, in this case you can guarantee the capture of the dirt and particle will be more efficient.

Clean the Floor Before Installing Your Tacky Mat

The most important thing is the installation of the tacky mats. When you are ready to install the cleanroom mat, you have to make sure the floor has been cleaned with IPA, deionized water in the ratio of 70% IPA and 30% water.  You will then need to carefully remove the bottom protective sheet to expose the adhesive.

Place the first two corners on one end of where the mat needs to go and hold up the rest of the mat away from the floor.  Press down at the corners and smooth the mat down carefully, just like you would if you were applying a sticker. Slowly smooth the mat from one end to other to remove any air bubble.

How to Walk on a Sticky Mat

Adhesive mats come in both light and dark colors. The choice is up to you, but most organizations prefer lighter colored mats because they will often show dirt and dust easier. It really doesn't matter what color you get because all sticky mats are designed to remove dirt. 

How Often Should You Remove the Old Top Sheet?

You'll want to remove the older layer as it becomes dirty, usually around 50 walkthroughs or less. It depends on the amount of dirt on people's shoes, the dust in the environment, whether the person who walks through is pushing a cart, or other factors.

How to Remove the Top Sheet

Find the tab and pull up slowly, rolling the old sheet into a ball as you go to keep most of the dirt and dust from flying into the air. Dispose of the old sheet. Be careful to just remove one sheet at a time and not layers, or you will be wasting tacky mat sheets.

Best Places for Sticky Mats

The place where the sticky mats are located is really important. We recommend the following areas:

• Hallways leading up to dirt and dust your cleanroom
• Front door of you cleanroom
• Gowning areas (outside and inside the cleanroom)
• Staging area inside the cleanroom.

For further information regarding our cleanroom mats, please see here or contact us.