Do NOT put the mat in a washer, extractor or dryer to clean as these machines will damage the insert, it must be air dried after being flushed with clean water. Disinfecting mat is a sanitizer dispensing system/shoe bath designed to help disinfect the bottoms and treads of shoes and boots. Simple to use, just add the sanitizer of your choice and refresh potency as per chemical manufacturer's recommendations. Walking across the mat injects your choice of disinfectant into the shoe treads thoroughly saturating them. This effectively diminishes the spread of germs by shoe to floor contact. Intended for us with concentrated non-sudsing Quaternary Ammonia disinfectants. DO NOT use chlorine bleach, it will damage the mat as well as your shoes and clothing.