Bare feet are the primary way contaminants get tracked onto a BJJ mat. Every time a practitioner walks from the locker room, bathroom, or gym floor to the training surface without cleaning their feet, they bring whatever was on those surfaces with them. The Defense Foot Cleaning Station is designed to stop that transfer at the point of entry, giving practitioners a simple, consistent way to clean their feet before stepping onto the mat.
This guide covers what comes with the station, how to set it up, how to use it correctly, and how to maintain it so it keeps working effectively.
What Comes with the Foot Cleaning Station
The Defense Foot Cleaning Station includes everything needed to get started:
- Tub with lid
- Turf mat (the scrubbing surface)
- Turf towel (placed under the mat to prevent slipping)
- 4oz Defense Foot Cleaning Concentrate
- Gallon mixing jug
Replacement concentrate, replacement turf mats, and replacement turf towels are available for purchase separately here.
How to Set Up the Foot Cleaning Station
Setup takes a few minutes and only needs to be done once until the station needs to be cleaned or the solution replaced.
Step 1: Place the turf towel in the tub
Lay the turf towel flat in the bottom of the tub. The towel sits underneath the turf mat and prevents it from sliding around inside the tub when practitioners step on it.
Step 2: Place the turf mat on top of the towel
Set the turf mat on top of the towel with the bristle side facing up. This is the surface practitioners will use to scrub the soles of their feet.
Step 3: Mix the cleaning solution
Pour the full 4oz bottle of Defense Foot Cleaning Concentrate into the gallon mixing jug. Fill the rest of the jug with clean water. Cap the jug and shake to mix. One 4oz bottle makes one gallon of solution.
Step 4: Fill the tub
Pour the mixed solution into the tub. Fill it only to the point where stepping into the station will wet the bottom of your feet. The solution level should not be high enough to cover the bristles of the turf mat. The goal is foot contact with the solution through the mat, not submerging the mat in liquid.
How to Use the Foot Cleaning Station
Using the station is straightforward. Before stepping onto the mat, step into the foot cleaning station and wipe your feet across the turf surface. The solution on the mat contacts the soles of your feet and the bristles of the turf provide light scrubbing action to help remove surface contaminants.
When you step out of the station, step onto a drying towel or bath mat placed between the station and the training surface. This prevents the solution from being tracked directly onto the mat. Not every gym uses a drying towel, but it is the recommended practice. A simple bath towel works fine.
Keep the lid on the station when not in use.
Maintaining the Station
How often you need to refresh or replace the solution depends on how many people are using the station and how frequently. There is no single schedule that fits every gym.
Topping off the solution
If the solution level drops low enough that stepping into the station no longer wets the bottom of your feet, top it off with fresh mixed solution. Keep the mixing jug stored with the station so it is ready when needed.
Replacing the solution
Solution should be replaced when it becomes visibly dirty or cloudy, or on a regular schedule based on usage. High-volume gyms with large classes may need to change the solution multiple times per week. Lower-volume facilities may find once a week or once every two weeks is sufficient. Use your judgment based on how many feet are going through it and how the solution looks.
Cleaning the station
The tub, turf mat, and turf towel should be cleaned as needed. Empty the tub, rinse all components, and allow them to dry before refilling. The turf mat and turf towel can accumulate debris over time and should be replaced when they are no longer performing effectively. Replacement turf mats and turf towels are available separately.
Where to Place the Foot Cleaning Station
Position the station at the point where practitioners transition from the non-mat area to the mat surface, typically at the mat edge or the entrance to the training area. The goal is to make it a natural part of the entry routine so practitioners step through it as a matter of habit rather than as an additional deliberate step.
If your facility has multiple mat entry points, consider a station at each one. A station that is easy to avoid defeats its purpose.
Why Foot Hygiene at Mat Entry Matters
BJJ mats are a shared contact surface. Practitioners spend training sessions with their faces, arms, and bodies in direct contact with the mat. Contaminants tracked onto the mat from bare feet, including bacteria and fungi from locker room floors, bathrooms, and common areas, can contribute to the spread of skin infections that are already elevated in close-contact sports.
The foot cleaning station does not replace post-session mat cleaning and disinfection. It is a complementary step that reduces the amount of contamination that reaches the mat in the first place, which supports the overall hygiene protocol rather than substituting for it.
For a complete guide to mat cleaning and disinfection, see How to Clean Your Training Facility. For a broader overview of skin infection prevention in BJJ and combat sports, see How to Prevent Skin Infections in Combat Sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much solution goes in the foot cleaning station?
Fill the tub until the solution level is high enough to wet the bottom of your feet when you step in, but not so high that it covers the bristles of the turf mat. The exact amount will depend on the size of the tub, but erring on the side of less is better. You can always top it off.
How do you mix the foot cleaning concentrate?
Pour the full 4oz bottle of Defense Foot Cleaning Concentrate into the gallon mixing jug, fill the rest of the jug with clean water, cap it, and shake to mix. Pour the mixed solution into the tub as needed.
How often should you change the solution?
It depends on usage. High-volume gyms may need to change it multiple times per week. Lower-volume facilities may find once a week or every two weeks is sufficient. Replace the solution when it becomes visibly dirty or cloudy, or when the level drops too low to wet the soles of your feet.
Do you need a towel after the foot cleaning station?
It is recommended. Stepping from the station onto a drying towel or bath mat before stepping onto the training surface prevents the cleaning solution from being tracked onto the mat. Not every gym does this, but it is the preferred practice.
What does the turf towel do?
The turf towel sits underneath the turf mat inside the tub and prevents the mat from sliding when practitioners step on it. It is not a drying towel. The drying towel placed outside the station between the station and the mat is a separate item not included with the station.
Can you replace the turf mat and turf towel?
Yes. Replacement turf mats and turf towels are available separately. Replace them when they are no longer performing effectively or when they are visibly worn or soiled beyond what cleaning can address.
This article is for educational purposes only. For guidance on skin infection prevention, consult a qualified healthcare professional. See our full disclaimer.