Q. How to remove a stain from a rubber backed coir mat on pavers?
A. The doormat stain was caused by chemical additives, oils, or binders migrating out of the rubber backing and into the porous surface of the pavers. Moisture, heat, and pressure can make this worse, allowing contaminants to seep down and darken the pavers right where the mat was resting.
Before getting into any DIY stain-removal suggestions, it’s important to slow down for a moment and look at what we don’t know yet. The original question doesn’t specify what material the pavers are made of. Concrete pavers, clay brick, and various types of natural stone behave differently when exposed to chemicals, moisture, and abrasion. A method that is harmless on one surface can permanently darken, etch, or weaken another. Porosity, mineral content, surface finish, and whether the pavers have been sealed all influence how a stain forms and how aggressively it can be treated.
Without knowing the above-mentioned details, the safest path is to test in an inconspicuous area. Apply a very small test poultice to start off. A poultice draws the stain out of the stone over time. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to mix and apply a poultice correctly, check out our free Stain Management App.
NOTE: Follow the manufacturer’s safety precautions when using chemicals.
Your poultice chemical ingredient will be a solvent such as MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) or mineral spirits. See how the pavers respond before committing to anything larger. Solvents like these work by dissolving or mobilizing oily or rubber-based residues that water and standard cleaners can’t touch. If you the stain fades without causing damage, you can reapply the poultice over a larger area until the stain fades completely (or fades as much as possible).
Understand that this type of stain can be difficult to remove, especially if it has had time to penetrate deeply or chemically bond with the paver material. Results can vary depending on the type of paver, how long the mat was in place, and environmental exposure.
If the stain doesn’t respond well, or if you’re concerned about damaging the pavers, you may want to call in a stone or hardscape restoration professional for advice. They can help identify the exact material involved and recommend a treatment that’s both effective and safe for your specific surface.
To find a vetted PRO in your area, visit www.surfacecarepros.com and click on Find a PRO.
Keep in mind that your PRO can only hone or polish dense natural stone pavers, such as marble, granite, limestone, travertine, bluestone, and terrazzo, or high-quality architectural concrete pavers. Brick, porous concrete, cobblestones, and tumbled or textured pavers can’t be honed or polished because they won’t hold a smooth finish.
Your PRO might use specialty chemical cleaners matched to the stain, along with hot-water pressure washing, steam cleaning, or rotary scrubbing to lift the stain without grinding the surface. In some cases they might also neutralize, rinse, and seal the pavers to help prevent the stain from coming back.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Hueston is the Chief Technical Director at SurfaceCarePROS.com and Director at StoneForensics.com. He is also the author of Stone and Tile Restoration: The Manual, a comprehensive online manual for stone and tile restoration contractors. [Learn more about Fred.]
Article ID: 875
Created: January 30, 2026
Last Updated: January 30, 2026
Author: Fred Hueston
Online URL: https://surfacecarepros.com/kb/article/how-to-remove-a-stain-from-a-rubber-backed-coir-mat-on-pavers-875.html