I had been looking for a kitty litter mat for a long time. When this one showed up I pounced (as my cat would say) on it immediately. Sometimes he gets a little frisky and spreads the litter around but it is never more than an inch or so from the mat. I like it because I can clean up by dumping excess litter back in the box and it vacuums clean whenever I change the box. If I had to wash the mat I am sure that it would clean up just as well. So far I have not had to do it.