Hey Lickthestar, I have an Archie too
What I do if I encounter matts, which I do, I have some thinning shears and then I cut into the matt, especially if it is really bad. The you can comb it out little by little and then you don't have such a bare spot. I bathe my boys every 2-3 weeks depending on how dirty they get outside. But I do brush every day...