January 18, 2023
Commercial spaces are the busiest places in the world. The growth in urban areas has led to a boom in construction expenditure. Whether your business is new or old, remodeling new surfaces have become a norm to reduce injuries at the workplace, improve productivity and reduce repair and maintenance cost. Regardless of the hard floor type you have in your office space, it is crucial to have a well-designed commercial floor care program. The cleanliness of the whole facility and its aesthetic should be top-class.
80% of the money and duration is expended solely on floor care, which includes routine cleaning, regular upkeep, and restoration operations. You should know why it is crucial to have all the necessary tools, materials, and equipment, given the demanding work and hefty expenses. To obtain the ultimate floor care, you must have the appropriate and essential tools and cutting-edge equipment. Other important factors to think about are implementing the most recent methods, who and how to educate your employees, and which methods will be appropriate for the floor care program. After deciding on it, you can eventually achieve more in your business.
Having said that developing and carrying out an effective commercial floor care plan from the beginning may be quite intimidating. But worry not we have an extensive guide for you on how to go about it.
Keep reading this blog.
Firstly, know why you need a commercial floor care program. Having a comprehensive commercial cleaning checklist is really important. Such plans outline how to care for the finish of the floors. They also become a guide for the janitorial team. The janitors get an idea of how to protect, clean, prevent damage and fix the floors. With a suitable program, floors would look great without any damage.
Secondly, know the various components of the floor care plan. There are three main phases of floor maintenance-
Commercial spaces should follow four main cleaning processes daily. They are emptying/cleaning the entry mat, vacuuming or sweeping, dust mopping or vacuuming, and wet mopping or cleaning with an auto scrubber. These processes may vary if the floor types are different.
Scrubbing and recoating is used periodically to regain the shine that once got lost. The removal of embedded dirt is done through scrubbing and recoating without stripping the floor. The frequency depends on the amount of footfall in the commercial space. Areas having high footfall may do floor care four times a year.
Restorative maintenance should be in a commercial floor care program. When janitors cannot fix scuffs, dirt accumulation, and other detrimental impacts of foot activity on the floors by daily or periodic maintenance, your janitorial crew should typically execute restorative floor care methods. Additionally, janitors should refinish the floors when there aren't enough finish layers.
Protecting, cleaning, and restoring your floors for optimal life can be accomplished in every phase. The use of different techniques in distinct periods is the key.
Thirdly, know the things to consider to create a proper maintenance program. There are important factors that you need to look into like-
These are the factors on which the commercial floor cleaning and care program depends. Assess these factors carefully to have the perfect floor care. For instance, prioritize staff issues while making a program if businesses have limited staff. Likewise, if you have less budget, there is a high chance that daily cleaning won't be possible. Have realistic expectations and goals. Think about the overall problems and blend them smoothly for ideal floor maintenance.
There are various supplies available in the market. But there are common tools that work well in every commercial space. Here are a few of the most popular floor-cleaning tools and machinery. Look into the options and then start the work. Professional janitors should have these as their commercial floor cleaning equipment.
Most floor cleaning processes start by sweeping up any loose dirt or debris on the floor. The broom helps remove heavy soils and debris, such as tiny trash can contents, large dirt particles, and wrappers. Different sizes of brooms are available to fit the size of the space.
When cleaning a sizable, open space, have your workers sweep from one end to the other of the room with a sizable broom. Sweeping is more productive and efficient with large brooms. A small broom will enable workers to sweep under and behind pieces of furniture. Professionals can also use brooms to sweep the stairs. Janitors should collect all the debris and dirt at the final stair.
One uses a dust mop to prepare surfaces for cleaning. It captures dry soils. Depending on the particular requirements of your facility, there are many kinds of dust mops available. Disposable mops are better as commercial spaces don’t have the time and place to wash and dry the mop. They are good for replacing new mop heads so that there is less cross-contamination. Janitors should throw away the mop heads after every use.
On the other hand, there are reusable mops. Wash and dry the reusable mops properly after every use. They have fibers that are stronger than reusable ones, hence the term “reusable” in their name. Vacuum cleaners are another option if you feel that dust settles very quickly in your space.
Mops vary in size, durability, absorbency, and other aspects. In your facility, many mop kinds can be employed for various tasks.
Professionals can clean the facility using a certain kind of mop depending on the-
· the operation being carried out
· the kind of chemical used
· your expenditure
Professional cleaners can use wet mops for several processes. It includes daily cleaning, applying strippers, and floor disinfection. For instance, a microfiber mop is more appropriate for routine cleaning since it prevents cross-contamination and eliminates linting. Wet mops can be the best floor cleaners if used correctly.
Vacuum cleaners have been here for a long time. Almost every household and commercial space have a vacuum cleaner. Dust, filth, and debris can go away effectively using a good vacuum cleaner. Previously, sweeping hard floors was done to make them ready for cleaning processes, vacuums provide a more thorough cleaning.
Did you know that there are five different types of vacuum cleaners? You can choose them depending on your commercial requirement and goals. Although we suggest you have a canister or backpack vacuum for hard floors.
There is a wet-dry vacuum for commercial spaces. Such vacuums can remove wet residue from the flooring. Vacuums help remove sludge from commercial hard floors during operations like removing floor finish.
An automated floor scrubber, sometimes known as an auto scrubber, uses cleaning solutions and cleans through agitation, and dries it all in one pass.
Using an auto scrubber, which has a floor pad, cleanses as it travels over your floors and speeds up the process. Although cleaning your facility's hard floors with a mop is one option, an auto scrubber is the best for floor deep cleaning.
Automatic floor scrubbers come in three different varieties, each tailored to the unique requirements of your business and cleaning staff.
Vertical standing machines called upright floor scrubbers can effectively clean 500–1,000 square foot spaces. They are particularly effective in cleaning small, difficult-to-reach spaces but less effective in large, open areas.
In wide spaces, walk-behind motorized floor scrubbers work well. They can clean spaces ranging in size from 1,000 to 150,000 sq ft. These scrubbers include wheels or pads for propulsion to facilitate mobility and increase worker efficiency. In confined places, they are less efficient than upright scrubbers. Your janitorial staff's hard floor cleaning program can benefit from a walk-behind motorized floor scrubber.
Stand-on and ride-on models are the largest when compared to the other kinds of car scrubbers. They can easily handle regions that are 15,000–150,000 sq ft or more to their size.
These battery-powered motorized floor scrubbers can speed up cleaning and cut down on personnel expenditures. Stand-on floor cleaners can raise employee output. Standing on the machine's back and using the floor scrubber will allow you to clean your floors without having to move around.
Additionally, ride-on scrubbers eliminate the need for your workers to stand or walk while cleaning your floors. Due to their size, such machines are less useful in confined spaces or places with numerous obstructions.
Depending on the cost and use, find a scrubber and start the work. The correct automated floor scrubber will cut your labor costs and boost the efficiency of your janitorial team, even though each model of auto scrubber differs in several ways.
Commercial spaces can use auto scrubbers as commercial floor cleaners to eliminate manual processes.
A floor buffer is a floor tool that your cleaning crew may use to carry out a variety of commercial floor care tasks. One can use it to scrub, strip, polish, or clean your floors depending on the floor pad type and floor buffer used. Such machines use low-speed rotations. It is between 175–300 RPMs to carry out cleaning operations. They are sometimes known as “swing” or "side-by-side" devices because they move from side to side when in operation.
Buffers lay on the pad, making total contact between the pad, and the floor to carry out maintenance procedures. Floor buffers can act as ideal machines. The cost may change depending on the gearbox, size, and motor. Research the best ones to have a perfect floor cleaning job.
Wondering what a floor burnisher is? It is a commercial floor cleaning machine to burnish the floors and restores their shine. Floor burnishers operate at a high velocity. It reaches a speed of 1200-3000 RPM.
With only a few passes, these speeds create heat that aids in achieving a high gloss finish. A floor burnisher stands on its wheels when in operation so that it may move straight. Remember they are not as same as floor buffers.
There are various types of floors, and hence, you need different commercial floor care strategies. On some floors, you must cautiously avoid using harsh brushes lest you harm them. On some materials, it's also crucial to avoid using harsh chemicals. We provide you with an overview of what to utilize for each type of flooring-
For concrete floors, janitors need to use a dust mop to shun away the debris before the cleaning process. They should then use a scrubber with a low foam solution. Cleaning every corner is essential for a perfect result. Do not use bleach, ammonia, or any highly acidic substance on the stamped or polished floor. Some of the best cleaners include liquid detergent, castile soap, and mild floor cleaners.
VCT is a kind of finished flooring item used mainly in institutional or commercial applications. Cleaning VCT may need professional help. Firstly, dust mop to eliminate loose dust and dirt. Use emulsifier solution diluted to a 4:1 ratio and clean the floor. After this, you need to polish it with a floor care machine. Hire a professional to do this, or let the janitor know how to use the machine for the best results.
Terrazzo is a composite substance that may be prefabricated or poured in situ and is applied on floors and walls. It is made out of glass, quartz, marble, granite, or other appropriate material chips mixed with a polymeric binder, cementitious binder, or a mix of both.
For terrazzo floor care, dust mop or use a broom to clean it daily. Use a wet mop with an all-purpose cleaner once a week. Once in three months, reseal the tiles with a water-based sealant. Do gloss restoration for terrazzo floor cleaning once every one or two years.
Ceramic tiles are generally square or rectangular. They are thin and made from heavy-duty materials like stone, metal, ceramic, baked clay, or glass as well. Such tiles are fixed in places to cover edges, walls, roofs, or other objects.
Avoid acidic materials to clean such tiles. They will eat away during grouting. Janitors can use a scrubber or wet mop for ceramic floor cleaning. Remember that the scrubber machine should have disc rotary brushes.
Matte finish generally doesn’t have the shine that the usual tiles give. Manufacturers use a special layer to get a subtle non-shiny look. The most unique feature of matte tiles is their anti-slip attribute. It creates the most excellent flooring for areas, like kitchens, bathrooms, and balconies, which use a lot of water.
For matte finish floor care, professionals need to vacuum such a floor every day. The matting can trap all the dirt and debris. Seasonally, perform a full matte finish floor cleaning to eliminate ice melt residues. Janitors must use diluted all-purpose cleaners and work the surface.
Many commercial spaces use carpets to make the place look extravagant. Since the footfall is quite high in such places, the cleaning needs to be very thorough. To maintain it, one needs professional carpet cleaning. Janitors can do daily and weekly carpet cleaning using an efficient vacuum cleaner with a filter bag.
A deep office carpet cleaning is necessary for it to have more years. For commercial carpet cleaning, hire a professional every 6-months. They know how to do it from scratch. Though you should consider the cost of carpet cleaning before finalizing the decision.
Resilient floorings are sheet flooring or tiles that can return to their original form without breaking. Some of the popular types used in a commercial environment are-
Each of the above-mentioned resilient floor types has a unique benefit. It is what makes them suitable for commercial setups.
Depending on the industry type, there might be grease, dust, stains, dirt, oil, tire marks, and more. Particular spots like store cabinets, corners, or spaces with storage space units will gather more grime and filth than other areas.
Expect different regulated standards for certain sectors. For instance, a blue chip or technological company could need "clean rooms," which are more specific than they appear to be. Such rooms will need special tools for floor cleaning due to the sensitive electronics.
Commercial floor care will require a machine that can do a variety of tasks. Another option is to have several machines to tackle different tasks. For example, consider questions like- will the gadget let you get into small corners? The majority of tools may be equipped with attachments that allow them to reach behind shelves and into nooks, but check thoroughly before you buy.
Consider investing in specialized equipment for heavy commercial cleaning services, which may include different machines. Using an elevated jet will be quite useful for the comprehensive removal of oil and grease as well as stains and grime from external walls. A buffer will work well to polish up high-gloss floors, but it won't be very useful for other work.
Consider the function of the machines in the particular industry. Machines that need regular water refilling can be impractical. This is because the janitors need to fact the regular fill and dump cycle and drying time too.
Speed is another thing to consider. Efficient machines should clean quickly, require lesser man hours, and decrease disruption to other staff members. This will give room for more tasks to complete.
Did you think the same cleaning method applies to all seasons? You’re wrong. It’s not that simple. Different seasons need distinct adjustments when it comes to commercial floor cleaning. In this section, we will review some seasonal modifications required for floor commercial floor care.
The winter season calls for special care for commercial hard floors. In this season, the floors must accommodate weather changes. In many northern regions, the winter months are the harshest for commercial hard floors. The icy and wet conditions may lead to ice and melted water coming inside the workspace. This may severely hamper work. If you do not clean the contaminants on time and in the correct way, the floors may become dangerous, and filled with scratches. Note that there should be no use of strip and wax if you have ruthless winters in your location. The cold air can lead the new application of layer to crack.
Janitors need to be aware of how to take care of the facility and know about the following-
Winter is the time for wet and cold weather. One should expect that people in the building must track salt and moisture as they get inside. When people notice buildup on the floors or damage to the floor finish, there are ways to repair it before it all gets irreversible.
Tiles
Floor mats are amazing at lessening the amount of soil that comes inside the building. It traps the soil, dirt, and moisture from the shoes of people who walk over it. With a carefully implemented entryway mat, you can trap and remove a huge percentage of moisture from rain, ice, and snow as visitors step on the mat. They are also safe as they keep the floors dry hence, preventing slipping.
As part of your regular maintenance schedule, you ought to clean your entrance especially in case of providing retail store cleaning services. However, sometimes you can discover that the mats and floors are becoming quite filthy very quickly. There is likely a need to wipe your floors more regularly to keep the facility looking clean when the weather is severe. You may use a wet/dry vacuum on mats during the day to clean them and get rid of any dampness or salt residue. Ultimately, you want to think about giving your mats a complete cleaning, which can involve shaking them vigorously, cleaning below them, and removing deeply buried filth from them.
There are several products that you can get from the market as the winter months require unique cleaning materials. Janitors must use neutral floor cleaners to get rid of ice-melt residue. Normal neutral floor cleaners cannot do that hence floor neutralizers can do the work. They should be able to eliminate swirls of white salt from the floor. It can dissolve the chlorides and ice melt that make white streaks while cleaning the floor.
Bonus information- Equipment care during winter months
We have already discussed that salt and ice damage the floor but did you know that they can damage machines too? Since salt is corrosive, there is a risk of shortening the machine's life when maintained improperly. Salt can affect all kinds of tools and equipment. For instance, metallic parts like the squeegee housing of automated floor scrubbers can rust and corrode if one does not rinse away the salt. The ideal way to avoid salt collection on the machines is through frequent rinsing after every use. powered equipment does not have salt build-up but traditional tools have to be maintained properly.
The winter months make room for a lot of cleaning processes due to melting and salt residue. Hence, our first spring cleaning advice is to treat each area's cleaning independently, whether your office has tile, wood, carpet, or other types of hard flooring surfaces.
It is a perfect time to start the floor care process during springtime. Commercial floor deep cleaning can remove residue and moisture that is left over from the harsh winter months. There are high chances of having scratches and a dull environment in the entryway due to the wear and tear from the winter season. Therefore, deep cleaning will be outstanding for both cleaning dirt and getting away with a scratched floor finish.
Spring cleaning tips by commercial floor type-
It is the most popular type of hard flooring for commercial places and other workplaces because of their looks and durability. Such a floor is easy to clean and take care of. But after the winter season, since there is still a lot of grout on the tile, scrubbing will do magical work on tiles. If professionals can bring life back to the grout, it will create a refreshing look on the floor.
These floors may have taken a greater battering throughout the winter. Depending on the regular flooring care performed during the day, the level of moisture, dust, salt, and dirt that visitors and workers bring in might range from a small issue to a major one. With the help of the best floor cleaner, you can determine whether your hardwood floors will benefit from simple dry mopping and scrubbing or whether they require further care. Your floors may have seen surface discoloration, damage, and even scratches as a result of the dirt from the chilly winter months. To restore this surface to its former glory and make your workstation appear its best, the floor cleaning experts will have helpful advice and cleaning options.
You cannot disregard carpets after the long winter months. Your office carpet may become stained and have a dirty look due to winter wetness, dirt, and salt. Office cleaning services providers should shampoo the carpets once every three months, and spring is the ideal time to give every carpeted part of the commercial property a good clean. The entire floor looks beautiful once the carpet stains are removed. Any scents that are caught in the carpet at a commercial space will also be removed through thorough shampoo cleaning.
Commercial floor cleaning during summer is relatively easier than in other months. However, there are threats in such seasons too. Adaptation is the key.
Here are a few tips to have great commercial floor care for the summer months-
Since there might be high humidity levels, it can cause specific floorings (wood) to expand. Keep in mind such changes and do the floor care accordingly. You can add a dehumidifier in damp areas. The intense sun can cause the floor to gradually fade and deform if the exposure is for too long. Commercial buildings can put energy-efficient curtains and windows to shield the floor from UV rays. Commercial floor cleaning professionals can apply a coat on the floor with layers to protect it from dust, moisture, sun, and several other threats.
This goes for all seasons because the floor should look inviting. If commercial buildings see higher footfall during summer, there should be increased floor maintenance. This means sweeping and mopping the floor twice a day or even more.
This is specially mentioned for commercial carpet cleaning. Thoroughly vacuum the carpet twice a week in summer if the footfall is high. Doing the vacuuming can prevent bacteria, dirt, and dust to burrow further into the carpet.
If you need to replace or repair your flooring this summer, consult with a professional. They should fit their schedule around yours. Various companies are extremely busy in the summer, making floor repair operations inconvenient and challenging. However, with careful preparation and the appropriate team, you can quickly restore your floors to new conditions. You can plan and execute it without disturbing your staff or clients.
Maintaining the commercial floors regularly creates a fresh look and prevents big issues from happening. But sometimes, the most rigorous schedule can’t be enough. Hire professionals to do a deep cleaning to give the flooring a fresh look. The carpets should be shampooed, and steam cleaned. The tiles along with the grout should resort if needed. Do a strip and wax for vinyl floors. There is another option for having the vinyl floors burnished or buffed. The list would keep going, so request a professional to guide you.
If you are running a medical facility or a hospital then you should opt for deep cleaning more frequently than that in cases of other business facilities. You can go through our blog 'ultimate guide of hospital cleaning' where dental office owners can follow our comprehensive dental office cleaning checklist.
Fall is a wonderful time to prepare the floor for winter. Falling leaves make it simpler to track dirt and trash inside your home as autumn approaches. This combined with the accidents and messes that are common in a house makes for unclean, grungy flooring this season. You may require a professional cleaning team to either strip and wax or scrub and recoat depending on the current situation of the floor.
Doing a scrub and recoat will remove the destroyed top layer of the finish and add fresh layers to the floors. There will be extra floor protection.
Here are some other cleaning tips to keep your floors sparkling and pristine during fall-
Make sure the floor managers look into the process of removing the furniture. This will help better cleaning prospects. It is important to vacuum or sweep the floor that has debris or dirt. Do this before treating the floors with liquid cleaning products. If you don't, the filth will spread out across the floors and is less likely to be eliminated. This prevents thorough cleaning. Sweep and then vacuum hardwood floors for a thorough cleaning that gets rid of all the dust and debris.
For a good commercial floor care process, there should be the use of trusted products. It is advisable to choose green cleaning services that best meet the demands of the broad selection that is now on the market. Numerous items contain antibacterial qualities that can aid in preventing the accumulation of allergies and germs in the future. Instead of just shampooing carpets, it's necessary to deep clean them and use steam cleaning later.
Allow the floors to dry before they are in use again. If you don’t do so, it may have repercussions.
Nothing in this world comes without certain obstacles. With commercial floor care, there arises some issues as well. Hard flooring may encounter a variety of problems due to ordinary and daily wear and tear. Sometimes your team has to give these issues more attention to have them fixed; other times, you don’t always need specialists.
We have written down a few issues that you may face and how to solve them-
When anything rubs against a smooth surface, it leaves scuff marks. Scuff marks happen due to items having a hard, dark rubber bottom scraping the floor and leaving behind dark rubber spots. Shoes leave aggressive scuff marks that are hard to remove.
These oil-based marks are inevitable, so it’s important to know how these marks can be removed from your floors.
You can eliminate scuff marks by using-
One can remove scuff marks from floors with an efficient floor burnisher. The friction of the floor and the high speed of the machine rubs away all the scratches and black marks.
Does the floor have multiple scuff marks? Using an efficient floor buffer can be helpful when there are several scuff marks in a large area. The use of a light-colored floor pad will be great in removing scuff marks and simultaneously polishing the floors too.
A more abrasive floor pad can be necessary if your flooring has more challenging scuff marks. The more abrasive blue pads can be employed to remove thicker scuff marks that are resistant to conventional cleaning techniques. You should be cautious not to keep the floor buffers over a single location for an extended period while utilizing a blue floor pad to eliminate scuff marks. Using this technique, you may remove the final layers.
When debris and soil wear away the upper layers of the floor polish, it causes hard floors to get scratched. Floors with scratches look extremely drab and filthy. Professionals may restore the damaged floors using a hog’s hair pad and a floor burnisher to preserve the gleam of the floor finish in your facility. The floor finish is softened and evened out by the heat from the floor burnisher, which significantly lessens the visibility of scratches on hard floors.
There are other ways to clean scratches, like using brass polish in little amounts and rubbing it on the scratch with a circular motion. But note that for wooden or other delicate flooring care, ask or hire professionals.
When sand, dirt, and other pollutants eventually grind through the topmost layer of the finishing due to natural wear and tear. Dirt becomes lodged in your floor finish very severely. For commercial floor care, clean and recoat your facility's floor finish to get rid of soils if they are embedded in the uppermost layers. The goal of scrubbing and recoat is to remove a couple of the top finish layers from your flooring. It isn’t possible to eliminate older dust and grime that has been crushed into deeper layers.
You can wind up with gleaming floors that seem unclean if janitors carefully eliminate embedded soil while cleaning. If one still notices it, ask the professionals to perform a strip and wax process. They will get rid of severely embedded filth that just cannot be removed via scrubbing and recoating.
Commercial floor cleaning is important for the business to run productively and for the safety of any visitors. Such spaces need to have a proper plan and execution for floor care. You may either train the janitors or hire professional companies like Sterling Cleaning, who have expertise in such a field. With high-end and updated tools, experienced experts, and affordable and timely work, you don't have to look further. Do not delay in such matters as commercial floor care affects businesses a lot. Start soon!
Please reach us at any time to set up an appointment to review your commercial cleaning requirements. Sterling will provide an on-site review of your janitorial needs, then create a custom proposal that fits both your specifications and budget
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