Protect Floors from the Ravages of Weather

Weather conditions plague facility managers, no matter the time of year. People track in mud, rain, snow, and debris, making it a challenge to keep floors clean.

Cintas Corporation offers the following floor cleaning checklist to help facility managers protect floors from the ravages of weather.

• Schedule periodic deep cleans. Floor deep cleans use cleaning chemicals, dwell time and high-pressure steam to sanitize and remove buildup and accumulation of dirt and grime. From hard surfaces such as tile and natural stone, to wood or vinyl flooring, periodic deep cleans help improve the static coefficient of friction by removing layers of dirt that accumulate over time.
• Implement a matting program. Businesses without proper entrance matting will have a hard time keeping floors clean and hazards such as dirt, debris, and precipitation at the door. In addition to eliminating the accumulation of slippery excess moisture and puddles, ISSA states that entrance matting of at least 6 feet can remove 40 percent of soil, matting of 12 feet can remove 80 percent of soil, and matting of 36 feet can remove 99 percent of soil.
  
• Perform daily cleaning. Spills, tracked-in debris and dust accumulation can make floors sticky or slippery. Supervise cleaners to ensure they perform intermittent floor cleaning at regular intervals and immediately after spills. Consider using floor mops with an on-board cleaning chemical reservoir, such as a pulse mop, to quickly clean up spills throughout the day.
  
• Use the correct dilution for cleaning chemicals. Incorrect cleaning chemicals or the wrong dilution may not clean as well as intended and may cause floors to be sticky or slippery. Make sure your cleaners know which products to use, where to use them, and how to dilute them properly. Consider installing an easy-to-use, push-button solution dispensing system that ensures the correct dilution.
  
• Upgrade your cleaning tools. Tool selection is an important step in ensuring floors are properly cleaned. Microfiber cleaning tools offer superior cleaning performance and better infection control than traditional mops and towels. According to Rubbermaid, microfiber products are proven to remove 80 percent more dust and dirt than traditional mops. Consider using a dual-chamber mop and bucket system instead of a traditional mop and bucket. Dual-chamber systems separate dirty mop water from the cleaning chemical solution to prevent dirt from being mopped back onto floors.