Back to Basics Floor Care
There is nothing more pleasing to building visitors then to be greeted with a shiny floor. It's that “wet look” as the interior lights and sunlight strike it just right that makes people feel good and enhances the overall appearance of the entire building. It also reflects positively back upon your cleaning company as the people that know what they are doing when it comes to floor maintenance.
Basic floor care means just that
There are basically two types of “hard” floors you will encounter in your customers buildings. They are categorized as resilient and non-resilient flooring. Resilient flooring is firm but allows for “bounce back” and is flexible. Examples of resilient flooring would be VCT (Vinyl Composite Tile), linoleum, cork, and rubber.
Non-resilient flooring is inflexible and doesn't have that “bounce back” found in resilient flooring surfaces. Examples of non-resilient flooring includes ceramic/porcelain tile, laminate/hard wood flooring, concrete, and natural stone.
The two types of flooring are easily identifiable and the great thing is both types of flooring require pretty much the same type of daily maintenance.
Basic floor care includes sweeping and dust mopping (or backpack vacuuming with the correct floor attachment) and wet mopping. Sweep and dust mop before performing any other floor care procedures. Sweep edges, corners and hard to reach areas first. Make sure to get under shelving and move light objects to sweep under them. Next, dust mop the entire floor, removing debris with broom and dust pan.
For a more productive approach, use a backpack vacuum with crevice tool and hard floor attachment.
Next put out wet floor signs. When you get ready to wet mop, prepare your cleaning solution by using four gallons of cool water and a neutral pH cleaner. Begin mopping by cleaning the corners and edges, being careful not get cleaning solution on baseboards or nearby furniture. After mopping the corners and edges, fill in the open area using a figure eight pattern. Change the mop water whenever it becomes dirty. After mopping, clean and store the equipment properly so it will be ready for the next use.
If you are using a microfiber mop instead of a traditional loop mop head, mix your solution in your pail and then immerse the microfiber pads into your solution. Wring out and roll up your mop pads. Then store the mop pads in a bucket or container until you are ready to use them. Once the pads become soiled, remove them and put them into a container for laundering.
Poor quality floor care stands out in many ways
Floors not properly cared for can become discolored in corners, along the edges, and under furniture. On VCT flooring, this is often a sign of wax build-up or improper stripping procedures.
Scuffed or dirty floors are a strong signal that floor maintenance occurs infrequently or is not thorough, and overall gives the impression that your employees do not care about their work. Also, keep in mind that dirty floors can quickly become slippery, which can lead to serious falls and accidents.
Pay careful attention to small details when cleaning floors:
- Look for black heel marks and clean those by putting a scrub pad on your mop. Do not be too aggressive when removing black heel marks or you could cause damage to the floor
- Check for stains behind urinals and build up around toilets. These are areas often missed.
- Remove any gum or stickers before mopping.
- Make sure the floor is dry before removing the safety signs.
- Employees should inform their supervisor of any problems such as loose tiles. Also report when the floor needs scrubbed or recoated.
Proper daily maintenance now means less maintenance later
It cannot be emphasized enough how important it is to establish a daily maintenance program from day one and follow it religiously. Daily cleaning allows the floor to preserve its appearance and sustains foot traffic. Without it, you will most likely be performing scrubbing, recoating, and stripping maintenance long before it is due. The less time you have to spend on floor maintenance, the more time it will allow the cleaning technicians to perform other cleaning duties or finish up over-due project work.
Let your customers know the importance of daily maintenance and how it can actually lower their overall costs to maintain their flooring. I remember the economic troubles of the U.S. economy starting in 2007 that really emphasized this.
It seemed as though every one of our customers were calling to either reduce their frequency of service, cut back of cleaning tasks, or to postpone project work. To someone with very little knowledge of why cleaning is important, this seemed like a “no-brainer” way to save money.
How wrong they were. It actually had a negative effect, meaning; the longer they put it off, the longer it would take us to bring it back up to par. It also meant more costs for the customer, and the lack of regular maintenance lessened the overall floor life.
Although it is important to listen to the needs of your customers and address those needs, it is equally important to inform them of the basic needs of their flooring. Money spent today can save them even more down the road.
Following the basics of floor care can be just that, basic, as long as you follow the correct maintenance procedures for the type of flooring you are cleaning. Using incorrect cleaning chemicals or improper cleaning procedures can damage the floor and cause unnecessary wear and deterioration on the flooring and finish.
Keeping floors clean and shiny will have positive impact on your company and your employees. Help your company stand out among others by giving the floors in the buildings you clean proper care, extend their life and make them shine!
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