The reason for keeping your commercial space clean and safe isn’t just a matter of aesthetics. When you consider things like customer impressions, employee productivity, and branding, achieving clean spaces is crucial for the overall success of your business.
One essential aspect of maintaining a pristine environment is commercial floor cleaning. A well-maintained floor creates a positive impression on customers and visitors, promotes employee productivity, and reduces workplace accidents.
However, navigating the world of commercial floor cleaning can be overwhelming, especially with the many options and techniques available. Let’s delve into the dos and don’ts of commercial floor cleaning. Here are some valuable insights and expert tips on what you should know about keeping your business’ floors remain spotless, safe, and visually appealing.
Types of Commercial Flooring
Like any residential property, commercial establishments can install different flooring types. Each of these flooring types has its own best cleaning practices, which means the commercial floor cleaning service provider you work with has to know the different ways of cleaning the most common types of flooring.
- Carpets: Carpet flooring is popular in offices and other commercial spaces that want to minimize unnecessary noise. They should be regularly vacuumed to remove loose dirt and debris. However, for high-traffic areas, your flooring should undergo deep cleaning at least once or twice a year – up to once every quarter. Methods for deep cleaning include hot water extraction, carpet shampooing, encapsulation, and more.
- Hardwood: Hardwood is a durable flooring type with a professional and luxurious appearance that vinyl and laminate flooring can’t fully replicate. Simple sweeping and dust mopping is enough for regular cleaning. Avoid harsh chemicals, as this can damage the wood and require restoring your flooring. If you want to clean your floors, use solutions designed for hardwood floors.
- Laminate: Laminate flooring comprises an inner board wood base and a laminated image layer typically used for various wood textures. Cleaners vacuum and sweep the floor regularly and then use a damp mop to apply compatible cleaners. Avoid excessive water and wipe spills immediately to prevent water seepage and damage to your flooring.
- Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles: Sweeping and vacuuming are enough to remove loose debris, while mild detergent may be used for stubborn stains. Avoid abrasive cleaners, as this can leave permanent scratches. Deep cleaning will require smaller tools to clean the grout lines.
- Concrete: Simple concrete flooring can withstand sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping. However, it may need concrete resealing occasionally to maintain its smooth appearance and prevent permanent stains.
What To Expect from Commercial Floor Cleaning Services
Commercial properties generally have two types of cleaning: regular cleaning and deep cleaning.
Regular or janitorial cleaning involves everyday cleaning to keep floors looking their best. This means removing any loose dirt or debris and wiping away any marks that can ruin the floor’s appearance. Regular cleaning practices can vary depending on the flooring type, but these are the steps you can expect:
- Clearing the Area: Removing large pieces of garbage from the floor.
- Sweeping or Vacuuming: Removing small dirt, dust, and other debris from the floor.
- Spot Cleaning: Identifying and treating stubborn stains, such as coffee stains, ink marks, or dirt. Cleaners should use the correct cleaning solutions depending on the flooring type.
- Mopping or Floor Scrubbing: Using a mop or scrub brush, the floor is agitated to remove any stubborn dirt.
- Drying: Cleaners use fans or let the floors air dry. These sections are closed off to prevent slips.
On the other hand, deep cleaning is a more rigorous cleaning practice that addresses spots on the floor that regular cleaning practices can’t cover. It may also involve moving around stationary furniture or large objects in the office or facility to clean floors that can’t be reached with everyday cleaning. On top of the steps of regular floor cleaning, deep cleaning may require the following steps:
- Clearing the Area: Cleaners may remove furniture and equipment from the floor to ensure that most or all of the room’s flooring is properly cleaned.
- Pre-Treat Stains: Stubborn stains may require pre-treatment to remove them in the next steps of deep cleaning effectively.
- Carpet Cleaning: Carpet flooring may need steam cleaning or deep washing and vacuuming to remove debris trapped within the carpet fibers.
- Scrubbing: Hard surfaces such as tile or concrete may require scrubbing with a rotary floor machine.
- Coating or Sealant Application: Some flooring types may require regular coating or sealant applications to maintain their appearance and durability.
How To Choose the Right Cleaning Products
With different flooring types in offices and commercial facilities, what works for one commercial property’s floors isn’t necessarily the same for your own. There are different types of floor cleaners, including:
- All-Purpose Cleaners: These are versatile cleaning solutions for handling common types of floor dirt, grease, and grime. They are usually the most cost-effective and are suitable for low-cost flooring types, such as tile, laminate, vinyl, and hardwood.
- pH-Neutral Cleaners: These are for delicate flooring types often made with natural materials, such as stone, marble, and granite. Their neutral pH balance ensures they don’t cause lasting damage or scratches on the floor.
- Carpet Cleaning Solutions: These cleaning products are designed specifically for carpets and the debris trapped deep at the bottom of the flooring. They can be used for spot, deep, and general cleaning.
- Disinfectants: These cleaning products focus less on removing stubborn dirt and more on killing germs, bacteria, and viruses. These are used in commercial facilities where cleanliness and hygiene are necessary, particularly in high-traffic areas and flooring types like tile, linoleum, and concrete.
- Floor Strippers: These are used on flooring materials such as vinyl, tile, or hardwood floors, which often have existing wax or sealants. Your floors must be stripped before applying a new layer of wax.
- Floor Sealers and Waxes: These provide a shiny, protective layer that can help your floor’s appearance and durability.
A professional commercial floor cleaning service provider knows the best floor solutions on your property. Some of the factors to consider when selecting the right cleaning products include:
- Safety: Older cleaning solutions can be toxic to indoor spaces, so your rooms must be ventilated for a few hours. Alternatively, your cleaners can use safe cleaning products that don’t leave residue or odors that can harm your employees’ respiratory health.
- Effectiveness: Not all cleaning products offer the same efficacy at cleaning and disinfecting. Either read reviews of cleaning products on the market or ask your cleaning service provider how effective their cleaning products are.
- Compatibility: Your cleaners should be using the appropriate cleaning supplies and equipment to maintain well-kept floors.
- Environmental Impact: If your office or commercial space wants to uphold eco-friendly operations, consider whether your floor cleaning needs can harm the environment with the disposed chemicals.
Establishing a Floor Cleaning Schedule
How often you should clean your floors can depend on many factors and your operational needs. Some of the factors to consider when deciding on your cleaning schedule include:
- Type of Floor: Low-maintenance floors may only require light sweeping and mopping to maintain cleanliness. Some floors may also degrade faster when frequently exposed to deep cleaning chemicals.
- Foot Traffic: Areas in your commercial establishment with high foot traffic are more likely to build up dirt and debris on the floors. These may need deep cleaning every few months, while areas with less traffic only need daily sweeping and deep cleaning once or twice a year.
- Operations: Your industry practices can affect how often you need commercial floor cleaning. For instance, clinics and medical-related facilities need regular disinfection and cleaning, while offices with a handful of employees on-site may only require light cleaning.
Creating a customized cleaning plan can help you schedule your cleaners and minimize disruptions to your operations. When planned correctly, you can also provide regular maintenance that prolongs the life of your commercial flooring materials. This is what a general floor cleaning schedule looks like, though it’s likely to change depending on your flooring and operational needs:
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Daily |
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| Monthly |
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| Quarterly |
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| Annually |
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Why You Should Hire Professional Commercial Floor Cleaning Services
Businesses can hire an in-house cleaning team or outsource their cleaning solutions to other organizations. When it comes to flooring, there are plenty of reasons why hiring a team of professional cleaners can benefit your business:
- Expertise and Experience: Professional cleaners have the knowledge and experience to clean and maintain commercial floors effectively. While you have to train your own team, you can trust that professional cleaners are already well-versed in the latest cleaning techniques and have knowledge of different types of flooring materials.
- Time and Cost Savings: Outsourcing cleaning professionals allows you to focus your time on your core business operations. Additionally, hiring a professional cleaning team is a cost-effective solution for maintaining clean spaces. Consider the cost of hiring in-house cleaners, investing in cleaning equipment and supplies, and providing regular training.
- Enhanced Appearance: Professional floor cleaning can maintain the quality and appearance of your floors. Through well-kept interiors, you can impress customers and boost the mood and productivity of your employees. Achieving visually pleasing indoor spaces also affects your brand and reputation.
Contact JAN-PRO Commercial Cleaning for Quality Commercial Floor Cleaning Services
Sourcing reliable commercial floor cleaning solutions is essential for businesses seeking to create a clean and welcoming environment for their customers and employees. With all these in mind, you can ensure that your floors remain in top condition, free from dirt, stains, and unsightly blemishes. Find commercial cleaning solutions that achieve safe and comfortable spaces with JAN-PRO Commercial Cleaning.