Why Your Facility Needs A Professional Floor Cleaning & Maintenance Program
Every commercial facility needs a routine and efficient floor cleaning and maintenance program in place. No matter what type of floors you have, whether carpet or hard-surface flooring, keeping it in tip-top shape is essential for the overall appearance of your facility as well as the health and safety of workplace occupants. Well-maintained floors are also easier to keep clean and will last longer.
Carpet is especially good at trapping in dirt particles, allergens, and odors, and is easy to stain. Hard surface flooring can become equally worn-out looking due to constant scuffs, scrapes, dirt, grime, spills, and everyday wear and tear. In high traffic areas such as lobbies, entrances, hallways, and walkways, the appearance of dirty, dingy, floors can look unsightly and unprofessional.
Regular floor maintenance protects your investment
As any facility manager knows, renovations are expensive. Proper maintenance pays dividends when compared to replacing your facility’s assets every couple of years – and flooring is no exception. Commercial floors endure major foot traffic, spills, and the weight of equipment and furniture on a daily basis. The buildup of dirt and other contaminants causes flooring to corrode and in some cases causes structural damage.
When this happens, you’ll be forced to replace your flooring at a greater cost to your bottom-line. Routine floor cleaning and maintenance will help extend the life of your floors and keep the manufacturer’s warranty intact.
A dirty floor can become a health and safety risk
When dirt, grease, water, and other contaminants build up on your floors, they can become a major health and safety hazard as people are more likely to slip, trip, or fall. Incidents like this aren’t isolated to entrances or production areas either; a bit of spilled milk in the break room that hasn’t been cleaned up is just as hazardous. Additionally, if your dirty floors are the cause of a workplace injury, then you or your business could be liable.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers are legally responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. Recent estimates place the business costs associated with occupational injuries at close to $170 billion-expenditures per year that come straight out of company profits (OSHA). Protecting people on the job is in everyone’s best interest. Safety and health add value to businesses, workplaces, and lives.
At Cleanstart, our expert floor care team is equipped with the latest floor cleaning products and technologies to safely and effectively clean all types of flooring. Carpet and hard surface flooring each come with their own special requirements – our professional cleaners can tackle both. We are experienced in all flooring types and know how to keep your floors looking their best, year after year.
Commercial-grade carpet cleaning and maintenance
Vacuuming is the most important part of carpet maintenance. As much as 85% of dirt can be removed through vacuuming alone. When excess dirt is present in your facility’s carpet, it begins to abrade the fibers, matte the carpeting, and create visible traffic lanes.
When spills, stains, and soiling occur, they should be promptly cleaned with a spot cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Every time someone walks onto the carpet in your facility, they leave dirt, pollen, and debris brought in from outside behind.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, carpet is one of the main sources of indoor allergens. Dander, dust mites, pollen, and mold spores are some of the many immune triggers and respiratory irritants found in carpeting. At Cleanstart, we use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter which collects dust-mite particles, pollen, dander, etc. Although vacuuming alone will not get rid of dust mites, the heat of steam cleaning will kill them.
Not all carpet is the same and the appropriate deep cleaning methods should be used based on the type of carpet you have. Whether your carpet is made of nylon, wool, olefin, or polyester fiber, regular cleaning will help remove allergens and respiratory irritants, keep it fresh and clean, and ensure a longer lifespan for your carpet, Regular deep cleanings performed by a reputable, commercial cleaning service should be part of your overall floor care program.
The Different types of hard-surface flooring
Although many businesses decide against using carpet in their facility to avoid upkeep, it is still important to maintain other types of hard-surface flooring. There are five major types of commercial flooring: laminate, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), polished concrete, and tile flooring. All types of floors require routine cleaning and maintenance as they will accumulate scratches, scuffs, and grime buildup, and lose their finish, luster, and shine.
Commercial cleaning and maintenance of LVT flooring
Routine Maintenance: It’s recommended to vacuum and dust mop LVT flooring regularly to prevent dirt from grinding into the surface. Spills and spots should be mopped up immediately using a neutral cleaner diluted to the recommended level. Wet mopping can be done daily, weekly, or as needed depending on the traffic or soil level of the area.
Periodic maintenance: LVT should be cleaned using a neutral cleaner and auto scrubber and then rinsed with water. This can be followed by spray buffing if required to remove scuffs. Routine maintenance activities must be performed before periodic cleaning in order to prevent dirt from being ground into the flooring surface by the scrubber.
Commercial cleaning and maintenance of VCT flooring
Routine maintenance: VCT flooring should be vacuumed and mopped regularly with the manufacturer-recommended neutral cleaner to prevent the build-up of debris causing abrasions to the tile’s protective polish. Recoating the finish of VCT flooring should be considered part of routine maintenance.
Periodic maintenance: VCT flooring must be machine scrubbed periodically and, if needed, additional coats of polish should be added. Every so often, restorative maintenance will be required to ensure there is a sufficient protective barrier above the porous tile. This requires chemically stripping and reapplying the tile’s floor polish, which must be performed after routine maintenance procedures.
Commercial cleaning and maintenance of ceramic tile floors
While common in restrooms and kitchens, ceramic tile grout lines can harbor dirt and germs if not cleaned correctly. Routine maintenance: Most of the dirt and soil can be vacuumed and cleaned with a neutral cleaner. Spots, paints, and oils can be cleaned with a spot cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Any soil left on the floor may abrade the tile surface and liquids will change the slip resistance of the tile and pose a safety risk.
Periodic maintenance: ceramic tile will have to be deep cleaned periodically to remove mineral deposits or mold using manufacturer-recommended cleaners. Even ceramic tile with 100% epoxy grout will need to be deep cleaned occasionally to remove the build-up of dirt, grease, or other types of soil and prevent grout discoloration.
Commercial cleaning and maintenance of laminate flooring
Commercial-grade laminates are made to withstand heavy foot traffic from employees, customers, and clients, as well as the impact of everyday grit and dust. Routine maintenance: Remove loose dirt with a dust mop or a gentle vacuum without a beater bar. Dust or vacuum more often in problem spots and areas with a lot of foot traffic.
Periodic maintenance: Use only soap-free cleaners and only cleaners that are designated for laminate flooring. Never saturate the floor with cleaner as it could cause damage. Excessive water can also cause laminate flooring to buckle or separate. Never wax, polish, or use buffing machines. Remove wet spills immediately and wipe the floor with a warm moist cloth and a gentle cleaner designed for laminate flooring.
Commercial cleaning and maintenance of polished concrete floors
Maintaining your polished concrete floor will prolong its appearance and durability. Routine maintenance: Daily dry mopping is recommended to remove abrasive dust particles that can grind on the surface of the polished concrete and damage its shine over time. Periodic maintenance: Wet mop weekly with clean water to help wash away debris, dirt, and other grime that accumulate on your floor’s surface.
Use a pH-neutral cleaner on a regular basis to suspend dirt particles and remove them easier. Working in smaller areas at a time helps keep the floor wet during the cleaning process so that the cleaner doesn’t dry and leave a residue that will require additional cleaning to remove. The benefit of daily and weekly maintenance will help prolong the life and shine of your concrete flooring.
The benefits of using entrance mats
Entranceways bear the brunt of harsh weather. Wet from rain or melting ice, your floors can be damaged by road salts commonly used in the winter. Road salts have a high pH and can break down floor finishes on contact. Entrance mats stop dirt, moisture, and bacteria from entering your building or facility. 85% of all soil enters on the feet of building occupants and investing in mats stops the root cause of the problem.
Safety is a major concern in all facilities. Effective entrance matting systems scrape off dirt and debris, absorb moisture, and dry the bottom of shoes. Mats also reduce instances of slips and falls. Between 12-15 feet of matting works best but mats need to be vacuumed during heavy traffic hours to be effective. During rain and snow events, change mats as they get soaked for peak efficiency.
Hire Cleanstart for your industrial, commercial, and office-grade flooring care
At Cleanstart, our professional floor care team uses the proper cleaning solutions and equipment to handle all types of flooring and prevent damage. We use microfiber cloths and sweepers on floors that need a milder treatment such as vinyl, hardwood, and laminate. With tile flooring, we methodically remove grout, scuffs, grime, and stains to bring back its original luster. We use commercial-grade scrubbing equipment and sealant to bring your concrete floors back to life.
Businesses that don’t have the time or experience to clean and maintain their floors should consider hiring a professional cleaning service. It’s important to work with a cleaning and maintenance professional with a thorough understanding of flooring to create your program.
At Cleanstart, we help business owners and facility managers develop a floor care program that keeps their flooring clean, well-maintained, and looking its best. We provide high-quality floor cleaning and maintenance services for the following industries:
- Retail facilities
- Indoor event venues
- Warehouse/industrial facilities
- Residential
- Airbnb short term rental unit cleaning
- Community rec centers/senior daycare centers
- Outdoor events and festivals
- Port facilities (TWIC credentials)
Cleanstart has been in the commercial cleaning industry for over 27 years. We provide exceptional cleaning services for a wide range of businesses, large and small. We will meet with you to discuss a floor cleaning & maintenance plan for your specific needs while minimizing downtime to your operations.
Daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning visits are available as well as after-hour and one-time, emergency cleaning visits. If for whatever reason, our 5-star quality cleaning service standard is not met, we will make it right by correcting the issue within one business day.
Request a free Commercial Floor Care estimate now!
Our combination of proven processes, high standards, and uncompromising customer service take commercial floor cleaning and maintenance services to the next level.
✓ Over 27 years in the cleaning and janitorial industry
✓ Professionally trained janitorial specialists
✓ Committed to the highest quality of clean
✓ Local, licensed, bonded & insured
✓ 24/7 cleaning options & support
✓ Customized cleaning solutions
✓ 100% satisfaction guarantee
✓ OSHA, HIPAA, EPA, CDC, AORN compliant
✓ A+ BBB-rating
If you are looking for an experienced and reliable commercial cleaning service, you can count on the experts at Cleanstart. For more information about our quality services or to request a free estimate, please give us a call today at (253) 921-2593 or you can request a free online estimate.
Where we service in the PNW
Auburn, Bellevue, Bellingham, Bonney Lake, Bremerton, Factoria, Fife, Gig Harbor, Kent, Lakewood, Olympia, Puyallup, Renton, Seattle, Tacoma, Tukwila, University Place, King County, Kitsap County, Pierce County, and Thurston County.
5013 Pacific Hwy E unit 16 Fife, WA 98424 • Phone: 253.921.2593 • Email: Caleb @ thecleanstart.com
