How to look after and maintain commercial flooring.
Looking after and caring for your commercial floor.
This article will describe:
- How to clean and mop a commercial floor.
- Which type of cleaning product to use.
- How to protect your commercial floor from becoming scuffed and scratched.
How to keep your commercial flooring clean.
- Sweep the floor. Use a wide dust control sweeper for larger areas. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner which could scratch the surface.
- Use a traditional cotton string mop and either a wringer bucket or double bucket.
- Use a PH neutral floor cleaning product and mix according to instructions. Avoid harsh cleaning products which could degrade the vinyl surface or remove the seal.
Sweeping the floor
Use a sweeping brush to remove dust and litter before mopping. Use a wide dust control mop for larger areas.
Avoid using a vacuum cleaner with hard wheels as this could scratch the surface.
Floor cleaning products.
Clean the floor regularly to avoid a build up of dirt which could become difficult to remove.
Most floor cleaning products are safe to use on your floor that are PH neutral or non alcaline. Flash or similar products are fine for regular floor cleaning as these are PH neutral. Avoid floor cleaners that add a shine to the floor as these can leave a residue on the surface which can attract dirt.
It is important to to measure the floor cleaning product correctly as per the instructions on the bottle. Mixing too much cleaning product into your bucket can leave a residue on the floor which can build up over time and become impossible to remove.
Avoid harsh cleaning chemicals and cleaners.
It is important to avoid using strong or harsh cleaning products on your floor especially if it has an application of seal of dressing.
Using high alkaline cleaning products or bleach will almost certainly dissolve or remove any seal from the floor.
If in any doubt, use a neutral floor cleaner. I highly recommend using the product opposite which is very economical and effective to use. If you are uncertain whether a cleaning product is suitable, pre test in an inconspicuous area.
Avoid using a steam mop or machine on your floor as this could loosen the floor tiles.
The best type of mop to use is a traditional string mop as illustrated opposite with a large bucket for bigger areas.
This product is available from Cutler Cleaning Macclesfield
Click here to see Jangro Neutral floor Cleaner
Which type of bucket to use.
For large areas you can use either a double compartment bucket or a wringer bucket with a cotton string mop illustrated opposite.
Change the water frequently.
Use entrance mats to protect the floor.
Grit and dirt from outside can scratch and scuff your floor whether your floor has been sealed or not. If your floor is subjected to soil and grit coming from outside, it is wise to use a scraper mat outside and a cotton mat inside the door to absorb soil, mud and moisture.
Use entrance mats to collect dirt from foot traffic
Use protective furniture pads.
It is wise to use protective furniture pads to protect your vinyl flooring. Without furniture pads, your floor will almost certainly become scratched or scuffed. If your floor has become damaged by furniture, an application of floor seal or dressing can hide the marks very well in most cases.
Sealing a commercial floor
Another way of prolonging the life of a floor is to have it sealed with a polymer floor seal – either wet look or a satin finish.
It will make it easier to clean and help prevent scuff marks.
