Commercial floor cleaning

The first thing your customers, employees or associates tend to notice is the entire outlook of your facility. The floor comes at the top of this list and is directly associated with the professional image of your company. Below we discuss the most common type of commercial floors and how to maintain and clean them.

Types of Commercial Flooring

Businesses need to keep their floors dry, neat and clean for obvious reasons. There are several methods that can be used to clean commercial floors. Before we move on to that, let’s discuss the most common types of commercial flooring cleaning first.

Commercial Tile floors

These floors are also known as VCT (vinyl composition tile) which are made from colored polyvinyl chloride (PVC) chips transformed into solid sheets. This is the most common type of commercial tile flooring and the preferred choice of most businesses. Facilities and office spaces that use tile flooring needs regular floor maintenance and cleaning as they tend to wear out quickly. Regular maintenance is necessary especially for areas that are subjected to heavy traffic.

Commercial Vinyl Floors

Vinyl floor is another type of flooring material that most businesses use. The commercial vinyl floor remains another popular choice, especially for high traffic areas. These floors are water resistant and require little maintenance. Moreover, they can be printed in various colors and designs.

Commercial Concrete Floors

Commercial concrete floors are an ideal option, especially for areas that are subject to heavy foot traffic as they are highly durable and stain resistant. They are also easy to maintain. Although they are not as multifaceted as commercial vinyl floors, they can be colored or intensified to fit in with your office theme.

Commercial Carpet Floors

      Carpet flooring has become the preferred flooring option choice for many office spaces. Commercial carpets are made from different materials such as different fibers, nylon or olefin. These kinds of floors demand greater maintenance compared to other kinds of floors mentioned above. Commercial carpet floors made from olefin are cost-effective and easy to maintain. However, carpets made with nylon have a long life and are durable.    

     Commercial Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are durable and can withstand high traffic, spills, and dents. They are made by combining durability and aesthetics to create a beautiful floor. Hardwood floors however require greater maintenance as compared to other types of flooring options.

Cleaning Commercial Flooring

Businesses make every effort to maintain their facilities. Ensuring cleaned and dry floors are one way to maintain a professional image and overall look of your company. Below, we discuss how these different types of floors should be cleaned and maintained. You can also hire professional commercial floor cleaners to help you refurbish your floor and enhance the overall look of your facility.

How to clean commercial tile floors/ VCT

     As previously mentioned, VCT floors are the most common type of flooring used in most commercial and institutional projects. It remains the top choice of many businesses as it is ideal for high traffic areas and is durable, cost-effective and available in various colors and designs. Moreover, it is easy to maintain. Devising a regular maintenance schedule will help keep floors cleaner, shiner and even last longer.

      

     Start off by vacuuming or sweeping the entire area to remove larger pieces of dirt and other material. Removing dirt and trash from the floor can help you focus on getting the tile clean. Then, in a bucket add one ounce of neutral cleaner for every gallon of water you use. Why a neutral cleaner? Because a neutral cleaner makes the floor look shiny and new. Using harsh or wrong chemicals can strip the shine from the floor, making it look dull and grimy.

      

      Scrub the floor with a detergent, especially an area’s most prone to traffic and the ends. Once you are done cleaning, use an air mover to completely dry the floor. Ensure that the floor is completely dried so there are no accidents or potential falls. This might take 30 minutes or more, depending on the shape and size of the area. 

      

      If you have cleaned an area and there are still stains left, you can try one of the following tips;

• Increase concentration of the neutral cleaner, while it puts your floor at risk of looking dull, it will definitely help you get rid of that extra stain. 
• Use the mop in a different pattern, this is especially true for stains that take forever to go. Just try mopping in a figure-eight pattern instead of mopping in an up-and-down or side-to-side manner.
• Strip the wax, the yellow stain on a VCT floor is usually caused by either the natural reaction of sunlight and vinyl or the discoloration of wax coating on top of the tile. Using a concentrated cleaner or an automatic scrubber can help you effectively remove that stain.

It is important to have an in-keeper or a professional janitor to regularly mop and maintain the floors. However, professional commercial floor cleaning may be required if you truly want to see a difference or want your floors to look new.

How to Clean Commercial Vinyl Floors

Cleaning commercial vinyl floors are slightly different than cleaning tile floors. For routine maintenance, sweep the floor off of dirt and dust. Use a neutral detergent to mop the area using a figure-eight motion. Once the area you wanted to clean is covered with detergent, clean the mop and dampen it in clean water. Use the mop on to the entire area to clear and clean off the detergent. Use an air mover to dry any leftover dampness on the floor. Once the floor has dried, you can dry-buff it (this step is completely optional). For a great finish, you can use three to five layers of acrylic floor finish to coat the surface.

Sometimes it may feel that your efforts are not bringing in results especially on worn floors. Regularly maintaining and cleaning vinyl floors can help you cut on time and resources. Hiring a professional commercial floor cleaning service can also provide transformational results. However, below, we mention preventative measures you can take to proactively keep your floor cleaner and well-maintained.

·         If your vinyl floor is dulling, regular sweeping, mopping or vacuuming can help you remove the debris off of the floor. This can greatly improve the finish of your flooring. You can also try using a commercial floor sealer for extra protection. 

·         If your vinyl floor is discolored, cleaning it regularly can help in removing the grease and oil caused by the regular traffic on the floor. Moreover, using mats to cover the floor can be another way to avoid the yellowing of tiles due to the sunlight.

·         If your vinyl floor is dented, using a professional service in this regard will be an effective way to renew the flooring. Other than that, you can put down planks of plywood or thick sheets under the heavy furniture to avoid scraping the tiles while moving it.

How to clean commercial concrete floor

Fortunately, this type of flooring is the easiest to clean and maintain. It is also important to remember that concrete is a porous material, and water or liquid absorption can cause potential slips. Hence, investing in an air mover or floor-dryer will be ideal for maintaining the floor and preventing any unwanted events.

Using a dust mop on a commercial concrete floor regularly helps in preserving the shine on the floor. It also helps remove the dust and dirt particles effectively making it look new and clean.

When mopping the floor, ensure that you use a clean mop and a neutral floor cleaner. You do not immediately have to remove the cleaner that you have applied, as the chemicals need some time to start breaking down the grease and dirt particles. Neither do you want to keep it longer for the cleaner to dry on the surface of the floor.

Rinse the cleaner off of the mop and then dampen the mop in clean water. Use the mop to wash off the cleaner from the floor. Immediately use an air mover to dry the floor in order to avoid any slips and falls.

To increase the life of the concrete flooring, stripping the wax monthly or yearly can prevent the stains from reaching the concrete.

How to clean commercial carpet floor

Carpet flooring not only adds color to the environment but also acts as an air filter by absorbing dirt and other particles from the air. Carpet cleaning requires a different level of maintenance and cleaning. There exist several different cleaning options however the following supplies are most useful to have;

•  Vacuum
• Carpet cleaning solution
• Air mover/carper drying fan

For best results, regularly vacuum your commercial carpet to prolong its life. Before starting cleaning your commercial carpets, ensure that it is thoroughly vacuumed. Mix water and carpet detergent together and spray it over the carpet. Use a bonnet machine to work the solution into the carpet. Once the carpet is dried, vacuum it to pick up the encapsulated debris. Use an air mover to fasten the drying process. Professional commercial carpet cleaning service is still recommended for a renewed look.

How to clean commercial hardware floors

Hardware floor has a porous surface that can embed dirt and grime inside it. They are highly prone to damage especially in a high traffic setting such as an office space. It is essential to not only clean the floors but also take preventative measures to increase the life of the floor. One such method includes using a protective sealant. 

To clean a commercial hardware floor, you will start off by dust mopping the floor to remove any debris or dirt particles. This removes anything that might cause the surface to get damaged or scarred.

Use a cleaner to mop the floor. The mop should be damp enough to leave a trail but not so wet that you can see the water dripping off of it. Mop the floor in sections. Then damp your mop with clean water and use that mop to remove the cleaner. Using an air mover to dry the floor will be effective than using a dry towel instead. 

If you still feel that your regular efforts are not bringing any fruitful changes, hiring professional services is highly recommended.

 

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