Your facility’s resilient flooring has more bearing on your daily operations than the mere aesthetic value it provides. It needs to be cleaned and maintained throughout the day to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on your premises.
If you’ve taken the time to select quality flooring materials, you also need to do some research in regards to maintaining them and keeping them free from viruses and bacteria. The following article will provide some tips on maintaining resilient flooring in your facility, but when it comes to keeping the cleanliness of your facility in line with modern sanitization and disinfection products and protocols, look no further than 360clean.
As one of the janitorial industry’s most innovative commercial cleaning companies, we take pride in maintaining a steadfast work ethic while equipping our clients with the latest and greatest cleaning technologies and world-class customer service. Contact us today and let us know how we can serve you.
The Basics of Resilient Flooring
Resilient flooring is a durable and popular flooring option that is perfect for a variety of buildings and industries. It is constructed from a combination of natural and synthetic materials that lend it the robust nature that inspired its name.
Resilient flooring is perfect for high-traffic areas because it doesn’t need to be replaced as frequently as carpet and is much easier to clean. Depending on the materials used and how it is installed, resilient flooring can even help with noise reduction.
With that being said, resilient flooring comprises all of the following forms:
- Linoleum
- Rubber
- Vinyl composition tile (VCT)
- Sheet vinyl
- Rigid luxury vinyl tile
- Flexible luxury vinyl tile (LVT)
- Sheet vinyl flooring
In addition to the above, there are several options that closely replicate the look of natural materials, such as stone, concrete, and wood. Furthermore, many resilient flooring options are constructed from recycled materials.
Maintaining Resilient Flooring
Once resilient flooring is installed, it is recommended that users immediately remove any debris with a microfiber cloth, followed by thorough vacuuming to remove any wayward dust. When the floor is free of debris, mop it using a neutral pH cleaning solution. If any residue is spotted after mopping, clean it off with water, and once the floor is clean, set up barricades and notifications to minimize floor traffic for the first 24 hours. Afterward, you can engage in routine cleaning and scrubbing practices.
Directions for Specific Spills and Markings
Always dust and vacuum before applying anything wet to the flooring to ensure that any dust and debris are removed rather than spread around. If you get the floor wet first, chances are the dust and debris will be more difficult to remove.
Spills and Grease
If you spill something onto resilient flooring, use a neutral pH vinyl cleaner unless you are working with grease, in which case, use mineral spirits or isopropyl alcohol to remove it.
Scuffs
Though it is fairly easy for resilient flooring to be scuffed throughout the day, removing those scuffs is, fortunately, as easy as using an auto scrubber. Another popular method that doesn’t require any specialized equipment involves placing a tennis ball on the end of a stick or another apparatus and using it to buff out the marks.
Basic Order of Operations for Standard Cleaning
Daily cleaning routines become much easier when you adhere to a consistent schedule, thereby allowing you to form a foolproof sequence of tasks for achieving replicable results. The following section will outline a thorough order of operations that will ensure your resilient flooring looks great while remaining virus- and bacteria-free.
1. Clean Your Entry Matting
The first step to maintaining clean, resilient flooring is to clean your entry matting. First, institute a consistent schedule for emptying soil from your entry mats throughout the week. Once or twice per day should be enough to keep the soil levels relatively low throughout the week, but the exact frequency will depend on the amount of foot traffic your building sees throughout the day.
If your entry mat becomes too dirty, it won’t work as intended, failing to adequately remove dirt from visitors’ shoes. Of course, that means the dirt and grime will then be tracked through your facility, which, in turn, means you’ll have to spend more time cleaning areas that would otherwise require less effort.
As such, experts recommend vacuuming entry mats at least once per day. Make sure to do so in straight lines and include a slight overlap in each streak. Said overlaps should be at least two — but no more than three — inches wide. Once finished, remove the floor mats before proceeding to step two.
2. Sweep the Floor
After cleaning your entry matting and removing all other mats, it’s time to prepare to sweep the floor. First, you must identify any large debris while you map out your sweeping path. Doing so will help you maintain consistency as you progress throughout the facility.
Sweeping Large Rooms
If your resilient flooring is located in a large room or hallway, you can substitute a smaller broom for a larger one that will cover more ground and speed up the process. As you sweep, make sure to gather all of the debris into a central pile; it will amplify your productivity by ensuring you never have to sweep over the same place twice.
Sweeping Small Rooms
When sweeping through a smaller space, such as an office or board room, a smaller broom will, naturally, be more advantageous, given that its smaller form factor allows it to tackle the more compact spaces that a large broom would have trouble with.
Make sure to start at the back of the room and sweep everything up as you work toward the front. That will make it easier to empty everything into a trash bag at once while also minimizing the chances of dirt being scattered throughout the room.
Sweeping Staircases
Always exercise caution when sweeping staircases. These areas can be hazardous, especially when working with cleaning equipment, and a single slip or fall can have severe ramifications.
In any case, when sweeping a staircase, always start at the top and work your way down, and sweep the dirt from the edge of each stair to the center so it is easier to sweep into the dustpan.
3. Vacuum the Floor
Once all large particles are removed, you can start vacuuming, the goal of which is to remove any smaller debris that a broom might not be able to collect. It is a critical step, though often one that is overlooked, much to the detriment of a facility.
As you vacuum, do your best to maintain a forward trajectory so you aren’t going through the same area twice. Additionally, try to map a route that doesn’t require you to move the power cord or other items repeatedly. You’ll be able to maximize your time and cover more ground.
If you do not have a vacuum, you can always opt for a dust mop. Similar to a broom, just make sure the mop is large enough to accommodate the area you are cleaning to avoid having to mop the same area twice in a single session. If you have access to a microfiber mop, use that, as they are preferred over traditional dust mops.
4. Wet Mop and Scrub the Floor
After vacuuming comes the process of mopping the floor with a traditional wet mop and bucket. Fill the bucket with a solution that is compatible with your flooring, and the mop should be wrung out so it isn’t sopping but still damp. If the mop is too wet, it could damage your flooring.
If you aren’t keen on traditional mopping methods, you can opt to use an auto scrubber, which features technology that allows it to automatically scrub floors in a quick and hygienic manner that also displays a conservative use of water.
Should you opt to use an auto scrubber, make sure to do some research as to which one will be most optimal for your resilient flooring. Additionally, make sure to figure out how the cleaning solution you are using will act when applied to the materials your floor is made of. Most bottles will have instructions and warnings informing you how to use the product correctly.
Stay Ahead of the Cleaning Game with 360Clean
Cleaning your facility shouldn’t be a complex process that gets in the way of your daily operations, and when you contract with 360clean, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your facility is being cleaned in accordance with the latest technological developments and accepted best practice standards.
Our cutting-edge JaniMed® Cleaning System and processes incorporate microfiber cleaning technology, hospital-grade disinfectants, and touch-surface disinfection to ensure that every area of your facility remains virus- and bacteria-free. Best of all, when you work with us, we will help ensure your daily operations continue as planned, without unintended interruptions.
Contact 360clean today for a free estimate.
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