Office floors take most of the beating out of arguably any surface in an office. But the point is because people come and go at all times, maintaining their durability can be a tough one. Especially if the office hasn’t invested in professional janitorial cleaning services yet.
High foot traffic is the reason why office floors need to be maintained properly, using the right techniques apt for the flooring material. And we’ve got you covered with this guide.
Here are maintenance tips to extend the lifespan of any office flooring.
The job of entrance mats is to keep all the riff-raff (dirt, moisture, debris) out of any pristine establishment. As unassuming as they are, they are a crucial investment to the longevity of your flooring.
Place entrance mats at every threshold, both inside and outside. These act as a barrier, trapping dirt, dust, and moisture before they track throughout the office premises. Mats keep floors cleaner for longer and can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning.
Beyond that, they help reduce instances of scratching, scuffs, and other damage due to abrasive particles.
Adopt A Regular Cleaning Routine
Don’t wait for office floors to resemble a Jackson Pollock painting (not the good kind) before giving them some much-needed TLC.
Establish a regular cleaning routine, keep employees accountable for office cleaning rules, and don’t make common cleaning mistakes that can harm your flooring (does using bleach or ammonia-based solutions on hardwood flooring ring a bell?).
For example, set up schedules for daily, weekly, and monthly or quarterly cleaning. Sweeping, vacuuming, and immediately addressing emergency spills are key for any office floor— just be sure to use the right cleaning solutions this time around.
Don’t Wait For Spills To Turn Into Hard Stains— Clean Them Up, ASAP
Spills are inevitable in any office. Put up as much visual signage as you like, and the rogue cup of coffee or leaky water cooler will always find ways. But allowing spills to linger can lead to multiple problems, from unsightly stains, and slippery surfaces, to potential flooring damage.
So what do you do the next time there’s a spill? Act fast. As soon as it occurs, grab a clean microfiber cloth or a couple, and blot as much of the liquid as possible. DO NOT WIPE, just blot, as this will just cause the stain to spread further and leave streaks.
Addressing spills as soon as they happen prevents them from turning into hard stains, and causing permanent floor damage. This keeps the floors looking their best. For large spills, be sure to have the maintenance crew put up a “CAUTION: WET FLOOR”. Without this, your office floors are just a liability action waiting to happen.
Use The Right Floor Cleaning Products For Specific Flooring Types
Not all floor cleaning materials and solutions are made equal, especially with office floors. The least of your worries is ineffective cleaning, but the worst of it is damage that leads to costly repairs down the line.
Don’t make this mistake, instead take time to be acquainted with your office floors. For example, vinyl, laminate, and ceramic tile can handle most all-purpose cleaners. However, hardwood floors require specialized wood cleaners to avoid damage to the finish.
Meanwhile, carpets need a specific carpet cleaner to lift dirt and stains without leaving residue behind. They’ll also benefit from commercial carpet cleaning services and the occasional deep clean.
Protect From Furniture Scratches
Office chairs on wheels may be the most convenient way of getting around for carpet flooring, but they can also cause damage. The same goes for other heavy furniture, like copier machines, desks, tables, and the like.
The solution isn’t that hard: add protective padding to the feed or bottom of all furniture. Felt pads or self-adhesive furniture glides are readily available in local hardware stores and are available and inexpensive.
For chairs on wheels, consider investing in chair mats that protect the carpet from wear and tear— not to mention, makes rolling towards a favorite coworker much easier.
Control Humidity
Moisture has been among the top causes of damage to building structures, according to a paper published in the National Library of Medicine: WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould.
The paper argues that building materials like flooring can wear out faster due to moisture. It cites the example of installing hard surface flooring or even carpets over a concrete surface not sufficiently cured and therefore harboring excess moisture.
It also cites another instance wherein poor ventilation affects floorings, which is mold, fungi, and bacterial growth, which could be combated by improving ventilation.
A great way to gauge humidity levels in any office is by investing in a hygrometer. The recommended levels are 30-50%, which is ideal for most flooring types. Use dehumidifiers as well to remove excess moisture.
If the maintenance crew come by and notices leaks or damage, make sure these are brought up to the office admin so they’re addressed as soon as possible. Doing so prevents moisture from seeping into floors and causing undue damage.
Invest In Regular Deep Cleaning Offered By Professional Floor Cleaning Companies
Regular deep cleaning tackles the hidden dirt and allergens lurking beneath the surface. It’s best to hire professional floor cleaning services for this job, as they can do expert floor maintenance techniques like restoration, stripping, and waxing, cleaning grout lines.
How often deep cleaning should be done depends on the flooring type and level of foot traffic in the office. However, most commercial spaces benefit from at least once or twice a year of deep floor cleaning.
Rotate And Rearrange Furniture
Now this tip sounds a bit weird, but it does work. Think of it this way: furniture or heavy equipment sitting in one area for too long can wear down the floor underneath. This creates noticeable patterns of wear and tear.
Avoid this by periodically rotating and rearranging the furniture. Doing so allows you to distribute the weight and pressure of furniture across a wider area of the floor. It also helps to even out fading due to natural lighting— meaning the floors can retain a consistent appearance throughout.
Office furniture should be rearranged every six months to a year, or more frequently for high-traffic areas like lobbies, clinics, conference rooms, and the like. As small as the adjustment may be, they can boost the lifespan of any office flooring.
Refinish Or Recoat
Even if the maintenance crew religiously follow the best practices of office floor maintenance, they are not immune to the natural wear and tear of things. Scratches, scuff marks, dullness, fading— all these are inevitable consequences of daily, heavy use.
But this doesn’t mean the floors should be replaced entirely. Refinishing or recoating can breathe new life for various floor types.
For example, hardwood floors involve sanding down the old finish, restaining, and reapplying protective coating. For vinyl and linoleum, stripping and waxing can remove old layers of wax and grime, making them easier to clean and maintain in the future.
For hard flooring, like tiles, buffing does wonders to keep them shining for longer. Finally, for bare concrete, it’s recommended to polish or seal them. This helps protect them from stains and makes them much easier to clean in the future as well.
Investing In Office Floors = Investing In Your Business
These expert tips will hopefully guide you towards clean, and well-maintained office floors. And remember, if stubborn stains or deep cleaning tasks prove to be too much, do not hesitate to call in a commercial cleaning company that can take the guesswork out of properly maintained flooring.