Project Cleaning For Schools And Universities: Establish Time-To-Task

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Last week, we discussed a few suggestions for project cleaning. This week, we will focus on establishing an appropriate time for each cleaning task. 

Use ISSA’s 540 Cleaning Times Book & Calculator to assess the time required for various tasks.

For example: As you prepare to strip hard floors, understand that dust mopping in classrooms is often slower than vacuuming, as the productivity of an 18-inch dust mop is less than 7,000 square feet per hour, compared to a backpack vacuum with a hard floor tool which ranges between 7,000 and 10,000 square feet per hour.

Vacuuming also removes fine, gritty soil from crevices for thorough, deep cleaning. When scrubbing floors, autoscrubbers reduce drudgery, improve results and free up human resources for other work. With a range of sizes and configurations available, there is an autoscrubber for most maintenance budgets.

This is especially meaningful when you consider that an autoscrubber consolidates a number of procedures into one — mopping, scrubbing, rinsing, squeegeeing and vacuuming — lowering costs, while providing superior cleaning and greater floor safety.

With the trend toward downsizing in large and small maintenance firms, automating floorcare is an idea whose time has come. Answering the call, manufacturers now provide autoscrubbers ranging in cleaning width from 17 inches up, with compact designs proving practical on even modest-sized floors. Hefty productivity gains allow greater floor coverage with fewer personnel and in less time compared to manual floorcare.

Floor production rates for light scrubbing with 17-inch and 20-inch scrubbers average 18,500 and 20,500 square feet per hour respectively. Actual cleaning speed will depend on usage conditions, but increases of two to 10 times over mop-and-bucket maintenance are common. There are even robotic scrubbers available for unattended floorcare, and propane-powered stripping machines for large areas needing rapid coverage.

There are also low cost dispense-and-vacuum platforms that enable dispensing floor cleaning solution, scrubbing, then vacuuming the solution off the floor and from grout lines. These enable wise use of resources on a budget.

Check back next week when we will focus on scheduling and how to work with other departments to efficiently get the job done.

Project Cleaning For Schools And Universities

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

"Well begun is half done” says the axiom, and starting projects before the need becomes critical is an important way to be sure these tasks are done while manageable.

That is why successful systems, such as team cleaning programs and the nonprofit Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools® (PC4HS) program recommend incorporating project work into weekly and monthly schedules.

For example:

• Routine Cleaning is performed Monday through Friday and completed daily.
• Detail Cleaning is performed in quadrants Monday through Thursday and completed weekly.
• Project Work is performed on Fridays and completed monthly.

However, if you reserve projects for the "Big Summer Cleaning Push" — there are suggestions for making these projects easier to manage.

One thing to do is to create a task list. Otherwise, knowing what work must be done is the first step to completing it. A sample list could include:

• Scrub, strip and refinish floors
• Perform high dusting
• Clean vents and grilles
• Perform low dusting
• Wash blinds
• Replace lights, clean covers and lenses
• Wash windows
• Replace ceiling tile
• Wash walls
• Remove ink and other substances (e.g., chewing gum) from desks and tables
• Clean trash receptacles
• Clean recycle containers
• Extract carpet
• Clean lockers and gym mats
• Paint walls and other areas as needed

Check back next week as we cover additional suggestions for project cleaning. 

Hard Floor Care Tips and Trends

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Hard floor care is one of the most pressing JanSan challenges facing facility managers and building service contractors (BSCs) today. Proper floorcare covers a lot of ground — both figuratively and literally — and it is an increasingly important process for a number of reasons.

First, facility appearance is an obvious but serious consideration. Every building occupant will notice when a floor is dull, sticky or slippery, and building managers today expect the attractive shine of an impeccably maintained floor, no questions asked.

Sanitation is another growing area of floorcare concern. Dirty, unkempt floors in restrooms, kitchens and classrooms can contribute to “sick building syndrome” and encourage dangerous cases of facility cross contamination.

Finally, floor safety is absolutely paramount. As legal liability concerns have increased, floor technicians in commercial facilities must call upon their entire skill set to help reduce the occurrence of slip-and-fall accidents.

The demand for attractive, sanitary and safe floors is almost as old as the cleaning industry, and matting, equipment, chemicals and employee training are all integral parts of a modern floorcare program.

Check back next week to learn about floorcare tips, which were gathered from respected industry sources who have working knowledge of today’s most effective hard floor care process and procedures.

The Evolution Of Autoscrubbers - Future Trends

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Another key improvement among automatic scrubbers in recent years (as well as among other types of floor machines, such as burnishers), is reduced size. Along with improved cleaning performance, the key reasons for this are enhanced worker productivity and safety.

Another trend that is already here for many manufacturers is battery-operated machines. These systems improve the operator’s ability to clean larger spaces without stopping and eliminate the safety hazard posed by a cord dragging behind the machine.

However, battery technology is changing, and more machines are now powered by maintenance-free batteries. While they may be more expensive initially, most cleaning technicians find that they require less maintenance overall and have a greater life cycle, so they are proving to be very cost effective.

Other trends on the horizon in automatic scrubber technology include micro-machines that are even smaller than those available today; "greener" machines; safer machines; more effective machines that improve worker productivity by reducing the number of passes necessary to clean heavily soiled floors; and quieter machines.

The Evolution Of Autoscrubbers - Key Features

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Today's automatic scrubbers offer a variety of features and benefits to satisfy diverse cleaning applications, including:

• Greener: This applies to the types of chemicals used, as well as chemical and water usage. Today’s machines use less water and chemical, especially cylindrical brush systems.
• Safer: These machines are now safer for both the operator and others in the facility in which the machine is being used. Some of today’s automatic scrubbers have easy-access digital controls and greater visibility than older models, allowing users of varying heights to operate them. More machines are also fitted with solenoid technology to control water flow. In the past, water could continue to flow from these machines even when turned off, which was wasteful and increased the chances of a slip-and-fall accident. Now, water flows only when the machine is in use.
• Easier to service: A key advance in some floor machines is that they are now easier to service; operators can even handle many minor repair issues themselves.
• Manufactured with fewer parts: Some machines have fewer mechanical parts now and that reducing the number of parts has also reduced the overall cost of ownership of some automatic scrubbers.

Check back next week for Part III in this series to learn about future trends of automatic scrubbers.

The Evolution Of Autoscrubbers

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Before the invention of autoscrubbers, floors in airports, train stations and other large facilities were dust mopped and then cleaned using mops and buckets. It was slow, tedious work, and the results were often less than satisfactory.

Automatic scrubbers were first introduced during the mid-1950s. They looked like push lawn mowers containing a well for water and detergent, which the machine sprayed on the floor using jets. A set of rotary pads or brushes worked the combination into the floor, effectively removing soils.

While the equipment certainly did not clean and dry the floors all in one pass, as autoscrubbers do today, these early machines were a very big advance in floorcare technology. They used less water and less detergent and were overall more effective at cleaning floors than the old manual method. Floors also dried faster after cleaning. And, best of all, these machines improved worker productivity and morale tremendously.

Today’s Machines

By the 1970s, cleaning professionals had widely accepted these machines as a far more efficient and effective way to clean floors, and manufacturers had made significant advances in automatic scrubber technology.

In time, virtually all autoscrubbers shared the following three basic features:

• A solution tank and water delivery system
• A scrubbing system, which could be either rotary pads or, in recent years, cylindrical brushes
• A moisture recovery system to vacuum up water/solution and soils into a recovery tank.

Most of today’s machines now offer a fourth feature: A drive system that propels the autoscrubber forward, backward, left and right. When it comes to floor machines, greater mobility and maneuverability are typically high on the “want list” of floorcare technicians.

However, greater mobility is not the only advance in automatic scrubber technology. Check back next week to learn what other key features automatic scrubbers offer.

Selecting Certified Carpet Care Equipment

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management. 

Facility managers are tasked with the challenge to not only keep their building looking clean and visually appealing, but also to implement sustainable cleaning practices that maintain a facility''s health and flooring longevity.

One component of maintenance procedures is carpet cleaning, which significantly impacts the overall appearance of a facility. Dirty, worn carpet can negatively affect a patron''s first impression and satisfaction, and indicates an unkempt building.

Carpet is an expensive investment for any facility, making it crucial to maintain with regular vacuuming and annual deep cleaning. This not only adds to a carpet''s longevity — which increases a facility manager''s bottom line — but also increases the building''s physical condition. Carpet acts as a filter to capture and hold airborne particles, including dust, dirt and harmful chemicals.

Routine carpet cleaning minimizes exposure to these contaminants, improving indoor air quality and enhancing the health of the facility and its occupants. When selecting carpet care equipment, it is important to consider several factors, including machine capabilities in terms of performance, efficiency, sustainability and durability.

To assess these factors, cleaning professionals turn to the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), which rates carpet care equipment on their ability to remove soil, contain dust or water — depending on whether it is a vacuum or extractor — and retain quality carpet appearance.

Check back next week for more information on CRI certification. 

How to Repair Damaged Marble Floors?

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Question:
I just took over the housekeeping in an old office building. The last cleaning service used floor finish on rough and smooth marble squares, leaving a darkened and chipping finish. Can this floor be stripped and cleaned properly without floor finish? I know marble should only be ground and buffed with a light mopping to clean.

Response:
Many times we have to continue to do what has been done in the past because changing processes would be too time consuming and costly. Normally, you should and can maintain marble flooring without the use of a topical sealer. The challenge, in your case, may be the difficulty of removing the existing finish as well as the condition of the floor.
Testing in a small area, such as one square of each texture, may be the best bet.

If you can get the existing finish off the floor and end up with an acceptable appearance, there may be hope. I'm not sure why there is a rough finish; it could be by design or just the result of improper maintenance over the years. Prior to making a decision, you may also want to consult several local stone maintenance and restoration specialists to see what they would recommend.

If you do use a stripper, it is important that you rinse extremely well so no alkaline residue remains on the surface or in the stone. Once the floor has dried for at least 12 hours, one or two coats of a penetrating sealer should be applied. 

This answer was supplied by Bill Griffin, president of Cleaning Consultant Services Inc.

Floor Care Basics: How to Clean to Protect Your Bottom Line

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

When it comes to floor care, it’s important to make a good first impression. Shiny floors are literally a reflection of your business. In fact, it has been shown that facility appearance ratings can drop by as much as 75% if floor shine makes a bad first impression.

The truth is it’s less expensive to maintain a finish than to repair or replace a floor. So, why not heed those words and create a floor care program that shines favorably on your business and protects your bottom line?

The key to achieving clean, attractive looking floors is regular maintenance and choosing the right cleaning products. The following best practices can help keep finished floors looking great year round.

1. Prevention: A floor matting program reduces the amount of soil, dirt and moisture that enters the building. Mats should be located inside and outside the building in high-traffic areas, such as the main entrance to the building and the entryway or foyer. Also, place mats throughout the building – near the steps, the elevator shaft or other strategic areas – to continue to capture incoming dirt. Typically, the more mats you have, the longer the life of the floor will be. 
2. Daily Routine/Maintenance: This should include dust mopping, damp mopping, auto scrubbing, low-speed buffing and high-speed burnishing.
3. Interim Maintenance: This step involves a deep scrub and recoat. First, remove surface damage, then apply floor finish for a fresh new look. This provides shine restoration when buffing/burnishing is not enough.
4. Restorative Care: Why strip and refinish? When the floor has darkened or yellowed and when a scrub and recoat will not give a new appearance, restorative care is the next step, which involves stripping, sealing and refinishing. Be sure to use a high quality stripper and choose the right finish for your floors.

Click here to read the full article.

Selecting Certified Carpet Care Equipment

This article was originally published by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Facility managers are tasked with the challenge to not only keep their building looking clean and visually appealing, but also to implement sustainable cleaning practices that maintain a facility''s health and flooring longevity.

One component of maintenance procedures is carpet cleaning, which significantly impacts the overall appearance of a facility. Dirty, worn carpet can negatively affect a patron''s first impression and satisfaction, and indicates an unkempt building. Carpet is an expensive investment for any facility, making it crucial to maintain with regular vacuuming and annual deep cleaning.

This not only adds to a carpet''s longevity — which increases a facility manager''s bottom line — but also increases the building''s physical condition. Carpet acts as a filter to capture and hold airborne particles, including dust, dirt and harmful chemicals. Routine carpet cleaning minimizes exposure to these contaminants, improving indoor air quality and enhancing the health of the facility and its occupants.

When selecting carpet care equipment, it is important to consider several factors, including machine capabilities in terms of performance, efficiency, sustainability and durability. To assess these factors, cleaning professionals turn to the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), which rates carpet care equipment on their ability to remove soil, contain dust or water — depending on whether it is a vacuum or extractor — and retain quality carpet appearance.

Read the full article here to learn about CRI Certification and its advantages.

Parking Lots: More Than Just a Place to Park Cars

In today's fast-paced world, a parking lot is a place to park cars while individuals attend to their daily activities. While parking lots do serve this purpose, they are actually much more than that. A parking lot and its surrounding area are just as important as the facility attached to it, as it can serve as a customer's first impression of the facility. Cleanliness impacts this impression and, depending on the parking lot's appeal, may determine whether or not a customer returns.

From rocks and sand to leaves and beverage cans, parking lot debris can be plentiful. Failing to keep a lot swept and free of waste can also result in safety issues, in addition to interfering with lot usage, obstructing parking spaces or even causing vehicle damage. A well-maintained parking lot can have curb appeal and positively add to a patron's overall experience.

To ensure a safe, visually-appealing parking lot, it is critical for facility managers to use proper outdoor cleaning equipment to collect fine particles and litter alike — leaving a clean parking lot to welcome facility patrons.

Outdoor Cleaning Equipment

When selecting outdoor cleaning equipment, it is important to consider the scope and cleaning requirements of the parking lot. It is also crucial to assess labor needs, equipment performance and desired results in terms of sustainability, safety, durability and effectiveness. When conducting this assessment, there are a variety of outdoor surface cleaners available from which to choose.

Depending on the parking lot, operators can choose to employ any of the following cleaning machines:

• Handheld pressure washers: With adjustable pressure sprays, these pressure washers reach deep into surface crevices, where traditional cleaning equipment may not. For example, handheld machines are optimal for curbs and tight parking lot corners. Their compact sizes make them simple to use and easy to store.
• Outdoor power sweeping: Ride-on power sweeping machines offer wide broom capacities and dust-controlled operation to ensure effective debris pickup. With their comfortable, ergonomically designed operator compartment, these machines minimize physical labor. 
• High-pressure operator-driven machines: These large, operator-driven cleaning machines provide deep cleaning capabilities, allowing users to remove dirt, tire marks and painted lines without surface damage. With high-pressure performance, these machines provide increased productivity by reducing time spent cleaning.

Read the full article to learn more about parking lot cleaning. 

High Risk Slip and Fall Accident Areas

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management

Tribology is the study of the interaction between sliding surfaces. Those who analyze slip and fall accidents use the knowledge of tribology to examine the amount of friction between shoe bottoms and the floor surface.

The second Tribology class focuses on how facility managers can help prevent slip and fall accidents by knowing where they are most likely to occur.

Studies now indicate these areas are where a slip and fall accident is most likely to occur:

• Any floor surfaces that are wet or oily (both indoors and outdoors)
• Sloping surfaces, especially sloping down
• Work areas where pushing, pulling, carrying, or lifting tasks are performed
• Any area of a facility where people must temporarily walk faster than usual
• Where there are frequent walkway changes

Learn more about slip and fall prevention with safe cleaning equipment.