Whilst your new floor may look pristine now, it's vital that ongoing cleaning and maintenance requirements are not forgotten to ensure it remains in prime condition and, more importantly, continues to provide a safe surface for students and staff to walk on.
Considering the level of investment schools often put into new flooring, it's surprising just how often insufficient resources are allocated into maintaining floor coverings. Whether your school has new floor coverings or you are responsible for maintaining old, the good news is that it can be simple and cost effective to have the correct cleaning regime in place.
So what needs to be done by cleaners in educational buildings?
Establishing a good cleaning programme should be done with care and ideally in consultation with the flooring manufacturer. A good place to start is in the entrances. A large and properly maintained barrier mat will greatly reduce the ingress of dirt and moisture into the building, giving the cleaners a head start. To be effective the mat needs to be at least four paces deep.
Cleaning budgets are always under pressure, and often all there will be time for is a sweep and a quick mop of the more critical areas. Even cleaning with a mop and bucket can be made more effective. Use hot water rather than cold and it's important to use the correct cleaning fluid for the application.
For example, we would recommend an Alkaline cleaner such as Altroclean 44 for Altro Safety Flooring. Too often, the cleaning chemicals are left to dry on the surface without being properly rinsed. This can, over time lead to surface staining. Always remember to rinse properly with clean water once the cleaning solution has done its job. After all, when you wash your car, you always wash it down to remove the residue. It's also important to use the cleaning agent at the correct concentration. The use of an overgenerous mix can lead in time to a build of solution on the floor, causing on occasions a whitish bloom, and also the slip resistance can be impaired.
It is helpful if the floor can be wetted with the cleaning solution and left to soak for a minute or two, allowing the soiling to be lifted into suspension. Merely passing the mop over the floor doesn't really allow the cleaning agent to be effective. The use of a twin compartment bucket allows the floor to be rinsed, ensuring the soiling and cleaning agent are thoroughly removed, and don't forget to change the water when dirty.
Scuff marks are always a problem in schools and colleges, and one tip when doing an area is to spray the scuff marks or any localised heavy soiling with the cleaning concentrate at the beginning, allowing the cleaner to begin to do its work. The type of mop incorporating a green pad is a useful tool to accommodate both general cleaning and to assist in the removal of the scuff marks.
If the floor area is large enough, it is advisable to budget for the purchase of some equipment. A slow speed, high torque scrubbing machine is ideal for all surfaces and will last a lifetime. These machines can be used on all types of floors as different pads can easily be attached with velcro. On safety floors a green synthetic pad works best. This can be changed to nylon brushes for use with Altro Marine safety flooring or sports floors. Never go to black pads as these are the most abrasive.
A wet vacuum is also a must because of the time it will save when a floor needs to be rinsed and dried.
Time doesn't stand still and safety flooring has come a long way in the last year or two. With the current advances in safety flooring technology, the need for frequent mechanical cleaning is constantly being reduced. Altro Maxis, for example, with it's patented easy clean technology, offers excellent cleanability, which reduces the amount of times the floor needs to be machine scrubbed. The Maxis range has been installed in many schools throughout the UK for its reliability and ease of maintenance.
Altro Mirica is another innovative range of safety flooring developed to retain its attractive appearance, even in high traffic areas. Its modern patterned look is designed to minimise the visibility of scuffing and soiling between daily cleaning. With slip resistance meeting HSE standards, Mirica is ideal for use in busy areas such as corridors within schools and colleges, and any other areas where a safe, durable surface is required. It will withstand daily wear and tear, providing excellent resistance to scuffing, staining and impact.
For every type of floor, Altro produces a cleaning card giving the step by step instructions required for the successful cleaning and maintenance needed, including the telephone numbers for suppliers of equipment. Follow these guidelines and use the correct equipment to keep your floors in tip top condition.
For further information on Maxis, Mirica and Altro's full portfolio of interior surfaces, call 0800 018 2960 or visit http://www.altro.com/
