As winter approaches, so do the challenges of keeping floors clean and safe. Snow, slush, and salt can quickly turn a well-maintained floor into a slippery and unsightly mess. Without the right care, winter’s grime can cause long-term damage to facilities, while increasing the risk of accidents, and leaving your floors looking worn. Take a proactive cleaning and facility maintenance approach and choose the right products to keep your floors safe and beautiful all season long. From entrance matting systems to proper cleaning techniques, these winter floor care tips will help you protect your floors and reduce the effects of winter weather.
Effective Entrance Matting Right at the Door
Did you know? Without adequate matting inside a building, the first 6 feet of finishing on a floor will be removed with only 1500 people walking on it. It only gets worse when you factor in what winter brings. One of the most effective ways to prevent snow, dirt, and salt from spreading through your facility is by stopping it at the door before it gets in. A well-planned 3-step matting system can trap up to 80% of the debris before it goes too far into your space.
- Outdoor Scraper Mats: These are placed outside the entrance to remove larger debris like salt and snow. These heavy-duty scraper mats, like the Edgewood Debris Trap™ Tile, are designed to withstand harsh weather and scrape off tough dirt and moisture from shoes.
- Indoor Wiper/Scraper Mats: Absorbent mats like theEdgewood Tundra™ Mat w/ Edging or Purcell™ Heavy-Duty Mat are used to capture moisture and finer dirt, reducing the risk of slippery floors and water damage. For indoor matting in a low-traffic building, the mat should be approximately 12-15 ft., but higher-traffic areas will require a longer mat to keep floors clean.
- Drying Mats: A drying mat can be placed further into the entryway to catch any remaining moisture. This extra layer of protection, such as Edgewood Everest™ Mat w/ Edging, helps ensure that your floors stay dry and safe for foot traffic.
With a proper entrance matting system, you’re not just cutting down on cleaning time—you’re also protecting your floors from the abrasive effects of footsteps, salt, and grit.
Regular Vacuuming of Your Facility
Even with an established matting system in place, winter debris can still find its way inside your facility. Regular vacuuming is essential to prevent dirt and salt from building up and causing damage. High-traffic areas like entryways and lobbies should be vacuumed multiple times a day, especially during peak winter months.
For winter conditions, a wet/dry vacuum is particularly useful for facility cleaning. A versatile tool like the NaceCare® WV900 Wet/Dry Vacuum can handle both dry particles like dirt and salt, as well as wet messes from snow and slush. With its powerful 95 CFM airflow, 110-inches of water lift, and large 35-litre tank, the vacuum can help facility cleaners and cleaning crews pick up salt granules and any moisture with ease before there’s lasting flooring damage.
By keeping up with daily vacuuming, you can reduce the need for more intensive cleaning later on and extend the lifespan of your floors.
Taking Care of Salt Residue with Cleaning Solutions
While salt is great at keeping outdoor surfaces safe during winter, it can wreak havoc on floors inside facilities. The white, chalky residue left behind by salt not only looks unattractive but can damage both hard and soft flooring. Additionally, when the snow melts and small salt deposits are left behind, they attract more dirt, making it harder to keep floors clean.
To effectively combat salt residue, you need a cleaner specifically designed to neutralize and remove it. Swish® Winterinse™ Floor Cleaner is an excellent concentrated floor cleaner that breaks and demineralizes salt deposits on both hard flooring surfaces and soft surfaces. It’s a safe, no-rinse formula that keeps your floors protected from winter damage. For those looking for a more eco-friendly solution, Enviro-Solutions® ES83 Haze Away Neutral Floor Cleaner offers a green approach to eliminating salt haze without harsh chemicals and reduces slipping risks by removing the ice melt film that attracts water.
It’s important to use warm water when mopping to help dissolve salt more effectively. Once the area is cleaned, be sure to dry the floor thoroughly to prevent moisture from settling in, which could lead to more problems down the road.
Deep Cleaning with Compact Floor Scrubbers
For areas with heavy foot traffic, daily vacuuming and mopping might not be enough to keep floors in pristine condition. Over time, dirt and salt can become embedded in the surface, requiring deeper leaning to restore floors to their original state.
Compact floor scrubbers are a great option for tackling winter grime in smaller, harder-to-reach areas. The NaceCare® 244NX Compact Floor Scrubber is a perfect tool for deep cleaning in spaces where large machines wouldn’t fit. Its scrubbing power removes built-up dirt, salt, and moisture, ensuring that floors remain clean and safe even in the busiest parts of your facility.
Regular deep cleaning during the winter months will not only improve the appearance of your floors but also help prevent long-term damage from salt and moisture.
Proper Maintenance of Mats and Equipment
Your entrance mats and cleaning equipment work hard during winter, so it’s important to keep them well-maintained to ensure they perform at their best.
- In addition to daily vacuuming, washing mats periodically will also extend their life and keep them functioning effectively. Mats like the Supreme Knob™ Mat w/ Edging are designed for durability and can stand up to frequent cleaning without losing their effectiveness.
- Wet/dry vacuums and floor scrubbers require regular maintenance to keep running smoothly. Ensure your facility cleaning team is emptying vacuums frequently, cleaning filters, and inspecting hoses for clogs. For scrubbers, make sure to clean brushes and tanks after use to prevent salt buildup and ensure consistent performance.
Proper care of your mats and equipment will extend their lifespan and ensure your cleaning routine holds up to winter weather.
Invest in Winter Floor Care Solutions
Winter can be tough on floors, but with a few strategic matting placements and floor cleaning solutions, you can keep them looking great and minimize damage. By investing in an effective entrance matting system, staying on top of regular vacuuming, using the right cleaning products, and maintaining your equipment, you can protect your floors from the harsh effects of snow, salt, and moisture.
If you’re ready to get started with a winter floor care routine, Swish has the cleaning equipment and solutions you need. From high-quality mats and vacuums to specialized cleaning solutions, we offer a wide range of products designed to make winter floor care easier and more effective.
Visit a local Swish location today, or shop online for all your winter cleaning essentials and keep your floors looking their best all winter long.
