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Best practices for cleaning in a retail setting
Investing in a robust floor-care programme for your retail setting will help build your brand, keep your customers and employees safe and maintain a clean indoor environment.
First, consider your line of defence. In the entranceways, preventative matting can help to keep dirt out of your store. Second, you’ll want to invest in innovative equipment and technologies that make cleaning simpler, along with strategies that make the most effective use of your employees’ time, rather than aiming for shortcuts. Such strategies and equipment may prove to be more cost-effective in the long run.
A note about spills in the retail setting: No retail location can afford to let any spill go unattended. Spills are terrible for slip and falls, contributing to the number one cause of emergency room visits and is a leading cause of injury-on-duty claims in South Africa. Your retail setting must have a system in place for monitoring and addressing spills quickly.
Soft floorcare best practices in retail settings
Vacuuming helps keep floors looking neat and clean, removing dirt and debris and keeping allergens out of the air. Remember to use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter to help improve indoor air quality. Well-cared-for carpeting gives a facility a tidy, comforting appearance. However, if the carpeting is neglected even for a short period of time, the appearance of an entire room can suffer. No matter how clean the rest of your location is, if the carpet is stained, worn or unkept, it won’t create a favourable impression with your customers or guests.
The maintenance of soft floor coverings like carpet requires a methodical schedule of a variety of cleaning techniques, with a fleet of equipment that matches your setting and workers’ needs. One easy-to remember carpet-care routine is D. I. R. T. This acronym stands for:
• Daily carpet care
• Interim solutions
• Restorative care
• Treatment of spots
Hard floorcare best practices in retail settings
Hard flooring should be cleaned daily to remove surface dust and dirt. A floor scrubber can help you perform this daily job swiftly and efficiently, with minimal water. You should also treat problem areas as needed, cleaning up spills or wet areas immediately. The floor should also be burnished daily or weekly to restore its shine without damaging the floor’s coating. Finally, a deep, restorative clean should be performed every few months or annually. This involves removing the old finish from the hard flooring and replacing it with new. A restorative clean will get the store looking so fresh and new, your customers will get the impression the entire floor was re-done.
The material and coating of floors is an important factor in determining which products and equipment to use to produce the best results. If it is performed incorrectly or not done often enough, floors can discolour, show signs of wear or the coating can peel away.
Polished concrete has been touted as a ‘maintenance-free’ floor system, with a long lifespan and an attractive price tag. If properly maintained, polished concrete flooring can be a sound investment for your business, providing excellent traction and an easy and simple cleaning routine without the need for waxing, stripping or buffing. The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) confirms that polished concrete provides the highest level of consistent traction over other flooring choices. However, that does not mean that a polished concrete floor does not require regular care. There are certain best practices that, if carried out in a timely manner, will ensure that concrete flooring stays attractive and in a good state of repair.
For definitive floorcare solutions, consider Tennant cleaning equipment, distributed by Goscor Cleaning Equipment, a cleaning equipment provider that prides itself on providing the ultimate cleaning solutions to suit almost every application. For more information, visit: www.goscorcleaning.co.za
