Keeping your commercial carpets clean

ICS Facility Services’ experts cover commercial carpet cleaning through winter and beyond

by Jessica Brill

Keeping your carpets clean and in great shape is good for business. A clean facility shows your staff that you have their health and safety in mind and shows visitors that you take pride in your office – not to overlook the fact that it also extends the life of your carpets.

As the industry continues to evolve, cleaning companies are relying on their experience, upgraded technology, and improved processes to tackle year-round cleaning and stain removal at the commercial level.

HOW DOES WINTER CHALLENGE COMMERCIAL CLEANERS?

As the temperatures drop and we transition to spending more time indoors, commercial cleaners need to modify procedures to stay on top of the increased debris, sand, and salt.

“Carpets need more TLC from their cleaning services in the winter,” says Roy Pontes, regional vice president of operations at ICS Facility Services. Things like sealing floors to accommodate increased traffic and ensuring they’re non-slip for increased safety are just a few of the ways cleaners adjust for winter.

And it’s not just carpets that suffer; salt from roads and sidewalks tends to dull waxed floors, so extra attention is required to keep them looking clean. Wet floor signs are often needed throughout the winter to mitigate risk when cleaning hard or carpeted floors and removing snow or ice brought in from foot traffic.

To save floors and simplify maintenance, cleaners often install runners at entrances during winter months to collect moisture off people’s shoes and boots as they enter the building.

According to Andrew Tavares, commercial cleaning technical at ICS Facility Services, the best tool for runner maintenance is a wet and dry vacuum. Newer models are battery-operated and quieter than before, so it’s less intrusive for staff and guests. “We maintain runners to ensure they’re clean and safe in between any scheduled laundry service,” says Pontes. “Sometimes it’s even necessary to bring in fans, blowers, and dehumidifiers to assist with faster drying times — especially where there’s lots of moisture — to help prevent mold.”

OTHER COMMON COMMERCIAL CLEANING CHALLENGES

Stains happen, of course, but when they happen, they need professional attention. For an outside cleaner, initial assessments are crucial — with stain removal, especially.

Often, building operators don’t have a lot of information, so it’s a little like being a

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detective! Without a background, cleaners may not know how the carpet was soiled, how long it sat untreated, how the carpet has been treated in the past, and if there’s any residual product left behind. All this information helps determine the best and fastest course of action.

It’s also important to get to know the building as a commercial cleaner. Things like missing the right number of electrical outlets, and water sources, or being delayed in gaining timely access to a room could all hinder commercial cleaning tasks, adding time and money to the job.

Commercial cleaners don’t just specialize in flooring, of course, their skills are often required to treat and maintain everything from upholstered furniture (including sofas and chairs) to fabric cubicle walls. With significant improvements in tools and equipment, cleaners have become adept at addressing issues all over the building.

INNOVATION AND ITS EFFECT ON COMMERCIAL CLEANING

Carpet cleaning starts with the right equipment. To thoroughly vacuum a space, you need a powerful, professional-grade machine with greater suction capability, motor power, cleaning capacity, durability, and energy efficiency. But that’s not all it takes to effectively clean a commercial space.

Service companies rely on innovative, modern equipment for maximum efficiency and the best performance. For example, cleaning equipment has become lighter over the years, making it faster and less cumbersome to complete the job, especially in settings where there are stairs or areas that are difficult to access.

Cleaning tools and equipment are always evolving. For example, extractors now come with internal heaters and a motorized brush, which helps to loosen the fibres. Before, cleaners used a two-step approach, applying hot water to the carpet, followed by a dry wand. Now, equipment with HEPA filters traps dirt and allergens for a better safer clean.

These types of industry improvements have made carpet cleaning simpler, faster, and more efficient.

IT’S MORE THAN JUST CLEANING

Commercial cleaners know that education is key for cleaners and for facility operators to build relationships. “Having grown up in the cleaning industry through my family’s business, I’ve been responsible for a variety of tasks and thoroughly enjoy learning about advances in technology and new equipment to help get the job done well, train people, and complete repairs,” says Tavares, who takes a proactive approach while visiting different manufacturers to research the best cleaning options and techniques to share.

Keeping your carpets clean and stain-free all year long makes employees safer, leaves a professional impression, and prolongs the life of your carpet so you can extend your budget.

Taking advantage of carpet cleaners’ expertise, innovation and technology, and efficient practices can help you stay at the top of your game when it comes to commercial cleaning and stain removal, ensuring you’re offering the cleanest, healthiest, and safest facility possible. /

Keeping people and reputations safer.

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