Concrete floors are the ideal solution for industrial settings because they are durable and can withstand large amounts of heavy foot traffic and machinery, but require very little maintenance. Cleaning concrete floors is important, however, to ensure they last and to protect your employees and equipment.
The frequency and cleaning methods required will depend on the type of concrete flooring in your facility.
Regular cleaning of your concrete floors helps to ensure that they last for as long as they should. Certain spills and dirt, especially in industrial environments, can corrode the concrete if left for too long.
Spills, dust, and dirt can create a slipping hazard which may put your employees at risk of a fall. Oil, chemicals, and other contaminants can also generate a hygiene issue for your employees.
While aesthetics may not be the most important consideration in an industrial environment, ensuring that your floor surface is maintained can be important, especially if you ever have visitors to your facility.
Industrial machines are powerful, but they can also be surprisingly vulnerable. The accumulation of dirt or dust particles within the moving elements of the machine can cause it to unexpectedly stop working. Clean concrete floors aren't just about improving the work environment of your employees, but also ensuring that the machines work as they should.
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Industrial concrete floors generally cover a large area, which can make traditional cleaning methods more challenging.
Dry cleaning concrete floors is an important first step. You should always ensure to remove loose dirt and debris before moving on to wet cleaning. If you add water before dry cleaning, you could risk turning the dirt into mud, which can be even more difficult to remove.
You can use a broom or industrial vacuum cleaner to remove dirt. If there are any sticky patches, you should go in and scrape these off using a floor scraper.
If you notice any cracks in the concrete floor, you should fill them before adding any water. Moisture that seeps into cracks can cause mould, which can create an unhealthy work environment and damage the flooring material.
Before general wet cleaning, it is a good idea to check the concrete surfaces for any tough stains.
For wet cleaning, you should use a pH-neutral cleaner mixed with warm water. Highly acidic or alkaline cleaners may damage the concrete surface over time.
For smaller areas or light cleaning, an industrial mop can work well. It is important to rinse the mop regularly, otherwise you will just be smearing the dirty water over the floor rather than removing it.
For large areas or more intensive cleaning, more powerful cleaning machines like pressure or power washers will work better. They are an effective solution to remove dirt from hard surfaces, but you should start on a lower-pressure setting first. Very high pressure can damage the surface of the concrete floor.
Mopping or pressure washing may not be enough for very stubborn stains or accumulated dirt. In those situations, scrubbing will be necessary.
For smaller areas, manual scrubbing with stiff bristled scrubbing brushes or a scrubbing pad can remove the dirt and grime.
For larger areas, you can use an automatic scrubbing machine. These are specifically designed for industrial flooring and they are a more effective and efficient solution than a mop and bucket.
A floor scrubber uses oscillating pads to scrub the floor, while the cleaning solution is fed through from a tank. A vacuum sucks up the dirty water into a recovery tank, which can then be emptied.
For an industrial concrete floor, isn't strictly necessary to dry quickly, unless you need access to the area immediately. Air drying won't cause damage or streaks to the concrete surface.
If you do need to speed up the drying process, an industrial fan or air dryer will work well.
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One of the most important aspects of maintaining industrial floors is ensuring that there is a clear cleaning plan in place. Of course, the plan should be flexible enough to allow for changes to the work environment and to account for any busy periods.
Daily dry cleaning of the floor with a broom or industrial vacuum can help to prevent any dirt or grime from getting set into the concrete. This makes the wet cleaning and scrubbing work much easier and ensures that there is a consistent clean environment.
The frequency with which your industrial concrete floor will need wet cleaning or scrubbing will depend on the type of work in the facility, and how much dust or dirt is likely to accumulate.
Weekly scrubbing will be best for industries where there is a lot of dust, paint, or metalwork. Monthly scrubbing may be enough for industries where there is unlikely to be a lot of waste.
Managing the cleaning of your industrial floors yourself is possible, but employing a professional service will help to free up your time and ensure that the floors are cleaned to a high standard.
A professional cleaning company will have access to industrial cleaning equipment and products. And they will also have the training and experience to employ the most effective cleaning techniques.
If you need your industrial floors cleaned to a high professional standard, we can help. Our team of professional cleaning technicians will guarantee that your floor is cleaned to the highest industry standards.
If you have any specific requirements, we can accommodate them. For example, if your industry requires there to be a specific standard of hygiene, we will ensure that these standards are met, every time.
We will create a cleaning schedule that meets your requirements, and we will ensure that there is no disruption to your business operations.
Contact us today to find out how we can help make sure your concrete floors are consistently clean, creating a healthy and productive work environment for your employees, and protecting your floors and machinery from damage.
