www.ipesearch.com FLOORING & FLOOR CARE 51
FEATURE
mop and bucket used with a
conventional cleaning product is less
common but not entirely extinct. More
advanced systems offer a choice of
mophead materials and different
product formulations. Many cleaning
teams have discovered the benefits of
microfibre, available in a range of
disposable and reusable options, which
can be used to clean hard floors with
products or water alone. There are also
specialist manual and mechanical tools
for stripping old finishes and applying
new ones. Mechanical rotary-disc
machines and scrubber-driers can
deliver productivity, performance and
cost-saving benefits on larger floors.
Industrial floors – especially in
production areas and warehouses – are
often relatively large, with open spaces.
High-performance scrubber-driers,
including ride-on models, are ideal in
this scenario. Like their smaller
counterparts, ride-on machines can be
used with a wide range of products,
pads and brushes matched to the
specific floor type. Many also offer
innovative features, such as on-board
tracking and remote management
systems to optimise machine or fleet
use. They can also be equipped with
ancillary equipment, such as on-board
sprayers that can disinfect floors during
routine cleaning.
The increasing choice of cleaning and
maintenance products and equipment
means that it is more important than
ever to select the right one for the
flooring material, finish and cleaning
process. Cleaning products with a
formulation that is ideal for one type of
flooring might be too harsh for another.
An alkaline cleaning detergent, for
example, might accidentally damage or
remove a traditional finish. An acidic
formulation, on the other hand, can
dissolve or damage the surface of a
concrete, marble or limestone floor.
When using machines, it is all too easy
to choose a pad or brush that results in
the cleaning operation being too
aggressive or abrasive and thus
damaging the floor. Damage can occur
quickly but be difficult and expensive to
repair.
Floor-care specialists
Experienced cleaning suppliers with a
wide range of products, equipment and
machines will be the best placed to
offer advice and suggest the best
combination for any given scenario.
They will usually have floor-care
specialists who have the expertise and
‘seen it all before’ knowledge to help
their customers identify the correct
solutions and resolve any unexpected
issues that arise. They will also be able
to advise cleaning teams on
compliance with agreed procedures or
regulations covering specific industry
sectors.
Some cleaning teams have recognised
the benefits of cleaning floors with their
equipment and water alone. This
removes complexity by eliminating the
need for any chemical products, which
can save cost and the burdens
associated with selection and
procurement, supply chain, training,
and implementation processes. It also
simplifies cleaning processes, creates a
healthier environment for cleaners and
bystanders, and reduces routine
maintenance burdens.
Microfibre mopping systems, for
example, when used with water alone
represent an ideal option for daily
cleaning to remove dirt and dust. Floor-care
machine operators are
increasingly drawn to innovations such
as pads impregnated with microscopic
diamonds that are used with water
alone and no chemicals. Fitted on
scrubber-driers and rotary-disc
machines, they offer a highly
sustainable alternative to traditional
techniques on a wide variety of resilient
non-wooden floor types.
Pads for different tasks and flooring
materials are manufactured by
changing the size and combination of
the microscopic diamonds. The pads
are typically less abrasive than the
conventional alternative, which helps
protect the floor while giving a
smoother and improved appearance.
The resulting micro-polished floor is
more resistant to soiling.
Building occupiers and their cleaning
teams do not always know what
materials were used to construct their
own facilities. But only with this
knowledge can they hope to
implement cleaning and maintenance
regimes that deliver the best results
and are affordable and sustainable. This
is why it is important to seek help and
advice from an experienced supplier
with a wide product range.
Terry Burt is senior application expert,
floor care, at Diversey UK & Ireland
For more information:
www.diversey.com
Tel: 01604 405311
Some cleaning
teams have
recognised the
benefits of
cleaning floors
with their
equipment and
water alone
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/www.diversey.com
