Maintaining restroom floors that not only are clean, but also look clean, can be a challenge. Selecting the right combination of sealer/finish, disinfectant, and cleaning procedures is key to proper maintenance for this unique, high traffic environment. Our peers on the Facility Masters Listserv shared their best practices related to the proper care and maintenance for Terrazzo floors in restrooms.
“We use ‘Buckeye Castleguard’ on our Lavatory Terrazzo, as well as all the other Terrazzo. It holds up fine for the entire year. We alternate (every other day) our Quaternary Disinfectant and Peroxide based Sanitizer in our cleaning schedule to reduce build up film from the ‘Quat’. We have been getting complimented on the quality of the shine on our Terrazzo since we started using this product 13 years ago. Our corridors and lavatories shine like the first day of school on the last day of school.” Read more…
Having the right type of glides or tips on the feet of chairs can have a significant impact on the condition of your floors, as well as the need for ongoing floor care and maintenance. Selecting a glide that adequately protects your floors can save you money and time by reducing unnecessary wear and damage.
Our peers on the listserv shared their recommendations regarding glides that provide the best floor protection, stay attached to the chairs and are simple to maintain. They also recommended some specific products and vendors that have worked well in their experience. Read more…
Microfiber mops will keep the floor clean and do a better job of cleaning the floor and are easier to use than a mop and bucket. Also, microfibers will help prevent the spread of MRSA. With MRSA it is recommended that you change your mop water every 200 square feet.
Daily Floor Care:
1. Dust Mop Floor 2-3 Times a Day to Remove Daily Dirt and Grit
2. Remove Gum Using a Putty Knife
3. Wipe Up Pop or Sugar Drink Spills with Damp Rag
4. Clean Up Black or Shoe Marks
Weekly Floor Care:
1. Mop Floor or Tack Floor with Hydro Cleaner
2. Check Expansion Joints for Signs of Changes in Humidity
3. Check Entire Floor for Signs of Floor Damage
A lot of times when we pull that walk off mat up on the different types of floor we see where it has stained the floor or discolored the floor and sometimes we just can’t get that out.
A best practice is to remove the walk off mat at least two to five times a week in the evening. Ask your last custodians who pass through the building to remove the floor mat and turn it over and move it away from the door or the entry so that that part of the floor can dry out.
Create a floor plan indicating the type of flooring you have throughout the school. This will allow you to plan the cleaning process for each of the areas.
It is very important that we understand what it is that we’re taking care of.
Implement a training program. Make sure when you do training that you are using people who are trained – trained themselves for training and utilizing the right materials and supplies
It is important for you to document the maintenance of your floors, especially if you have any claims against the installer or the manufacturer or even with your insurance company.
So try to follow the manufacturer recommendations and to use only certified people to train your staff on how to maintain your floors. Establish a PM schedule automatically generating work orders, track the PM work and utilizing a system such as SchoolDude.com.
All of the floor systems have about the same problems. Tape is one of the biggest. If you have any tape on any type of coating on your floors, tape will pull the finish off no matter which tape you use if it’s over 24 hours.
If you need to add lines try shoe polish, tempura paint or the best practice is to pain the lines on it permanently.
Some of the other problems are street shoes. Street shoes can leave permanent black marks on uncoated floors. We recommend using only gym shoes. One of the biggest issues we see nowadays is water damage and not reporting of water damage.
If you see any water damage it is best for you to contact your insurance agent even if you’re not filing a claim. Insufficient maintenance on athletic floors is costly to the owners. It is easier and cheaper to maintain them than to replace them.
Schedule daily maintenance and annual maintenance in cooperation with your staff and coaches – talk with your coaches, work out schedules where you can get in and do your daily maintenance and weekly maintenance and annual and have it scheduled. The best way to do this is by utilizing a PM system such as SchoolDude.com.
A wood floor should last the life of a building if it is maintained correctly, including the sanding of the floor every eight to 12 years, this reduces the amount of wood removed between each sanding. On average you should get seven to 12 sandings out of a floor’s life.