Cleaning industrial floors is one of the hardest commercial cleaning projects. Even though the flooring material might be the same as that of an office building or nursing home, the effort it takes to clean them is often greater.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a small automotive repair shop or a giant food processing plant, industrial floors endure heavy duty wear and tear. For some facilities, like medical device manufacturers, clean floors are part of strict quality control and safety standards.
This means you may have to clean up chemical spills and dangerous dust. Or, you may have to work around delicate machinery or heavy equipment that can’t be moved. And you’ll have to do it with as little disruption to normal business as possible.
This can be a delicate balancing act. Whether you’re a commercial cleaning contractor or facility manager, this article will help. In it, you’ll learn what to look out for and tips on how to clean industrial flooring.
Why Are Industrial Floors Hard to Clean?
Industrial floors are any type of flooring used in a large, high traffic area, often where machinery is also used. These floors are typically made of tough materials such as concrete, but they can also include carpet, wood, stone or any type of tile.
Industrial floors are often more difficult to clean than residential or office floors. This is because they’re typically much larger. Industrial floors are also more likely to be covered in stubborn residues, slippery oil or grease, embedded dirt, and contaminated materials.
Industrial floors may also be subject to higher standards of cleanliness and sanitation. This is especially true of food, technology and medical device manufacturing facilities.
When cleaning industrial floors, you’re more likely to need specialized equipment like industrial scrubbers, sweepers and degreasers. Using the right industrial floor cleaners and equipment helps you create a safer work environment with floors that also look great.
When Should Floors Be Cleaned in Industrial Settings?
The main goal of cleaning an industrial floor is to create a safe work environment. However, keeping a clean floor not only helps preserve the flooring, but it can also maintain the equipment used on or around the flooring.
Create a cleaning schedule that keeps floors safe for employees and complies with your industry’s standards without disrupting work.
Tips for Creating an Industrial Floor Care Schedule:
- Review all safety laws and regulations for your area and industry. They may dictate when and how to clean the floors.
- Schedule daily light cleaning at times that won’t disrupt worker productivity. For example, sweeping the entire floor should occur before and/or after shifts. You should try to spot-clean slippery or sticky areas daily, or as soon as something is spilled, to prevent accidents.
- Plan ahead for deep cleans, including scrubbing and waxing, at regular intervals. Regular deep cleans help prevent dirt and stains from creating long-term damage. Planning ahead allows you to rent the right equipment for the best terms and reduce disruptions to regular business activities.
- Adjust the cleaning schedule as needs change. Plan ahead for how you’ll achieve the same level of cleanliness in the event of an emergency or increased activity. For example, floors will get dirty quickly in wet winter weather as people track salt and slush inside.
How to Clean Industrial Floors
Different types of flooring will require different methods, products and tools to clean properly. Use the tips below to learn how to clean industrial flooring, no matter the type of flooring material.
1. Evaluate the Room and Gather Supplies
The first step to cleaning an industrial floor is to inspect the room first. This is important for daily vacuuming and deeper cleans.
When evaluating the room to make sure you have the right equipment, consider the following:
- Type of Flooring: Different floors require different cleaning solutions. They also require different types of equipment to get the job done. If the floor is chipped, brittle or thread-bare, using a lot of liquids or powerful scrubber machines may cause more damage.
- Size of the Area: Ride-on scrubbers can clean wide-open floors quickly. Floors with narrow areas may need smaller machines or manual tools.
- Obstacles and Pathways: You may need to clean high-traffic entrances and hallways with deeper cleaning methods. Whenever possible, move furniture and objects out of the way so they don’t interrupt your cleaning.
- Areas That Need Special Attention: Are there any spills, dust, debris or stains? Are there sticky or slippery spots that could create a fall hazard? These spots may require specialized cleaning, even if you were only going to do a daily sweep. In addition to determining the flooring type, you should look for things that may require specialized cleaning, like spills, or objects that may need moved, like debris.
2. Prepare the Room and Do an Initial Sweep
Before any cleaning or scrubbing can occur, the floor needs to be accessible with safety signs in place.
- Safety First: Think safety! Put up safety signage, like wet floor signs, and mark the area with cones or ropes. Avoid the area, if possible, when floors are wet. If people will still be in the area, plan how you’ll move through the area so that you don’t disrupt those around you.
- Remove Obstacles: Remove anything from the floor that you can, like trash bins or chairs. If possible, move larger furniture or equipment to one section and clean around it. Just remember to move the items back and repeat the cleaning process for the area where they had been sitting.
- Initial Sweep/Vacuum: Do an initial sweep or vacuum to clear large debris and dust. If you skip this step, it will be harder to get a beautiful result. Plus, the debris could damage your equipment.
3. Scrub or Mop Without Damaging the Flooring Material
Once thoroughly swept, you can scrub or mop the floor. However, be careful to use the right cleaning solution and equipment for the type of flooring and mess. For example, bleach may damage wood floors; it can also create toxic gas if used on or with ammonia. Follow the manufacturer instructions for the flooring and the cleaning solution to learn how to use industrial floor cleaner.
- Learn More: How to Operate a Floor Scrubber
Best Way to Clean Industrial Floors of Different Types:
- Carpet: Use an industrial vacuum for regular cleaning. For deeper cleaning, use a steam cleaner with cleaning solution that won’t damage the carpet’s color or threads.
- Ceramic Tile: Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove as much dust and dirt as possible. Then mop with a pH-neutral cleaner (one with a pH that is not too acidic or basic). Use a buffer to create extra shine and polish.
- Concrete: Sweep, vacuum or dry mop the floor to remove as much dust and dirt as possible. Avoid using harsh chemicals that may remove the sealant.
- Epoxy: Mop with a mild detergent and avoid harsh chemicals that could degrade the coating.
- Industrial Resin: Use a soft mop or scrubber with a gentle cleaning solution to prevent surface wear.
- Linoleum: Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove as much dust and dirt as possible. Wiping or mopping with dish soap and water is best for regular cleanings.
- Rubber: Sweep and then mop with a mild detergent. Avoid oil-based cleaners.
- Vinyl Commercial Tile (VCT): Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove as much dust and dirt as possible. Then mop with a pH-neutral cleaner. Once the floor is dry, you can dry-buff it or apply an acrylic floor finish.
- Wood: Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove as much dust and debris as possible. If the floor has a polyurethane finish in good condition, you can use a barely damp mop or auto scrubber. Avoid getting the floor wet if wood is unfinished or has a wax finish. Use a dry microfiber cloth instead. Be careful not to use harsh chemicals or equipment, especially on older floors that could scratch or dent easily.
4. Get Into Hard-to-Reach Areas
Corners, edges and tight spaces often accumulate dirt and debris that power equipment, such as walk-behind scrubbers, may miss. Use handheld scrub brushes, cloths or crevice vacuums to reach these areas.
5. Dry and Shine Before Cleaning Up
Proper drying techniques help prevent accidents and ensure a polished finish. Use industrial fans or blowers to speed up the drying process. Blowers are especially helpful in high-traffic areas where people will still be working while you clean.
For tiled or polished surfaces, use a buffer machine to enhance the shine and overall appearance.
Finally, before removing any safety signs, make sure that the entire floor is 100% dry and free of sticky or slick spots.
6 Types of Equipment You May Need
Industrial floors can be huge and covered in tough dirt and grime. Opting for powered equipment over mops and brooms can often be more efficient and cost-effective. However, each floor and cleaning may be different. You might need a high-powered scrubber one day and a vacuum with a HEPA filter for silica dust the next.
Renting floor care equipment can you clean faster and get better results than mops and brooms, saving you precious time and labor. Renting also allows you to have the best equipment on-hand right when you need it without the large upfront costs and hassles of equipment ownership.
Here are industrial floor care equipment options to consider for your next project:
- Wet/Dry or Slurry Vacuum: Slurry vacuums, also known as wet/dry vacuums, can manage dry debris and liquids.
- Dry Silica Vacuum: Silica dust is made of very small particles. These particles are dangerous to breathe in. Silica vacuums have a HEPA filter that removes 99.99% of silica dust particles.
- Dust Extraction Vacuum: Dust extraction vacuums are designed to remove airborne dust and fine particles, including some slurries. However, their filters may not be rated for silica dust.
- Core Drill Water Management System: This equipment removes slurry from wet diamond coring sites and helps manage water used during drilling.
- Industrial Floor Sweeper: Floor sweepers come in walk-behind or ride-on models, allowing you to remove debris, dust and dirt from large industrial floors before wet cleaning.
- Industrial Floor Scrubber: Scrubbers clean hard surfaces by washing, scrubbing and drying floors in one pass, improving efficiency and results.
Tackle the Dirtiest Industrial Floors with Equipment from Herc Rentals
Clean industrial floors are also safe floors, free from sticky dirt, slippery grease and other contaminants. When your industrial floors need quicker, more effective cleaning than a mop and bucket, gear up with equipment from Herc Rentals.
Herc Rentals is your one-stop headquarters for high-performing industrial floor care equipment, from vacuums to scrubbers and buffers. Our well-maintained equipment helps you increase productivity and reduce operating costs. We have the equipment you need to get the job done and stay compliant, whether you need to get rid of dangerous silica dust or mop a giant warehouse floor.
Explore our wide selection floor care solutions, including commercial floor scrubbers, or call us at 888-777-2700 to get started today.
