by Brianna Crandall — March 25, 2016—Natural stone floors such as marble and granite were once rarely found in commercial facilities because they were expensive and they were believed to be “delicate” floors, needing considerable attention and care, points out Kaivac, developers of the OmniFlex AutoVac floor machine.
That has changed today, says Kaivac. The cost for most stone floors has come down markedly in the past decade. And while these floors do need some cleaning special attention, they are actually considered some of the hardiest and most durable available.
Because of their growing popularity, some cleaning contractors have decided to specialize in stone floor care. But before jumping into this growing opportunity, here are a few things Kaivac believes contractors as well as in-house cleaning and facilities professionals should know about stone floor care:
- Closely examine the stone floor before performing any cleaning tasks. Look for wear patterns, scratches, or damaged tiles and take a picture of them. Share these images and discuss them with the client before proceeding. They might present an “upsell” opportunity or help show that the damage existed before work was begun.
- Know an expert. While they may be hardy, stone floors can also be temperamental. An expert certified in natural stone restoration should be consulted whenever encountering an unfamiliar issue. Do not experiment on customers’ floors.
- When it comes to chemicals, stay neutral. In virtually all situations, when damage is done to a stone floor after cleaning it is because the chemical used either had too high or too low of a pH.
- Avoid mopping a stone floor. As the mop and mop water become soiled, it can cause a soiled film to form over the stone floor, defacing its appearance. Consider an alternative system that dispenses neutral cleaning solution directly to the floor. The solution can be gently spread over the floor with a brush if necessary, and then soils and moisture can be vacuumed up.
- Suggest ways the customer can keep the stone floors looking their best. This is one of the best ways to make a loyal customer.
Kaivac is the developer of the No-Touch Cleaning and OmniFlex Crossover Cleaning systems. Headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio, the company delivers complete science-based cleaning systems designed to produce healthy results and outcomes while raising the value of cleaning operations and the professionalism of the worker.
