by AF 0815 j3 — August 18, 2010—Few places present the challenge of maintaining floors in a high-traffic, low-budget situation like today’s schools, notes Staples Facility Solutions. This traffic and abuse to the flooring, coupled with educational facilities’ notoriously low maintenance budgets, demand that facility maintenance staffs put substantial prudence into their floor care strategy.
Staples Facility Solutions, a Staples business and a large provider of facilities solutions and services, recently compiled a list of tips for facility managers and school officials that will help them maximize the time between floor and carpet replacement.
Do Your Homework: Not all flooring and carpeting are the same and therefore, not all cleaning procedures will be effective. In fact, the wrong procedures can result in a multitude of problems. Facility managers and janitorial staff must become familiar with the school’s multiple surfaces and how to maintain and protect these areas. Using the wrong chemical, equipment, or procedures can have the reverse effect on prolonging floor attributes and carpet surfaces appearance. Be sure to read all manufacturers’ labeling and consult a distributor or expert as needed.
Continuing Education Classes: In order to get the most out of janitorial staff and maximize investments, provide employees with informative educational sessions. Proper planning and procuring modern equipment and chemicals can only help extend floor finish cycles, carpet deep-cleanings, and long-term maintenance when used by trained professionals who understand the benefits of the cleaning programs.
Best Offense is a Good Defense: To extend the life of the floors, prolong floor finish, and delay deep-cleaning of carpeted areas, the placement of high-performance matting is the best defense a facility manager can put on the field. Strategically placed matting captures grit, sand, salt, and other matter found in nature that would otherwise be tracked into a building and cause scuff, knick and scratch marks that damage floor surfaces.
For more information, visit Staples Facility Solutions.
