floor cleaning

Keeping Office Floors Clean and Dry This Winter

2 weeks ago

Winter doesn’t stop at the front door. From wet boots to road salt and melting snow, office floors take on extra wear during the colder months. Without the right cleaning approach, moisture and debris can build up fast. Focusing on keeping floors clean and dry throughout winter helps offices stay presentable, protects surfaces, and reduces the headaches that come with seasonal mess.

How Winter Weather Impacts Office Floors

Winter weather can have a huge impact on the ability to maintain a clean, professional look in your business, especially here in Minnesota. Winter can lead to messy entryways, dirty floors, and ongoing cleanup challenges for offices trying to maintain a clean, professional environment.

Common Winter Messes That End Up on Office Floors

Wet floors due to sleet, snow, ice and slush
Salt buildup and stains
Slippery flooring that is prone to slips and falls
Moisture that can cause long-term damage to floors
Difficult to clean and keep clean surfaces

Why Dry Floors Matter More in the Winter Months

Keeping flooring from tiles, to carpets, to vinyl, in your office or business clean and dry is more than just avoiding the visual mess. Dry floors are essential for your employees, customers, and other visitors’ safety and keeping up professional appearances. Building managers should be proactive about minimizing wet flooring to reduce the risk of slips and falls, damage to floors and damaged reputation. Keeping floors dry, clean and safe is the best and easiest way to do this.

This is why it’s important for office buildings and workplaces to keep floors dry all winter long.

entrance of business with entryway rug wet with snow and footprints

The Easiest Way to Keep Office Floors Dry

First, make sure your building has proper floor mats. Place mats at entrances and transition areas to absorb water, dirt and debris. This will keep floors dry – and employees safe. Make sure to frequently clean and replace mats.

Second, follow a regular floor care routine using a high-quality cleaning solution with a neutral pH. A reliable Twin Cities commercial cleaning service can help you keep floors dry year-round. Contact ROC Cleaning for a free quote!

Third, evaluate the finish on your building’s flooring. If a floor is badly worn or damaged, there is a greater opportunity for slips and falls. In addition, a poorly applied finish can make a floor more slippery. A professional commercial cleaning company can help you determine if applying protective coatings or sealants specific to your floor type is needed, which helps to repel moisture and prevent staining from the elements tracked in during the season.

Get Professional Cleaning Support for Winter Floor Care

During the winter season, flooring in your business is susceptible to the accumulation of slush, dirt, salt and more, all of which can lead to scratches, damage and even unsafe conditions for visitors and staff. The combination of snow, salt, and mud can wreak havoc on your flooring, which is why it is essential to take proactive measures to protect and maintain these surfaces. The best proactive approach you can take is to have professional cleaning services that provide a consistent, thorough deep clean that removes not only visible dirt but also hidden allergens, which is crucial during winter when indoor air quality is especially impacted.

When you hire professional cleaners from a reputable company like ROC Commercial Cleaning, you can save valuable time, focus on enjoying the season and meeting your business goals while we handle the heavy lifting. Our years of experience and dedicated account managers ensure that you receive personalized advice on the best cleaning practices and products for your flooring type.

Don’t let winter take a toll on your floors; invest in professional cleaning support for effective winter floor care and maintain a safe, healthy home environment. If you have questions about cleaning your floors and keeping your business clean, give ROC Cleaning a call!

This is an updated blog that was originally published in 2022.

ROC Commercial Cleaning is your trusted Minneapolis commercial cleaning company. We provide janitor services for office buildings, medical and veterinary clinics, industrial buildings, and more. We also provide floor stripping and waxing, construction cleanup, and office disinfection services. ROC Commercial Cleaning is an experienced and reputable Minnesota corporate cleaning service provider – no job is too big or too small!

Get off the cleaning rollercoaster. Contact ROC Commercial Cleaning at 612-581-2776 for your free, no-obligation estimate.

Keeping Your Dental Clinic Compliant with Cleaning Standards

1 year ago

Keeping your business clean for customers and employees is important across all industries. However, medical and dental clinics must adhere to even higher standards for cleanliness, sanitation and professionalism. In order to achieve these high levels of cleanliness and stay compliant with industry standards, most dental clinic facilities hire professional commercial cleaning companies to keep up with the ongoing cleaning tasks needed to maintain a clean and well-functioning dental clinic environment. At ROC Commercial Cleaning, we are the trusted commercial cleaning partner for many medical and dental clinics in the Minnesota Twin Cities area. We understand the importance of maintaining the highest cleaning standards, and in this article, we explain why keeping your dental practice compliant with cleanliness is essential.

Dental Cleaning Standards for Keeping Compliant

Dental and medical facilities are required to follow strict cleaning guidelines to keep patients healthy and prevent the spread of infections and pathogens that could easily spread in this type of environment. Disinfecting and sanitizing each dental cleaning station between clients is critical. Achieving and maintaining a clean dental practice is important not only for compliance but also to promote a healthy environment for staff and patients.

How Commercial Cleaning Can Reduce the Spread of Illness

Cleaning Needs and Frequency Vary

Determining the specific cleaning needs and frequency for your dental practice will depend on several factors, including the size of your clinic. In general, smaller dental clinics may not require as much cleaning as often, whereas larger facilities with more patients coming in and out on a daily basis will require increased cleaning. Additionally, because larger dental clinics are typically busier, this can leave less time for their staff and employees to complete some of the daily cleaning tasks themselves. With this in mind, partnering with an experienced professional cleaning company that can assess and help you develop a suitable cleaning schedule is ideal.

Routine Cleaning for Dental Clinics

Some of the routine cleaning methods that are required for dental facilities that professional janitorial services provide include:

Clean and disinfect all surfaces
Disinfect floors, counters, and handles
Sanitize chairs, keyboards, and bathrooms
Dusting surfaces and equipment
Vacuum patient and staff areas
Wipe down light switches and door handles
Clean and disinfect waiting room areas
Sanitize computer screens and phones

Typically, the dental facilities staff remain responsible for cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments and equipment. This is because they are properly trained to complete these tasks and knowledgeable about the specific protocols and safety standards required to prevent contamination.

High Expectations and High Standards

Medical and dental clinics are responsible for the important task of caring for patients and ensuring they receive essential care. There are high expectations that these facilities are clean, compassionate and professional. Establishing and maintaining these traits in your business is a way to build customer trust and loyalty.

Keeping your dental clinic spotless and compliant doesn’t have to be as complicated as it may seem. When you partner with the right commercial cleaning company that understands the appropriate cleaning methods for your industry, you can create a safe and welcoming space for your existing and future patients. ROC Commercial Cleaning is here to help make it easier. Contact our trusted team today to ensure your dental clinic meets the highest standards.

“We expect the cleanliness of our building to represent the high level of care we provide in our clinic. ROC Commercial Cleaning has played an important role in keeping the clinic at the high level of cleanliness that our patients expect.

One of the biggest concerns that I had, as any doctors office has, is HIPAA compliance and blood borne pathogens control. It was important to me to know that ROC was certified in both of these areas.”

Paul M.

Facilities Director

Get off the cleaning rollercoaster. Contact ROC Commercial Cleaning at 612-581-2776 for your free, no-obligation estimate.

Hard Floor Maintenance Checklist for Facility Managers

1 year ago

Whether you manage an office building, apartment complex, medical or dental clinic, retail store or another type of facility, you understand the significance of keeping a clean appearance for customers, clients and employees alike. Not only does routine hard flooring cleaning and maintenance ensure an aesthetically pleasing environment, but it can also improve the air quality, prevent odors and the spread of infections keeping your facility safer for visitors. Regular floor maintenance will also enhance the longevity of the floors within your facility and lead to cost savings down the road.

Make a Plan

Developing a comprehensive maintenance and cleaning plan for the year is an effective strategy to keep up with your cleaning and maintenance schedule. By doing so, facility managers can stay on top of tasks and ensure they do not slip between the cracks. With an annual plan and a maintenance checklist, you’ll be well off to keeping your facility’s hard flooring in pristine condition.

5 Tips for Keeping Office Floors Clean

Assess Floor Type

Before tackling your hard floor maintenance, you’ll need to understand what kind of hard flooring you are dealing with. Wood, tile, linoleum, marble, concrete or perhaps a combination of several kinds? Every type of flooring requires different types of maintenance and cleaning materials. Because of this, it’s important to identify the various types of flooring in your facility so that they can be handled properly to prolong their lifespan and avoid potential damage. For example, tile floors should be wet-mopped, whereas hardwood and laminate should only be damp-mopped.

Hard Floor Maintenance Checklist

The frequency of each task will depend on your facility type, size and foot traffic of staff and customers. In general, here is an ideal guide to go by:

Daily Tasks

There are several tasks that should be performed on a daily basis to maintain a clean environment. These tasks include:

Sweep and Dust Mop

Remove dirt and debris to prevent scratches.

Vacuum Entryway Mats

Remove dirt and debris before it tracks inside.

Spot Clean Spills

Quickly address spills to avoid stains and slipping hazards.

Damp Mop High-Traffic Areas

Use a neutral cleaner to reduce grime buildup.

Weekly Tasks

As daily tasks keep your business tidy and presentable, deeper cleaning tasks are necessary to prevent the unavoidable buildup of dirt. Weekly tasks involve:

Wet Mop All Areas

For applicable flooring types, thoroughly clean floors with a mild cleaner.

Buff Floors

Restore shine and remove any scuff marks.

Check Entryway Mats

Clean or replace floor mats to prevent dirt from entering.

Monthly Tasks

Monthly tasks are essential because they tackle the deeper mess that develops regardless of daily and weekly cleanings.

Deep Clean

Remove built-up dirt with a floor scrubber.

Polish or Recoat Floors

Maintain shine and protect surfaces.

Inspect for Repairs

Address any visible damage, such as chips or scratches, to prevent further damage.

Seasonal Tasks

Depending on your location, seasonal weather can impact the demands and frequency of hard floor maintenance.

Stripping and Waxing

Strip and wax hard floors to rejuvenate their appearance and prolong their lifespan.

Update the maintenance schedule based on seasonal needs. Do floor mats need to be swapped more frequently?
Consider increasing deep cleans to account for winter salt and sand being tracked indoors.

Read our other blogs for more maintenance and cleaning tips for facility managers.

Of course, you’ll want to customize your hard floor maintenance checklist to meet the specific needs of your facility. Having a well-structured cleaning and maintenance plan in place is essential to ensuring the cleanliness and longevity of your flooring. In addition, taking time to regularly monitor the condition of the floors and making timely adjustments to your maintenance schedule is an important factor for maintaining a tidy, sanitary and well-functioning facility.

Leave The Hassle to the Pros

One of the easiest ways to handle the ongoing cleaning and maintenance of hard flooring and other areas in the facility you manage is by hiring a commercial cleaning company. Not only will a reputable professional cleaning company keep things in tip-top shape, but a good account manager can help you assess the space you manage and create a cleaning plan that is sure to meet your needs.

Get Consistently Clean Floors with ROC Commercial Cleaning

If you are in the Minneapolis – St. Paul Twin Cities area and looking for reliable commercial cleaning for your facility, ROC Commercial Cleaning has you covered. With over 25 years of experience, we are dedicated to making sure we’ll be the last commercial cleaning company you have to hire. We prioritize responsive communication and adaptable scheduling, all supported by our quality assurance systems, to ensure your business’s cleaning needs are consistently met.

Get off the cleaning rollercoaster. Contact ROC Commercial Cleaning at 612-581-2776 for your free, no-obligation estimate.

Stop Dirt at the Door with Entrance Mats

4 years ago

Did you know that 85 percent of the dirt in a building is tracked in on the soles of shoes? And that one square yard of commercial carpet can accumulate up to a pound of dirt in a single week – and double that in winter? Not only does tracked-in dirt make a building messier and more unsanitary, but it also causes additional wear on flooring. The best way to keep floors clean is to stop dirt at the doors, and entrance mats can help do that.

The Benefits of Entrance Mats

Keep Floors Clean

Entrance mats provide friction to remove dirt from shoes, and their materials absorb dirt and debris before they can be tracked into a building.

Extend the Life of Flooring

According to Cleanfax, it only takes 1,500 people walking over tile to remove 42 percent of tile finish. Dirt, grit and debris can scratch and dent floors, making them look and perform poorly. Because building entrances are high-traffic areas, entrance mats can significantly reduce wear, and extend the life of flooring and finishes.

Lower Maintenance Costs

Because flooring and finishes will last longer, floors will need less regular maintenance, saving both time and money.

More Sustainable Cleaning

Entrance mats can decrease your building’s environmental impact by reducing the frequency of cleanings and keeping floors clean without harsh chemicals.

Keep Employees Safe

Mats keep floors from becoming wet and slippery, reducing the risk of employee slip and fall accidents.

Remember to Change Your Mats Often!

When entrance mats become waterlogged and dirty, or accumulate significant wear, they’re no longer effective at keeping floors clean and employees safe. It’s important to change out mats regularly, especially during the messier winter months.

Do you need help keeping floors in your office, clinic, warehouse or retail store clean? Let ROC handle your cleaning, so you can focus on your business.

ROC Commercial Cleaning is your trusted Twin Cities janitorial service. We provide contract cleaning for office buildings, medical and veterinary clinics, auto dealerships, salons and retail stores, industrial buildings and more. We also provide construction cleanup during and after construction projects of all sizes. No cleaning job is too big or too small for our experienced cleaning teams!

Get off the cleaning rollercoaster. Contact ROC Commercial Cleaning at 612-581-2776 for your free, no-obligation estimate.