Blog

1. Dismissing Mats

Sturdy mats and rugs should be every facility’s first defense against salt and moisture. In fact, an effective matting system can trap 90% of debris.

• A coarse, sturdy mat should be placed right outside the facility for the purpose of stomping off snow and dislodging salt particles before entering.
• Another mat to wipe shoes on should be placed directly inside each doorway to catch any remaining salt or moisture before it can be tracked into the facility.
• Depending on the type of facility, it may also be worth considering addition of a third waterproof mat to the side of select doors, where heavy snow boots can be placed to dry, as well as keeping towels handy to wipe up any wetness that makes its way onto floors.

2. Letting Moisture Linger

When liquid, slush, or ice is spotted resting on floors, cleaning professionals should make every possible effort to remove it immediately. Not only is moisture a slip/fall hazard, but depending on the floor type, it can also seep into the floor and cause mold growth beneath the surface or warping.

• If the amount of liquid is excessive, a wet/dry vacuum, like the Workman^® 20, may be the best tool to start. Take heed, however, that some sensitive flooring types when utterly soaked may crack if they are dried too quickly, like wood.
• Heat should also be avoided during the drying process, as it may cause damage to the finish or flooring itself.

3. Shrugging off Salt

Most cold-weather salts or ice melt products are made from Calcium Chloride, which is popular due to its affordability and relative effectiveness.

• Calcium Chloride is crystalline, and the rough texture of each individual crystal—most visible under a microscope—has the potential to scratch and abrade floor finish if tracked inside and dragged across or ground into the floor.
  • Custodial staff should regularly vacuum floors to suck up these micro-abrasive particles. If equipped with a rotating brush, it should be off or removed entirely before vacuuming.
• When Calcium Chloride is dissolved in water, it creates Calcium Hydroxide and Hydrochloric Acid, both of which leave behind a noticeable white residue. If the residue is not promptly removed, it can chemically damage the finish, causing hazing and premature degradation, which can also increase dirt embedment.
  • If the residue is “fresh,” it can likely be removed with a dampsoft cloth. Older or more stubborn salt stains will require a thorough cleaning.

4. Cleaning with Whatever's in the Supply Closet

After vacuuming over and around an older or more stubborn salt stain, it is important to thoroughly clean it.

• Don't be misguided by advice on some websites to use a mixture of vinegar and water on salt stains. This “quick fix" will leave a residue of its own and is harsh on finish if concentrated too strongly.
• The temptation should also be resisted to use general cleaners or disinfectants facilities may already have on hand, and instead opt for a cleaner specifically formulated for finished floors. Otherwise, they risk damage from inappropriate pH levels and ingredients, such as Hydrogen Peroxide, acids, Sodium Hypochlorite, etc.

No matter the floor type, Betco^® has solutions to help facilities safely remove salt stains while maintaining the finish.

• Suitable for use on most hard floors, pHerfect is formulated with neutralizing agents and surfactants to remove tough soils and neutralize common ice melt ingredients and byproducts, such as sodium, Calcium Hydroxide, and Hydrochloric Acid. Using pHerfect cuts labor by 50%, as there is no need for a separate neutralizing step. Please note that this product is NOT recommended for use on surfaces that may be harmed by acid products.
• For Formica^®*, marble, polished stone, or other acid-sensitive surfaces, Top Flite^™ all-purpose cleaner will suspend salt-related soils safely. 
• For wood floors specifically, begin with I.F.T. (Intensive Floor Treatment) and finish with Squeaky^™ floor cleaner.
• For larger spaces or excessive salt levels, our GeneSys^™ 15 cleaning machine is designed to provide a risk-free and complete clean that mopping alone cannot, as well as suction excess water away from the floor surface.

If severe damage is already present, facility managers may need to hire a professional to replace a portion of floors or the entire floor itself. If the floor is in good condition, however, and these 4 mistakes are avoided, they should be able to successfully escape the floor care perils of winter weather. 

*Formica^® is a trademark of The Diller Corporation.

1. High-solids topical coatings have been widely rejected, due to their insufficient adhesion to the substrate and failure when there is high vapor drive.

2. Guards are not susceptible to the same vapor drive and adhesion problems. Guards are also known as semi-topical coatings/sealers, because while they sit on top of the concrete surface, they also lightly fill in its surface pores. Guards successfully protect concrete floors from stain and etch, while also creating gloss on non-polished surfaces and augmenting gloss on polished surfaces. Their primary drawback, however, is the need to recoat due to wear. The number and frequency of recoats required is largely dependent on environment in which they are used, particularly foot and/or wheel traffic.

3. Penetrating sealers, as indicated in the name, fill in surface pores to prevent stain and etch. When using a penetrating sealer, none of the product remains on the surface of the concrete, unlike topical and semi-topical coatings. This penetration means that foot and/or wheel traffic, stain- and etch-causing substances, as well as sealant-infused cleaning and burnishing pads make direct contact with the concrete surface, instead of with a coating. This is the reason penetrating sealers are somewhat less effective against stain and etch than guards, but it is also the reason penetrating sealers wear less and require fewer reapplications than guards.

The Betco® Crete Rx™ system offers both a penetrating sealer in the form of our Stain Defense product, as well as a new guard in the form of our LiquiShield product. Wondering which product may be right for your concrete or terrazzo floor?

LiquiShield performs best in these applications:

• Floors that require heavy stain protection, such as cafeterias
• Providing gloss and protection to non-polished concrete floors
• Terrazzo floors that cannot be polished due to:
  -Bleed off from divider strips (zinc, aluminum, brass, or PVC)
  -Topical dyes that bleed when dry polished
  -Non-cementitious terrazzo
• Combination floors with topical guard/penetrating sealer for quick and easy avoidance of tedious edge work:
  -Polish the floor using the Crete Rx system
  -Apply LiquiShield along the edge, 3–4 inches wide, and it will shine like the rest of the floor
  -With little-to-no wear at the edges, LiquiShield will last for many years using the Crete Rx daily cleaning program

• Floors with very heavy traffic, such as grocery and retail floors or warehouse floors exposed to heavy forklift traffic
• Floors that require an extremely high DOI (distinctness of image)
• Floors that require high levels of scuff and scratch resistance
• Lowering annual maintenance costs associated with annual and/or semi-annual recoats
  

Betco® offers a complete line of high-performing finishes to satisfy a variety of facility and maintenance program needs. Whether you have time constraints to maintain finishes properly or you want the highest appearance level, we have a floor finish for you.

If an unexpected and unpleasant odor is emanating from your autoscrubber, we recommend removing the tank and inspecting it. If the tank has…

White Residue

Cleaning chemicals that were used in the autoscrubber were too dilute, resulting in an interaction with hard water ions (calcium and magnesium). Alternatively, cleaning chemical residue was left behind in the tank due to water evaporation. While these white mineral films themselves do not usually have an odor, their formation at low temperatures is usually accompanied by bacterial biofilms, which are malodorous.

If the white residue is not coupled with a smell, our recommendation is to treat the tank with dilute acid solution, such as MAD, according to the label directions. If an unpleasant odor is present, we advise treating the tank with a mild bleach solution due to the presence of bacteria, again according to the label directions. Symplicity™ Destainer is about 12.5% bleach and can be diluted at a ratio of 1:20 for such a purpose.

Gummy Residue

Incompatible cleaning chemicals were used in the autoscrubber, resulting in cross-contamination in the tank. Similarly to mineral films, gummy residue itself does not smell, but it is often present alongside bacteria in the form of biofilms. Regardless of whether or not odor is present, we suggest treating the tank and cleaning the filter with a mild bleach solution according to the label directions.

Malodor

With or without residue, bacteria is present in the autoscrubber’s tank. We advise treating the tank with a mild bleach solution according to the label directions. Appropriate bleach products, such as Symplicity™ Destainer, will not leave a residue nor potentially lead to excess foaming in the scrubber. 

NOTE: Never mix acids and bleach solutions when cleaning, as it produces a toxic gas.

Do you have different autoscrubber or other equipment issues? Tell us about it at social@betco.com, and our experts will address your problem in an upcoming blog post!

Polished concrete, as we know it today, was accidentally developed in the early 1990s in a Tunisian palace by workers. They polished the floor dry, and as a byproduct of their mistake, sparked a fervor for polished concrete that took off around the world. 

Modern Times

In modern times, there are 3 different types of polished concrete floors, for which the Concrete Polishing Association of America created standards:

1. Bonded abrasive polished concrete floors are achieved using a machine to cut fine microscopic peaks and valleys.
2. Burnished polished concrete floors are achieved using friction and abrasive pads on a machine.
3. Topical polished concrete floors are achieved using an applied liquid coating, delivering a polished gloss.

The Betco Crete Rx™ System is the simplest concrete system on the market and exceeds the standards set forth for bonded abrasive and burnished polished concrete floors. Our innovative process seamlessly integrates chemicals, pads, and tools to achieve better-looking floors, with a depth of gloss and stain resistance in less time, with no liquid coating necessary. Learn more here.

Life Cycle Cost for Floor Finishes
*Michael Doyle Partners, Flooring Comparison Report 2017 pp 12

Fact:  All flooring options require some element of maintenance.

• Abrasion – the finish on a grand piano may be flawless for years, but you don’t walk on pianos. Gloss reduction occurs over time as floors experience wear. This abrasion occurs from dirt and foot traffic, creating microscopic scratches.
• Dirt Embedment – Our shoes track dirt into facilities from the outside world. Porous materials are receptors for this dirt which becomes ground into the floor over time.
• Staining – Accidents happen. Custodians desire an easy, low-cost method to repair these stains.

What Are Some Polished Concrete Maintenance Challenges?

• Porosity – As concrete cures the evaporating water creates pores. Some of these openings are sealed by polishing but it’s nearly impossible to create a non-permeable surface. Have you noticed how wet concrete becomes darker? This is from water absorbing into the concrete pores. This porosity creates a challenge for dirt and stains.
• Stains – Also referred to as etching. You may be familiar with the splatter stain in your neighborhood grocery store pickle aisle. This is because concrete is etched when an acidic liquid is left to penetrate into the concrete pores.
• Reparability – Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT) is very easy to maintain. Depending on the blemish, the spot can be scrubbed or stripped and recoated and burnished back to an even appearance.
• Upkeep – Many concrete polishing systems finish with a coating called a “guard”. These guards are usually topical coatings that help resist staining and emit gloss. Often guards are used to reduce labor from truly polishing the concrete to a high gloss appearance. The challenge with guards is that they are sacrificial coatings that need to be maintained through recoating and burnishing. Guards also exhibit characteristics similar to coatings used for VCT. Therefore, facilities find themselves facing the same challenges that they faced with VCT, but now with a flooring type that they are less experienced at maintaining.

To learn more about polished concrete, click here. The Crete Rx^™ System from Betco^® uniquely addresses all of the challenges mentioned in this article.

Going Green is a journey that anyone can participate in. By being environmentally responsible, we can become more knowledgeable about the ingredients we are putting into products, leading to a healthier home and a healthier you. Wondering how you can help? Try these tips to get started:

Save energy: Finished using something? Make sure you shut it off. You can easily conserve energy by turning off the lights or unplugging smaller appliances as soon as you’re done with them.

Save water: No one likes a dripping faucet…especially the environment. From brushing your teeth to watering your garden, it’s important to be conscious of how much water you are using and how you can better conserve it.

Reduce, reuse, recycle: These three R’s are the perfect triple threat. By helping to reduce waste, we can conserve natural resources and energy. When we reuse and recycle, we can avoid creating waste, reducing the amount of trash going to our landfills and keeping the environment healthier.

It’s important to remember that every little bit helps when it comes to conserving natural resources within our environment. You can start out small and still make a positive impact. By focusing on maintaining the balance between people, profit and planet, we can protect our environment now and in the future.

At Betco®, being environmentally responsible is a company standard. We are committed to developing products, programs and procedures that meet or exceed health and environmental standards while providing cost effective benefits to accomplish your maintenance goals. To learn more about our sustainability efforts and complete green program, please visit www.betco.com/solutions/sustainability for more information.

Dos:

• Expect to Inspect. There is always room for improvement. Pay attention to the areas in which your facility maintenance program could become better. By determining what changes need to be made, you could increase efficiency and reduce expenses.
• Calculate Costs. Assess the specific needs in your facility and develop a plan to convert to more innovative, cost effective solutions. When evaluating your current expenses and researching other options, you’ll feel more empowered to make a decision in your maintenance program and potentially get more bang for your buck.
• Outline Opportunities. Building an effective facility maintenance program requires weighing the pros and cons. Presenting various options and showcasing the advantages of a proposed program will help you establish a customized plan for your facility.

Don’ts

• Rely on the Bare Minimum. You shouldn’t have to settle when it comes to the cleanliness of your facility. While your current maintenance program may be sufficient, there is always an opportunity to enhance it. When you analyze your program, you may discover new ways to achieve a higher level of clean.
• Guesstimate. There’s no need to play the guessing game with your facility maintenance program. Many modern tools are available to you for free online to assist you in planning and executing the very best solution strategies.
• Short-Change on Change. Every facility is unique and requires solutions customized to their specific needs. While modeling your maintenance plan off of another facility’s may be easy and effective, make sure you take the time to evaluate what’s best for your facility. Building an exclusive plan may present you with various new opportunities.

For more solutions or guidance on creating a facility maintenance program, visit betco.com to learn about our innovative resources and training sessions.

A snowy, slushy mess doesn’t end after it dries as unmelted rock salt and stains can be left behind. The stains appear as white as snow across all types of floor surfaces. There is good news; these stains are actually preventable and your floors are savable. Salt stains are not harmful if attended to quickly.

For an effective floor care solution to fight salt and other floor stains, use the FiberCAP 20 Carpet Machine with FiberCAP MP. FiberCAP MP is a low-moisture multi-purpose encapsulation cleaner system. Specifically designed to trap debris and lift it from the carpet fiber, the FiberCAP system is ideal for getting rid of stubborn salt stains in carpet.

Another great solution to this winter weather woe is to use a reliable matting system. A matting system acts as a first line of defense against tracked-in contaminants on your floors. Over 80% of dirt and residues are brought in by people entering the facility; a good entrance matting system can trap 90% of this dirt and debris that is brought in!

A successful matting system includes:

• A high thread count mat with a rubber back to avoid slipping
• Keeping outside entries clear by shoveling snow and ice up to 25 feet away from the building
• Scraper mats in your entries, which contain rough threads that will trap more dirt and grime from shoes
• Wider mats allow more time for shoes to dry before entering the facility
• Regular maintenance cleaning can help regulate the amount of contaminants brought in—vacuuming floor mats daily can eliminate excess ice melt and dirt from entering the building

It is important to keep in mind that hardwood floors are vulnerable during the winter. There is danger afoot due to a combination of increased moisture and salt that can potentially harm your hardwood floors and finish. A white film forming on the surface of the floor boards will appear from salt residue. The stain not only looks bad but if it remains too long it will begin to diminish the floor finish and shine. It is extremely important to use a matting system on high traffic entrances with wood floors. Keeping these entrances clean and free of debris, melted snow and slush is the most proactive step to protect your hardwood floor investment.

Changing the vacuum filter is one of the easiest forms of preventative maintenance on your machine, but is often overlooked. Filters should be changed every ten bags or so for two-motor upright vacuums. When filters continue to collect dirt and debris, the machine loses efficiency and can even hurt the motor.Mechanical parts aren’t the only areas that can suffer from filter neglect. Damage can also occur to the circuit board if accumulating dust covers the electronics.

Operators should pay special attention to the moving components, like the spinning brush underneath the vacuum. Simply removing wound-on debris with scissors or your hands can extend the life of your vacuum. Make sure to pay special attention to the belt-to-brush connector. If debris is caught around this component, the belt drive can become strained or damaged. If needed, remove the brush component for easier access to built-up debris.

When using your vacuum cleaner, note the status of the power cord. Checking the cord for cuts, kinks, knots and frays is important to avoid an electrical shortage as well as prevent serious injury. Another good habit to extend the life of the electrical cord is to always unplug the cord from the wall by hand; never pull the cord out of a socket from a distance as this could cause strain on the cord and outlet. Cord replacement is a costly expense for vacuum cleaners as it could cost up to 50 percent of the original cost of the vacuum to replace.

Regularly inspecting your vacuum cleaner for these common kinds of wear can help identify any issues before they happen. After each shift, check the brush, cord, bag fill and filter for built-up debris. Also wipe down the machine to prevent dust from covering the interior components. These practices will not only prepare your vacuum to be used the next day, it will improve its life expectancy.

So what does daily floor care entail?

The tools typically used for daily maintenance include buckets, mops, dust mops, dust pans, and a putty knife to remove such things as gum and grit that may stick to the floor. As to the mopping of the floor, it should be performed using a figure 8 technique. A figure 8 motion overlaps floor areas and helps ensure all floor areas are mopped clean.

Additionally, cleaning professionals must know the mop and cleaning solution should be changed frequently. As the mop or cleaning solution becomes soiled, the mop and water can spread soils and contaminants over the floor that not only discolor the floor, but over time can increase interim and restorative cleaning needs.

Additional tips: If you can use a light “back pack” vacuum cleaner to clean the floor instead of a dust mop, the removal of dry soiling is much more thorough. As to the actual cleaning, if you can move from mopping to machine scrubbing, daily cleaning will be far more effective.  Automatic scrubbers now come in all shapes and sizes, allowing them to be used just about anywhere a mop and bucket is used, so there should be a system available to address your scrubbing needs.

Further, and this is very significant, an automatic scrubber reduces the amount of time to clean a floor to a fraction. According to a report by the University of Minnesota, “an automatic scrubber or riding automatic scrubber can reduce the time it takes one person to clean 5,000 square feet with a mop and bucket from one to two hours down to 15-30 minutes. Furthermore, choosing riders over walk-behinds reduces fatigue.”

Whether using an automatic scrubber or mopping a floor, a highly effective floorcare cleaning chemical is also required. The chemical helps dissolve and “suspend” soils so that they can be removed with the machine or by the mop. Because this chemical will be used daily, a highly-concentrated heavy duty floor cleaner, diluted correctly, is the economical way to go.

Eventually, daily cleaning tasks may need to be increased a notch or two. After several cleanings, a Restorer should be applied. Some Restorers can also be applied by an automatic scrubber or mopped on the floor. An effective Restorer provides the following benefits:

• Cleans and reconditions the floor, improving its appearance
• Increases the slip resistance of the floor, which regular daily cleaning may reduce
• Further helps delay interim and restorative cleaning
• Some Restorers also leave a fresh, appealing fragrance that most building users appreciate

When selecting a Restorer, be sure and read the manufacturer’s instructions. Some Restorers require that the floor be burnished after application. The burnishing not only helps remove soils from the floor’s surface but puts a high-gloss shine to the floor as well, giving the floor the look and appearance you and your customer can be proud of and appreciate.

Betco U Certification Program is one of the most comprehensive teaching and learning programs in the professional industry. Information is available on a number of topics from floor care to green and sustainable issues. Sign-up for free access to Betco U and take advantage of this important resource.

One way to determine if a machine qualifies as a green floor care machine is to see if it meets the requirements of LEED-EBOM credit 3.7. In general, this credit references floor care equipment that uses less water, chemical, and energy than older or conventional floor machines. Additionally, to promote sustainability, a green floor care machine is made to last longer and be more durable.

Some of the other criteria for LEED-EBOM certification include the following:

• Electric and battery-powered machines have a shroud covering the base of the equipment as well as a vacuum system. These are often referred to as “dust control machines;” they help capture fine particulates, preventing them from becoming airborne.

• Noise levels must be less than 70 decibels; there are burnishers now available that are far quieter than this, generating as little as 59 decibels of sound.
• Automatic scrubbers use eco-friendly batteries; these batteries typically require very little maintenance.
• Green floor care machines are ergonomically designed, with reduced torque and vibration to minimize user fatigue.

Betco also utilizes cylindrical brush floor machines. These can be considered green machines because they use less chemicals and water. Whenever less chemical can be used when cleaning, it is usually better for the user and the environment.

Some cylindrical machines are also exceptionally quiet. Noise can negatively impact the user and cause worker fatigue. Additionally, because they are so quiet, the machines can be used in day cleaning situations.

Administrators and cleaning professionals should realize that when following a green cleaning strategy, it means that all components, tools, chemicals, and equipment used in cleaning should also be green. In many ways, green cleaning is only as effective as its weakest link. To ensure all facets of your green cleaning program are strong and effective, make sure to include a green floor care machine.

Betco is an industry leader in helping building owners, managers, and cleaning professionals keep facilities clean, healthy and environmentally responsible.

For more information on green cleaning solutions, visit Betco.com or call 1-888-GO-BETCO

Streaks, haze, micro-scratches or bubbles after second coat:  One of the most prevalent causes of finish failures during the hot summer months happens during recoating.  When high humidity is present during drying conditions it causes the drying time to slow down.  When this happens extra time needs to be taken when recoating to avoid possible issues.  The use of a moisture meter before and after coating is the best way to solve this issue.  Simply read and record the moisture level before coating and after, when the readings are within one of each other it is safe to recoat.  Remember, in humid conditions give the first coat some extra time to dry before recoating.

Small Bubbles after Drying: Whenever finish is applied with an applicator, the churning action of spreading works small bubbles into the floor surface. Normally the bubbles will break out in a few seconds, resulting in a smooth and even finish. However, when airflow is warm, the warm air blowing across the freshly applied finish will “freeze” the surface very quickly, trapping application bubbles on the surface. In an air-conditioned environment this can still happen, as the air conditioner pushes a large volume of air in order to keep up with the heat.

Prevention: To avoid this problem, add a small amount of water to the finish in order to lower the viscosity. Adding a small amount of water allows a few extra seconds for any bubbles to break before the finish surface dries. If the ambient temperature is between 85◦F and 95◦F, add 5% water to the finish after mixing the finish with catalyst. If the ambient temperature is above 95◦F, mix in up to 10% water, adding a little water at a time until the working level is just right. As a good rule of thumb, 12 ounces of water added to one gallon of finish is close to 10%. Do not add more than 12 oz. of water.

Hot Floors Cause Blistering and Peeling Finish: Solar gain is a difficulty any time of year but tends to be more common during hot weather. Sunlight beating down through windows, patio doors or window walls will considerably heat up wood floors. If a dark stain is on the floor, even more heat will be absorbed. Floor temperatures in these situations can reach as high as 180◦F. If finish is applied over such a hot floor, the finish will set up so quickly that the finish will blister. In addition, the finish may not wet the wood well enough to stay bonded, drying so rapidly that it never penetrates the wood and may later peel.

Prevention: The easiest way to prevent solar gain is to cover any windows, doors, etc. with an opaque material that does not allow sunlight to heat up the floor. Another way to control solar gain is to work at a time of day when the sunlight does not penetrate the gloss. If it is not possible or practical to cover the glass, the work can be completed very early in the morning (4-6 AM) before the sun can heat up the floor.

Hot Finish Causes Bubbles: Hot finish on a cold floor will create millions of tiny bubbles. If the finish is stored in the back of a truck sitting in summer sun, it can get as hot as 160◦F. When this hot finish is brought into an air conditioned job site and applied to a cold floor, the finish begins to penetrate the wood and heats up the air within the boards. This air expands as it is heated and is trapped by the swiftly drying finish. This is visible because the bubbles will be very small and at the end of the grain.

Prevention: Bring all finish into the job site before beginning and allow it to come to room temperature before applying it. Never apply finish that is warmer than the floor.

Job site problems in the hot summer weather are all too common. Stay cool as the temperature rises by using these simple solutions to stop problems before they start!

Clearly, one of the factors of cleaning is temperature (others are time, agitation and chemical) so most assume that increasing the temperature must improve the performance of the floor stripper. Not always, certain strippers have chemicals which have a lower flash point. Using hot water causes these ingredients to flash off prematurely, actually diminishing the performance of the floor stripper. However, performance is not the only reason for cool water, Betco's Green Floor Strippers must be diluted with cool water to reduce the energy consumption of using hot water.

Recommended temperatures for Betco Floor Strippers:

Cool Water:

#184 Extreme

#888 Unlock

#194 Extreme Ultra

#541 Green Earth Floor Stripper

Hot Water:

#154 Ax-It Plus

#104 Geraldine

#561 Vanisher

Just remember, hot water is not always better.  Always check the label and use the proper temperature of water to get the maximum performance from your floor stripper.

According to Hulin, the hard-floor maintenance industry is extremely competitive with requests for proposals fairly common. Many cleaning contractors “jockey for position” he says to get these lucrative contracts. He goes on to say that many contractors have a problem even if they win their bids because they are based “on optimum conditions and the most aggressive productivity rates.” They neglect to consider vital but unpredictable time factors, particularly the length of time it takes for a floor finish to dry (drying time).

Another cleaning contractor working in the San Francisco Bay area has a similar tale of woe.  The contractor and a helper set to work stripping and refinishing a long hallway in an office building. The hallway was nearly a city block long, but it was a “thin” hallway, so the contractor expected that if he and his helper begin the job at 6:00 p.m., they should finish by midnight or so.

Once again, unpredictable drying time caused financial pain. The office was located directly over water, the humidity was relatively high but, the real culprit was the finish itself. The six or seven hour job became nine because the finish simply took so long to dry, keeping the contractor and his helper at work until about 3:00 am.

There are so many factors that can impact floor finish drying times. However, the key reasons a floor finish may take as much as 60 minutes or more to dry and harden are the following:

• Temperature, humidity, and air movement; always install air movers to speed drying time
• The porosity of the floor (number of pores in the floor)
• Coats are applied are too heavily; always remember to apply thin coats of finish
• Textured floor surfaces can require more time to dry than smooth surfaces

Before the job, review floor refinishing guidelines with a distributor or online, at Betco U, a free training and certification program for cleaning professionals. Invariably, even the most experienced floor care technician will learn something new.

Select fast-drying floor finishes; new technologies have been developed that can reduce finish drying times to as little as 15 minutes, which almost guarantees you’ll finish the job quickly with money in the bank.

Betco® is known for Floor Care and for delivering total floor care solutions for proven performance and durability. Visit the floor care section of Betco’s website or call 1-800-GO-BETCO. 

However, there are many variables that must be considered before developing a floor cleaning and maintenance program. The following are some key questions facility managers need to address before instituting a floor maintenance program.

What is the budget?

A floor cleaning and maintenance program can be costly. The first step in determining costs is to know how many square feet of flooring will need to be cleaned and how often. Many times, an astute janitorial contractor can help a facility manger develop a budget for floor maintenance.

How important is the floor?

Some floors, like a lobby floor, are more important than others because they contribute to a customer or user’s first impression of the facility. Other floors may require less attention because they are not in customer areas. Determine which floors are the most important and budget resources accordingly.

What is the current condition of the floor?

A floor cleaning and maintenance program requires that a floor audit be conducted to determine the condition of all floors. Is there damage? Is it salvageable? Are there safety concerns? When was the last time the floor was stripped and refinished? Is there yellowing or are there heavily soiled areas? Jot down the condition of all floors throughout the facility.

What are the traffic conditions?

It’s critical to have a good idea of what the traffic conditions are throughout the property and which floor areas are most likely to need more cleaning time and attention.

When will floor care work be performed?

In commercial office buildings, most floor cleaning and maintenance programs are performed after business hours or on weekends. If the floors must be scrubbed, recoated, or refinished, it gives the floor time to dry and helps protect tenants from potential slip-and-fall accidents.

What types of flooring are installed?

Certain types of flooring may have very specific cleaning and maintenance requirements. Stone floors will have different needs – and require different cleaning products and tools, than a more conventional VCT floor. Document the maintenance needs of all floors in the property and be sure these requirements are fully understood.

What equipment is needed?

Floor care and the equipment used to maintain floors have changed a lot in the past few years. For instance, mops and buckets are being phased out and being replaced with automatic scrubbers. Automatic scrubbers are highly regarded because they can vacuum, clean, rinse, and dry floors all in one pass. They also can reduce costs significantly. In one study, an automatic scrubber was found to reduce the time it takes one person to clean 5,000 square feet with a mop and bucket from one to two hours down to 15-30 minutes.

Is there environmental and “sensitivity” issues?

A decision has to be made when preparing a floor cleaning and maintenance program whether or not a green floor care program will be adopted to clean and maintain a facility’s floors. There are now a number of effective and cost effective green floor care chemicals, polishes, finishes, and equipment available from leading manufacturers such as Betco.

These are just some of the questions that facility managers must consider when developing a floor cleaning and maintenance program. Betco is well-known as a leader in floor care issues. Contact a Betco representative for more information and help with your floor care needs.  1-888-GO-BETCO.

Usually expressed as a percentage of weight, floor finish solids are whatever is left on the floor after the coating dries and cures. A coating with 50 percent solids, for instance, will be half evaporated after it dries. This means that the higher the solids in the floor finish, the more coating you will have left on the floor after it dries.

These solids are often a blend of several ingredients, each having a specific purpose. These ingredients help the finish resist scuffs, reduce bubbling, improve adhesion and slip resistance, and last but not least, determine overall durability.

However, the term “solids” can apply to anything that does not evaporate during the curing process. This may include ingredients that do not contribute to a safe, high-luster, and protective coating, which ultimately is our goal. To cut down on these unwanted, potentially harmful ingredients, when selecting a floor finish, read the label and find out what ingredients are used to make up the solids in the floor finish you are considering and what each of them is designed to do. Merely comparing finishes by the percentage of solids—which is very common—is not an adequate test of their capabilities and performance.

Cleaning professionals, building owners, and managers should also know that the ingredients used to improve slip resistance or to control bubbles may add to the solids, but they often do little to enhance the durability of the finish. However, floor finish technology has improved and some manufacturers now use superior polymers, plasticizers, and waxes that combine to form exceptionally durable floor finishes. And the more durable the finish, the fewer refinishing cycles, making one of the most challenging cleaning tasks a whole lot easier.

• Wet floor signs
• Protective goggles
• Gloves
• Clean white towels
• Clean water
• Spotting Kit
• Carpet extractor
• Vacuum

1. The first step when removing bodily fluid stains in public areas is to place caution or wet floor signs near the stain. Use appropriate personnel protective gear such as goggles and gloves so that you do not get in contact with the fluids as well.
2. Blot the stain to remove excess liquid using a white absorbent towel. A white towel prevents dye transfer to the carpet.  Be sure to blot and not rub the spot to avoid further penetration into the carpet fibers.
3. A good spotting kit will have an assortment of chemicals, safety gear and a chart to determine which spotter to use. After you identify the stain, use the chart to know which product to use.
4. Apply the spotter in a circular motion to the outside perimeter of the stain. Always work toward the center of the stain to avoid spreading the stain. Allow appropriate dwell time then use a tapping brush and a clean white towel to absorb the soil.
5. Follow the spotter with an enzymatic treatment which will digest the stain and control the odor.
6. A carpet extractor is an excellent tool to use when done to rinse the area with clean water to remove any residue of the spotter. This step helps prevent any chemical or soil residue from attracting new soil which could reappear later as a new stain. If you do not have an extractor available, simply vacuum the area when dry to remove any residual residue.

While there are several benefits to hiring on an internal daytime cleaning staff, there are also negative aspects. Daytime cleaning can provide a potential safety hazard for your employees. If employees are active during the day, there is an increased chance for a slip and fall accident. Another aggravating disadvantage to daytime cleaning would have to be the noise aspect. Employees may be concerned that their work will be disrupted by the hustle and bustle of cleaning equipment. So, what is the solution to these obvious shortcomings? The answer is simple; Betco Corporation’s Stealth^™ Microrider will eliminate these burdens and leave your facility clean and back to operation in no time. The Stealth Microrider was developed to provide optimal results by saving your facility up to 36% in savings. This auto scrubber is also the quietest machine on the market by operating at only 54 dBA. The Stealth Microrider makes daytime cleaning a reality!

The first step to maintaining any floor surface is to prevent dirt and debris from entering the facility in the first place, and LVT is no exception. Every entrance to the building should have some type of matting system to capture soil before it tracks onto the floor. As floor matting goes, more is always better. This is a cheap and easy way to extend the life of any floor surface.

Regular maintenance is very similar for LVT when compared to traditional flooring. Dry sweep or dust mop the floors on a daily basis and then damp mop the floor with a mild neutral cleaner, such as daily cleaners with a pH of 7, or better yet, a neutral peroxide cleaner. Most peroxide cleaners are not only safe for the environment, but can be used on a variety of hard surfaces and carpet. There are even peroxide cleaners that disinfect while they clean. The last rule of thumb for regular maintenance is to clean spills as quickly as possible, not only to protect the flooring, but also to reduce the potential for slip and fall accidents.

More aggressive routine cleaning will be required if you want to keep your LVT floor looking as good as possible. For smooth LVT surfaces, use a rotary disk automatic scrubber equipped with a light scrub pad and neutral or peroxide cleaner. The combination of mechanical agitation and vacuum extraction with the automatic scrubber will remove the dirt left behind from your daily mopping process.

Routine cleaning for textured LVT is slightly different. In this case, your automatic scrubber should be equipped with a light duty all-purpose scrub brush.

Again, use a neutral cleaner or preferably a peroxide-based cleaner in the machine. The brush will do a much better job of scrubbing in the textured recesses of the floor and the vacuum motor on the scrubber will lift the solution and suspended soils from these areas. Textured LVT has a very refined look, however, if not cleaned properly it can quickly lose its luster and appeal from the dirt and debris that collects in the valleys of these textured areas.

Some manufacturers recommend that LVT products be coated with a protective layer of floor finish. This process provides protection for the surface and increases gloss level. However, there are a few concerns with coating LVT, which includes effective floor finish adhesion and eventually stripping the finish without damaging the tile.

Not all floor finishes will adhere to LVT tile and not all LVT tiles allow finishes to adhere to them. The best practice is to test finishes for adhesion in an inconspicuous area first.

Inevitably, a coated LVT floor will need to have the finish stripped off at some point during its lifecycle. You should be aware that chemical stripping solutions may cause discoloration or other damage to some LVT products. The best advice is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for coatings and stripping. If you are not sure which products are compatible, test them in a discreet location before coating the entire surface.  This will help prevent a major crisis years down the road.

Keep in mind that there are many different types and styles of LVT flooring being developed, so these recommendations should be used a general guideline. Your actual procedures may vary depending on the specific type of floor that is installed in your facility.