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By: Steve Hanson
Restroom cleanliness is one of the most common complaints
cleaning companies receive. When cleaning restrooms, keep
in mind that they should not only look clean, but that they
should feel and smell clean. An important part in maintaining
a high level of cleanliness is making sure the floor grout
is clean. Grout is porous, so over time, moisture, contaminants,
and even dirty mop water can discolor it. These circumstances
can lead to staining, odors, and aid in the growth of bacteria,
mold, and mildew.
There are several reasons is it so difficult to clean floor
grout:
* Using a cleaner that doesn't float contaminates to the
surface.
* Using a cleaner that contains detergents that settle into
the grout with dirt and oils.
* Sealers may have been improperly used in the past. Instead
of keeping out dirt and oils, these may now be trapped in
the grout.
* Acidic or high pH cleaners make grout more porous and fragile
with the result being the grout re-soils faster.
* Cleaners used in the past may have left residues that become
dirt magnets.
Before starting to clean tile and grout it is important to
analyze what dirt and contaminants you're dealing with. Then
based on that information, select a cleaner designed for cleaning
that type of soil and is suitable for the flooring being cleaned.
Using the right cleaner and using it correctly are important
steps to keeping grout clean. To avoid soap scum, daily cleaners
must be salt free. When deep cleaning, the cleaner needs to
be free of high levels of potassium and sodium salts. The
cleaner you use must be able to float contamination up as
well as transfer it to the mop so the grout comes clean. Carefully
consider the pH of the product you are using. Acidic based
cleaners (low pH) bleach rather than clean and basic cleaners
(high pH) tend to be high in salts. Be cautious about the
use of citrus products. Many of these products leave unwanted
residues that make floors feel sticky. It is important to
use the right chemical as bacteria can get trapped into grout
and tile. It may be necessary to use a germicide cleaner,
especially around toilets and urinals, to kill bacteria and
remove any urine that has dried into the grout or tile.
Cleaning grout is often labor-intensive at times even requiring
scrubbing by hand, which may not be practical in a large restroom.
There are procedures you can follow to help keep grout clean.
First, use a chemical proportioning system to dilute chemicals
accurately. When you use too much chemical, sealants break
down faster. Second, have adequate ventilation to help prevent
the build up of odors and speed up drying. Frequent changing
of mop water and mop heads helps to make sure that contaminants
are picked up and not pushed back into the grout. Consider
switching to microfiber mops as they have proven to be the
most effective at removing contaminants from floor surfaces.
When cleaning, liberally apply chemicals and don't allow
the floor to dry before scrubbing. Always allow proper dwell
time, which is typically between 5 and 10 minutes. The next
step is to use the right tool to scrub the floor surface.
To effectively clean the surfaces use floor brushes. After
thoroughly scrubbing the floor, remove the excess liquid.
A wet vacuum works well as it will pick up the excess water,
dirt, residue and cleaning chemical used on the floor.
New and innovative equipment can also make cleaning grout
faster. High-pressure water systems (up to 1200 psi) can effectively
deep clean, loosen, and remove soil. Some systems also heat
the water, which aids in the cleaning process. Grout cleaning
systems also have auto-feed/auto-dump capabilities so you
can use them continuously without stopping. The machines pick
up loosened soil and leave no residue. Another option is using
cylindrical brush technology. These machines do not use pads
like rotary buffers, but instead use rotating brushes. These
brushes penetrate and loosen the dirt in grout and tile.
To keep grout and tile looking their best it is important
to train your staff and make sure they continue to follow
the proper procedures when cleaning grout. Having written
procedures and checklists can help to assure the proper cleaning
techniques are always followed.
Lack of attention, carelessness, and the wrong types of cleaners
used will lead to dirty grout and the entire floor looking
dull and dingy. Paying attention and spending a little extra
time when cleaning grout will keep not only the floor, but
the entire restroom, looking and smelling clean.
Copyright (c) 2006 The Janitorial Store
About The Author
Steve Hanson is co-founder of TheJanitorialStore.com, an online
community for owners of cleaning companies. Sign up for Trash
Talk:Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.
Read success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com.
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