When labor is tight and operating costs keep going up, facility managers have to look for ways to get more done with the cleaning hours they have.
Sometimes the answer is something pretty simple.
Look at the equipment and materials being used every day.
Floor pads are a good example. The right pad can help a cleaning crew get the job done without making unnecessary passes over the same floor. The wrong pad can wear out quickly, work poorly, or simply be the wrong tool for the surface.
Floor pads are one of those cleaning supplies where the cheapest option isn’t always the best value.
A low-cost pad may look like a good way to save money, but if it wears out quickly or doesn’t maintain good contact with the floor, the crew may go through more pads and spend more time getting the same result.
Quality matters.
Premium pads are often made with durable materials, such as polyester fiber, that help the pad hold its shape and maintain its working surface. A thicker, well-made pad can also hold up better during regular floor maintenance.
That doesn’t mean every facility needs the most expensive pad available. If the budget doesn’t allow for premium materials, a good middle-grade pad can still be a better choice than simply buying the cheapest option.
The important thing is to look at how long the pad lasts and how well it performs while it is being used.
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The cost of a floor pad isn’t just the price printed on the package.
There is also the time it takes a cleaning crew to use it.
A pad that maintains good contact with the floor can do its job more consistently. That may mean fewer passes over the same area and less time spent trying to get the floor where it needs to be.
That matters when a crew is working through a large commercial building and has a limited amount of time to complete the job.
A pad that isn’t performing properly can have the opposite effect. The crew may have to make additional passes, change equipment, or spend more time working an area than expected.
Not every floor should be cleaned with the same pad.
Floor pads are commonly identified by color, with darker pads generally being more aggressive than lighter pads. The exact pad selection still depends on the floor, the condition of the surface, and the type of work being performed.
For example, softer pads are used for lighter maintenance work, while more aggressive pads are used when removing heavier buildup or floor finish.
A black stripping pad is designed for heavy-duty stripping work. Red pads are commonly used for routine floor cleaning and maintenance. Softer white pads are used when a less aggressive approach is needed.
The important part is matching the pad to the job.
Using an aggressive pad on a floor that doesn’t need it can create problems. Using a pad that is too soft for the job can leave the crew working harder without getting the result they need.
There are also situations where a floor pad isn’t the right choice at all.
Tile and grout are a good example.
A pad can clean the surface of a tile floor, but grout lines can be difficult to reach effectively with a flat pad. When the dirt and buildup are down in the grout, a brush can provide the agitation needed to get into those areas. That’s part of why tile and grout cleaning often calls for a different approach than routine floor maintenance.
This is one of those situations where having the right tool matters more than simply using the same piece of equipment everywhere.
Good floor care isn’t just about making a floor look good when the cleaning is finished.
The equipment, pad, cleaning method, and condition of the floor all affect how efficiently the work gets done.
When labor is limited, small improvements in the way a cleaning crew works can add up. Choosing a floor pad that performs properly can help reduce wasted time, avoid unnecessary passes, and make better use of the cleaning hours available.
At Optimal Prime Cleaning Services, we clean and maintain commercial floors throughout the Sioux Falls area, and we look at the condition of the floor and the type of work being performed when determining the appropriate cleaning method and floor-care equipment.
If your commercial floors are taking more time to maintain than they should, request a quote and Optimal Prime Cleaning Services can take a look at the floor and help determine whether a different cleaning method or floor-care approach makes sense.
