It is no secret that concrete floors are incredibly popular when it comes to industrial flooring. After all, a concrete floor is easy to install, highly resistant to stress, and very versatile. As a result, many manufacturing plants, warehouses, and even mechanical workshops use concrete flooring. Many people love concrete flooring because it can be mixed with quartz powder to make it different colours and be ground to achieve other great finishes that not only have vast aesthetic value but can impact the flooring's properties.
Yet, despite the popularity of concrete flooring, not many people know how to properly maintain their concrete floors. It is true that concrete flooring as a whole is resistant, but that doesn't mean it doesn't need to be cleaned and well-maintained. But lots of people seem to be a little bit intimidated by the concept of cleaning concrete floors.
Well, there's no reason to be. If you've got concrete floors that need maintenance, here's what you need to know about keeping concrete floors clean.
Concrete floors are prone to the development of dirt, grime, and contaminants, all of which can cause issues if left unchecked. The accumulation of dirt, for example, can lead to fire hazards and trip hazards.
This accumulation of dirt and dust can also lead to other safety issues, making your employees unwell by brushing up into the air and causing respiratory concerns. In the long-term, this can cause serious issues.
You may also find that if you do not clean concrete floors regularly enough, they are worn and damaged by the debris on the floor. This is why a deep cleaning is needed to properly clean concrete surfaces, making sure they look just as good as the day you had them installed.
Dirty warehouse and industrial floors can also lead to issues with equipment not working as it should. Cables may get damaged and machines may get clogged up with dust and dirt.
By regularly cleaning concrete floors you can also ensure that your concrete lasts much longer. Cleaning concrete floors extends the lifespan of the material, saving you money in the long run.
There is also an increase in productivity associated with clean floors, as suddenly foot traffic is much less interrupted and people know where their stations and equipment are kept.
Learn about: How To Clean Warehouse Floors
Industrial sweepers are designed to make the process of floor maintenance easier. They are easy to use across large areas like concrete warehouse floors and work efficiently. The machine works by using powerful brushes and vacuum systems to sweep dust off the concrete floor as well as debris and any other loose particles.
What separates these cleaning machines from an ordinary broom or vacuum is that the fine particles are pumped into advanced filtration systems. These prevent them from rushing up into the air. The industrial sweepers also come with high-capacity waste containers and wide cleaning paths, making them highly effective for industrial concrete floor cleaning.
For a deep clean, floor scrubbers or scrubber dryers are an efficient solution. They're especially useful when it comes to tackling stubborn stains like grease or other spills. A floor scrubber uses a combination of scrubbing brushes and drying technology to clean and dry concrete floors in one go to fully remove dirt, grime, and other contaminants. While this is happening, the vacuum system within the cleaning machine extracts the dirty water and dries the concrete floor, leaving you with a dry, clean concrete floor that is ready to be used. This makes them great for industrial cleaning and floor maintenance as it limits downtime.
Industrial cleaning floor scrubbers come with adjustable cleaning options so that they can be optimized for the cleaning job at hand. This means that they can be used to safely clean concrete floors so long as the person using the machine is familiar with both industrial cleaning and concrete surfaces.
The floor scrubber dryer also comes with large tanks and is specially designed to cover large areas, meaning that the cleaning machine does not require regular stops or breaks to empty the waste away, making it an efficient industrial cleaning solution.
Another way to clean your concrete floor is to turn to power washing or pressure washing. This involves using a pressure washer to blast away dirt and muck using high-pressure water streams. It is considered a relatively effective tool to remove dirt from concrete flooring, however it is also hugely risky.
Concrete floor is resilient, but the speed and pressure at which the water comes out of a pressure washer can cause serious damage to the concrete surface if not handled correctly. You should only use a pressure washer as a deep cleaning tool if you know exactly what you're doing.
When done correctly, it can be a great powerful cleaning machine, but the risk often outweighs the benefits. There is also the issue of what to do with the dirty water once the surface is clean, as unlike other powerful cleaning machines, pressure washers do not reabsorb the dirty water, they simply blast out clean water.
Another popular technique for floor maintenance is steaming your concrete floor. It is a safe and effective cleaning solution that works on most floor types. Using low pressure and very high temperatures, steam cleaning is a great option if you don't want to use harsh chemicals to clean the surface of your concrete floor
The high temperature allows steam cleaning to sanitise at the same time as being able to clean concrete flooring, and it tackles stubborn stains pretty well!
Sometimes stubborn stains require specific spot cleaning. This is often the case on concrete surfaces. If you're trying to tackle these stains, there are a few ways to tackle them:
Baking soda and cornstarch can absorb the oil out of concrete surfaces. You can create a paste with either of these and water to scrub onto the stain and then wash or sweep it off.
Spraying vinegar on the concrete surface may well help to remove rust stains. Let the vinegar sit for at least an hour and scrub with a scrubbing brush.
Bleach and water can be used to tackle mold and mildew, but be sure to use protective gear and only a little bit of bleach. It is always worth patch-testing this cleaning solution to ensure it does not discolour your floor.
Technically, the methods above can be done by anyone. However, most of the equipment, especially things like scrubber dryers, require specialist skill and knowledge. Likewise, a lot of the machines cost a lot of money to buy or rent.
If your concrete floors need cleaning and you're not sure how to get them properly cleaned, why not hire a team of experts? Rather than hire the equipment and try to learn how to manage the machines, simply contact EMS Powerwash today for a free quote.
When you hire professionals, not only don't you need to worry about where you're going to find scrubber dryers, but you can also rest assured that your concrete floors will go undamaged. It is very easy to go wrong when cleaning an industrial concrete floor without the right knowledge and equipment, and this can lead to costly repairs. But with the help of experts like EMS Powerwash, you can avoid all of that!
