How to Protect & Clean Commercial Tile Floors

6 Tips for Cleaning Commercial Vinyl Tile Floors

Caring for tile doesn’t need to be difficult. To help your flooring last longer, follow these helpful tips:

1. Sweep and Vacuum

Whether you sweep the floor manually or use a vacuum cleaner, be sure to cover every square inch of tile, placing extra emphasis on corners that are prone to dirt buildup.

2. Mix Cleaner and Warm Water

General mopping best practices call for a mixture of hot water with mild detergent. For the best clean, use ¼ cup of low-sudsing detergent or 1-2 tablespoons of commercial floor cleaning powder per gallon of water. If you’re looking to combat salt stains, neutralizer can help as well.

3. Mop the Entire Floor

The quality of your mopping goes a long way to improving your tile floors’ overall appearance. Use even, gentle strokes and follow the same pattern for the entire room. It’s important to note that you don’t want to miss any spots, or the remaining dirt will get tracked around your office.

4. Frequently Change Bucket Water

In large commercial spaces, you need to regularly rinse out the mop. But with use, the water eventually gets cloudier and dirtier. Be sure to consistently refill your bucket to avoid leaving behind a grimy film on the tile. If a film does happen to appear, don’t worry. Just soak a rag in hot water or white vinegar and wipe it away.

5. Don’t Forget the Grout

In large commercial spaces, you need to regularly rinse out the mop. But with use, the water eventually gets cloudier and dirtier. Be sure to consistently refill your bucket to avoid leaving behind a grimy film on the tile. If a film does happen to appear, don’t worry. Just soak a rag in hot water or white vinegar and wipe it away.

6. Thoroughly Dry Your Floor

Water spots can be a real eyesore on tile floors, so be sure to use a clean cloth to dry your floors and prevent water stains. As always be sure to use “wet floor” signs after a cleaning.

Marble floor of luxury lobby of company or hotel. Panorama of cleaned washed floor in corporate hallway. Shiny floor with reflections after professional cleaning_

How To Protect Your Tile Floors From Winter Weather

From snow and ice to salt and dirt, Massachusetts winters take a toll on your tile. Luckily, there’s a few precautions you can take to protect your floors, including:

Scrubbing and Buffing

One of the best ways to protect and clean commercial tile floors is regular scrubbing and buffing. When you thoroughly scrub your floors, it keeps dirt, salt solutions, and other contaminants from settling into your tiles and wax finishes. The buffing process removes scratches and scuffs by polishing the top layer of your floor, which helps prevent future stains.

Stripping and Waxing

Sometimes tile floors experience so much wear and tear that scrubbing and buffing simply won’t cut it. In these circumstances, the best way to restore your tile back to its original condition is through stripping and waxing. Stripping your floors is a highly effective way to remove residue from your tile. Afterwards, a new coating of wax is applied, leaving you with a spotless base layer.

Temporary Matting

During the snowy season, roughly 90% of the debris tracked onto your floors comes from outside. Luckily, temporary mats are a cost-effective way to keep your tile floors protected. By placing mats down before the first snow, you can prevent salt stains and reduce the overall wear and tear on your vinyl flooring.

Keep Your Tile Clean With Commercial Floor Cleaning

When cleaning commercial tile floors is delegated to an in-house team, things are often missed. Whether that’s because other job responsibilities pop up, your janitors don’t have the proper equipment, or they’re short-staffed, the end result stays the same—dirty areas get overlooked.

Forgotten floors often require a professional cleaner to bring your tile back to life. When you partner with a team of dedicated professionals, here are the benefits you’ll discover:

Improved Image

Some people might take sparkling tiles for granted, but just about everyone notices dirty floors. The cleanliness of your flooring directly influences the way visitors perceive your business. If you neglect cleaning commercial tile floors, your customers are sure to notice.

If a company can’t be trusted to keep its own environment clean, how can clients trust you to handle their needs? Fortunately, investing in professional tile floor cleaning implies that your company pays attention to small details. Poorly maintained floors are a direct reflection of your organization’s priorities, which is why keeping your tile spotless is essential.

Extended Lifespan

By protecting your floors today, you can be confident that they will withstand wear and tear for years to come. It’s well known that properly maintained tile floors last significantly longer than neglected tile floors. While you initially have to cover the cost of cleaning procedures, those services provide a quick return on investment because you won’t need to replace your floors prematurely. The longer your tile floors last, the more the value you get out of your investment, so make sure to prioritize the longevity of your tile floors with regular cleaning.

Avoid Mistakes

If you try to tackle tile floor cleaning in-house, minor mistakes can cost you a lot of money. For example, say you use the wrong type of chemical cleaner; you risk removing the finish or polish from the flooring surface, which often requires more extensive repairs, resurfacing, or total replacement.

On the other hand, when you partner with a team of professionals, they already know the optimal types of cleaning solutions for your specific flooring systems, so you don’t run the risk of damaging tiles while trying to care for them.

Protect Your Tile Flooring with Brenner Facility Services

Since 1986, Brenner has been helping local buildings across the North Shore keep their facility in top condition. With over three decades of service, we know what it takes to protect and clean commercial tile floors. Start a conversation with our experts to learn what BFS can do for you.

Cleaning Commercial Tile Floors: What You Need to Know