Floors, an Overlooked High-Touch Surface
Those tasked with keeping facilities healthy for occupants during a pandemic often overlook floors, a major high touch surface. Facility managers should install and maintain mats and implement preventative and reactive measures to help keep pathogens from entering the building.
The debris brought in on bottom of shoes creates scratches and worn areas on the floor, which can negatively affect floor appearance and overall business’ image.
If floors have not been maintained regularly, it will result in expensive floor replacements earlier than expected. Include a floor cleaning program that incorporates periodic deep cleaning to avoid soil accumulation on the mat and reduce the amount of dirt tracked into facilities. Oversaturation of mats not cleaned produces an inkpad effect, which causes the mat to overflow and visitors to track more dirt and debris throughout facilities.
Regular floor maintenance with good cleaning tools should be used to reduce cross-contamination rather than spreading it throughout the building. Periodic deep cleaning must be maintained which will extend the life of floors and maintain a “like new” condition. The revolving floor mat in the picture is 20+ years old. Floor preventative maintenance was implemented from day 1 after building was first opened.
Request for your cleaning company to become a certified firm with the IICRC, The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), a nonprofit certifying body for the cleaning and restoration industry, which regularly offers guidance on cleaning and caring for hard floor surfaces especially during pandemics.
