Have you ever wondered how the pro's sees a deep cleaning situation? How do they know which products are safe to use on which surfaces? How do they get things so clean? Well today our experts are going to share some of the tricks of the trade when deciding which products to use on which surfaces. It boils down to a simple acronym that is easy to remember.... TACT
TIME - This is the first consideration in attempting to clean a surface.
Do we have enough of it to get the job done?
Most of the mistakes I see are caused by people rushing through a job because they do not have enough time.
How long can the surface safely stay wet?
Some substrates (surface types) do not like to be wet for long. Those surfaces will need a quicker cleaning using less water as to not have it absorb into the substrate. If you have a wood floor you are best off cleaning it with a microfiber mop and pressured pads so as to not warp the wood.
Dwell time?
Each product has a reccomended dwell time or required contact time for use. When using disinfectants this is important so that you know that you have the product sitting long enough to kill the organisms that you are worried about. In floor care, the longer you can let a product dwell, the less agitation will be required for removal. The instruction sheet will usually tell you these time requirements. The longer the product can dwell, the easier it will be to remove soils.
AGITATION - This is the act of scrubbing. This can be done by hand, with a hand tool, or with a machine.
What type of agitation can our surface safely handle?
For this we need to check the manufactures specifications. There are easy ways to identify flooring, but there are really good "Faux" floors that might prove confusing and can land you in hot water in not cared for in special ways. If you cannot find the specs on the flooring, then you can run a few tests in inconspicuous areas to make sure you are not causing damage. Contact us for help with this step!
Manual or machine?
We use the area size to determine if we should be using a manual cleaning process or a more efficient machine cleaning process. There are many benefits to machine cleaning, the biggest downside is cost of equipment and expertise to run and maintain it safely.
Brushes or pads?
Typically if your substrates are porous or uneven, or you have grouted surfaces then you would be better suited using a brush that can get the bristles into the valleys and voids. If you have a flat surface, then you are much better off with a pad. Think about using a toothbrush to get into all the valleys inbetween your teeth. No imagine trying to get your teeth clean only using a sponge. This is the difference that brushes can make.
CHEMICAL - This is what product mix are we going to use to tackle the cleaning task.
What types of chemicals can the surface safely handle?
We look at the pH of the substrate and reference the spec sheet for the substrate. Acidic cleaners (low in pH) are typically used in restrooms or where you want to break down soils fast. They clean great but can damage surfaces in the process. Neutral cleaners (mid pH) are great for cleaning surfaces that are acid sensitive or anything that has a topical coating on it. The mild pH will not damage coatings. The tradeoff is they usually do not pack the same punch as a high alkaline cleaner. Alkaline cleaners are you degreasers and strippers. They do a great job with soils and are generally surface safe. You will want to make sure to rinse off alkaline cleaners well and neutralize if necessary.
Should we use foam?
Foam is excellent for extending contact time of a product. It is the ideal choice for vertical surfaces or any area where you need extended contact time. The foam when combined with agitation can also help encapsulate soils and make them easier to remove.
TEMPERATURE - We need to consider the environmental temperature, as well as the temperature of the product that we are working with.
What if it's hot outside?
Hot temperatures outdoors and wet surfaces inside can create a considerable amount of humidity. If you live in an already humid place you may have extended dry times as your product has a hard time setting up. If you live in an excessively dry spot, you may have issues with your product drying faster then you can get it properly applied. Check the product specifications to determine if your expected temperatures align with the recommended application temperatures.
What if it's cold outside?
Cold outdoor temperatures can cause nightmares from products freezing to them not setting up properly on the floor. If the floors are below about 55 degrees then you will have hard time getting product to stick to them. Room temperature is roughly 68-72 degrees. The more we can keep this consistent the more predictable our product performance and associated dry times.
Should I use hot water?
The answer is yes and no. Most institutional chemicals are manufactured to be used with cold water. Household cleaners and big box mix it yourself products can get better cleaning results when hot, b ut you run the risk of aerosolizing any of the fumes of the product you are working with. In some cases you may be flashing off critical chemicals before they have a chance to do their jobs in the process. The biggest exception to the cold water rule is when you are cleaning carpets. Anything we can do to expedite dry times is helpful.
With these tips you should be more prepared to evaluate any surface you are trying to clean or restore. For more tips like these, stay tuned!
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