When Retail Cleaning is Like a Day at the Mall
If you’re past the age of 16 (and have access to a car) you’re probably well on your way to having a black belt in shopping. Trips to the mall, the shops in your cozy downtown, you know a thing or two about stores—the ones you’ll visit, the ones you won’t. Because, let’s face it, a neat, clean store invites you in. A dirty store will send you running because there’s no excuse for dirt.
This is where a good retail cleaning business comes into play.
For instance, the owner of a retail cleaning business understands that when it comes to vinyl, the enemy is dust, sand and grit particles that can dull and mar the surface, so sweeping regularly is an imperative. Use a soft bristle broom, or if you prefer to vacuum, make sure to choose a vacuum that doesn’t have something that can scratch the vinyl flooring.
Mop the floor with clean, warm water, and then rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Use one mop to clean with and one for rinsing; soap scum collects dirt, as any owner of a retail cleaning business knows. For resistant dirt and stains, use cleaning products recommended by the vinyl’s manufacturer. If all else fails, use an ounce of liquid dish detergent mixed in a gallon of clean, warm water and don’t forget to rinse thoroughly.
Do not use harsh detergents, abrasive chemicals or cleaners, or mop-and-shine products on vinyl. These will ruin the vinyl’s glossy finish. And don’t flood vinyl flooring. Excess water can seep into cracks, seams and around the floor edges and destroy the glue that holds the vinyl to the subflooring.
A quick word about waxing a vinyl floor: Don’t. It will destroy the polyurethane finish that gives the flooring its glossy finish. If, for whatever reason the vinyl loses its shine, use a polish or sealant made for vinyl flooring to restore its gloss. Make sure the floor is thoroughly clean and dry, and then apply one or two thin coats. Done correctly, the shine should keep for a year.
Today’s Linoleum
Linoleum is a vinyl specialty product from the 1950s. For decades linoleum was the flooring choice for every public school and hospital in the country. It was and still is a green dream, composed of linseed oil, wood flour or cork dust over canvas—hard to get more environmentally friendly than that. It comes in a variety of styles and lasts a very long time.
Unfortunately, linoleum has two drawbacks: it doesn’t come in white and it has a dull surface—in other words, you have to wax it, something the owner of a retail cleaning business knows only too well. Also, its surface isn’t as resistant to dirt and grit as vinyl is, so it should be swept every day. Wash linoleum with a mild dish detergent, using one mop to wash with and one to rinse. Let dry thoroughly, and then wax when it loses its sheen, using only the amount called for on the floor wax container.
A Word about Floor Mats
To slow down the attack on dirt and dust for both vinyl and linoleum, suggest to your client that she place floor mats inside and outside entryways. Mats keep dirt and grit from becoming ground into the vinyl and ruining or staining the finish. These mats should be swept daily and washed weekly.
Shopping is one of the true joys in life, but no one wants to shop in a dirty store. When considering investing in a retail cleaning business, consider the perks—you can go shopping anytime you like.