Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

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Figuring out just why a floor is slippery

As slip-and-fall accidents are of heightened concern today, cleaning professionals must take added measures to ensure that the floors they maintain are safe and slip-resistant.

However, sometimes it's difficult to figure out exactly why a floor may be slippery - which is why the following article, 'Powr-Flite's Floor Care Troubleshooter' is likely to prove useful, as it addresses some of these issues-including why floors may be slippery right after refinishing-along with possible solutions.

"The most common reason a floor may be slippery is that it simply has not been cleaned properly or as frequently as needed," says Mike Englund, a professional cleaning trainer and product manager for Powr-Flite. "Many slip-and-fall hazards are eliminated just by properly cleaning the floor and using the right tools, chemicals, and equipment."

According to Mike, some of the other causes of slippery floors and their solutions include:

* Wrong or inferior chemicals have been used: The floor finish should always indicate that it is 'slip resistant'. Further, higher quality products should be used. They may cost more, but are often well worth the investment.
* Too many or too few coats of finish have been applied: Both situations can result in a slippery floor. Apply three or four coats and then test the floor for slip resistance.
* An oily or over-treated dust mop has been used: Rinse or machine scrub the floor, then dust-mop using non-oil dust-mop treatments. Always apply dust-mop treatments per label instructions.
* -Soiled tools: Especially when refinishing a floor, tools such as mops and buckets should be thoroughly cleaned. Often, cleaning professionals use brand-new mops for floor refinishing, which is a very good idea. Coat the bucket with a fresh liner to make sure it is clean as well.

"In some cases, a slippery floor may need to be stripped and refinished," adds Mike, "but, before going through all that trouble, machine scrub first. Often, this will remove any soiling or film on the floor that may be causing it to be slippery."

Established more than 40 years ago, Powr-Flite manufactures a full line of floor-care equipment and carpet extractors for the professional cleaning industry. Based in Fort Worth, TX, the company has over 20 patented designs and its products are recognised throughout the world for their innovation, durability, quality and performance. The products are marketed directly to end-use customers as well as through distributors throughout the North America, Europe and the Far East.

T: 800.880.2913
E: [email protected]
W: www.powr-flite.com

25th July 2013