Friday, August 31, 2012

How to Scrub and Wax a floor

Materials Needed:

General Purpose Cleaner
2 or 3 Buckets
Swing Buffer
Wet Vac
3 Mops
Scraper
Broom
3M Trouble Shooter or Equivalent
Black or Blue Pads (depending on how much wax we want to remove)
Wax
Autoscrubber (if available)

Process:
To begin gather materials listed above.
10' X 10' Area Flooded
- Fill one bucket with cold water and GP Cleaner usually at 1:40
- Fill other bucket with cold water for rinse
- Bring items to area
- Sweep floor
- Flood an area of about 10' X 10' with solution and allow to sit for 5 mins



- During dwell time look for sticker or other items to be removed. If burn marks from propane burnisher are present spray these lightly with 3M troubleshooter these marks will come off when you scrub
-Using either the Black or Blue pad and swing buffer or autoscrubber scrub floor until entire area has been scrubbed twice
- Now flood next section of floor, 10' X 10' is a good guide
- Pick up solution in scrubbed area with either a wet vac or autoscrubber ( if using autoscrubber leave water off)
After final pick up
- Rinse floor with mop or autoscrubber and begin on next area
- When dry proceed to apply 2 or 3 coats of wax with either a clean mop or microfiber pad

Notes:
The process above if used with the right chemical can be performed on the following surfaces: VCT, Wax Stone Floors, Marmoleum, and rolled Vinyl.
Where floors are cracked or broken take care to not over wet when flooding floor, and reduce dwell time to 2.5 minutes.
This process with an auto scrubber should yield results of about 1-2000 sq/ft an hour depending on autoscrubber use.
The scrub and wax process is a great but does not completely replace the strip and wax. Strip and wax should be done on the floor surface at least once every 3 or 4 years depending on traffic.

As much as this may be a guide to perform the work. This process should always be done by trained professionals. To request a custodial flash card with the following process contact us.

Feel free to contact Phil-T for a trained professional in your area or to be trained by a professional.
"Nothings too filthy for Phil-T"

Friday, August 10, 2012

How to Clean a Washroom

Washroom cleaning can be one of the most critical areas to be cleaned in a facility. The cleanliness of your facility will be judged on the looks and unfortunately smell of your washroom. The following is 14 steps to ensure that you have the cleanest possible washrooms.

- Prepare your cart. Get cleaners, cloths, bags, towels, tissue and an other items used in the facility washroom
- Close the washroom with a sign, BUT leave the door open. You don't want anyone to enter while working but at the same time should something happen to you, you want to ensure people can see and find you.
- Flush all toilets and then spray the bowls. The pre-flush is to ensure that no one put anything in the bowl that may react with your chemical.
- Fill all the dispensers, Soap, Towel and tissue. Followed by wiping down the dispensers. On towels dispensers pay special attention to the under side where the arm meets the dispenser
- Dust from high to low. This would include vacuuming the vents and wiping down the tops and sides of partitions
- Empty trash receptacles and wipe them down
- Wipe walls, switches and door handles with disinfectant cleaner. Touch points are crucial.
- Clean sinks with disinfectant cleaner Not Windex
- Clean mirrors this time you can use Windex
- Clean toilets and urinals with disinfectant cleaner paying special attention to the areas around the bottom of the bowl and urinal. This is also a good time to clean the area behind the bowl that is frequently missed.
- Sweep floor
- Mop floor
- Return washroom to service
- Clean up the cart

The goal in washroom cleaning should always be to have odor free healthy washrooms. There is no need for there to be a cherry or apple smell as many times this is only a masking agent to a deeper problem. Where as if the washrooms are odor free after cleaning then you have achieved a health washroom.

TIPS
- For mirror cleaning consider a glass microfiber and a little water
- If you want to use one product for everything consider testing Hydrogen Peroxide cleaners as many can now be use to clean and disinfect while not being to harsh on all surfaces including mirrors
- Also consider trying Non-Pathogenic Bacteria cleaners in washrooms, these will digest any odor causing bacteria all the while helping keep pipes clean and clear.

Phil-T
"Nothings too filthy for Phil-T"

Monday, August 6, 2012

How to Clean Windows

There are several way of cleaning windows depending on how thorough we want to be. Here is the process for spot cleaning and full window cleaning.

Materials Required: Squeegee, Golden Glove (T-Bar Window washer), Bucket, 1 tbl spoon sunlight dish detergent, microfiber cloth, glass cleaner, scrapper, extension poles, ladder.

Spot Cleaning: 
1- Spray glass with glass cleaner on areas that may have tape.
2- Scrap tape with knife
3- Lightly respray areas that have been scraped and areas with finger marks
4- Wipe with microfiber cloth
5- Check work

Full Clean:
1- Prepare solution of warm water 15L, 1 tbl spoon dish detergent, half a cup glass cleaner. In winter dilute water 50/50 with alcohol (and not the drinking type)
2- Place terry towel or microfiber at base of window. This is especially important if in someone's home
3- Using your golden glove wet window thoroughly
4- Scrap off tape or items that will not squeegee with scraper
5- Re-wet window. 
6- Squeegee window clean without removing blade from window in an S pattern. 
7- Using clean microfiber cloth wipe edges of window
8- Check your work

Tips for making easier.
- If doing high windows and working off a ladder consider buying and Bucket on a Belt. This will hold your squeegee, golden glove and scraper. It will also hold a little water to refresh your golden glove
- Wet one side of the golden glove per 2 surfaces
- Product cost is low so change your water frequently
- Protect ledges sufficiently and don't be afraid of wetting the window.