There’s a mad rush to switch over to winter tires, with some shops in Edmonton booking over a month out. Perhaps its the farmer’s almanac suggesting a lot of snow this winter, or maybe more and more people are simply coming to understand the benefits of being prepared. This same attention to detail also applies to commercial cleaning. Whether you are an owner or a tenant, being prepared for winter cleaning will help maintain a professional image while simultaneously protecting your investment. Just as winter tires can help prevent an accident, a proper maintenance plan for a building can help prevent costly repairs.

Matthew Roselle from Simpurgo Building Maintenance has provided some tips on what you can do to “winterize” your commercial space:

FLOOR CLEANING

Flooring in high traffic areas take a lot of abuse in the winter and are one of the first things a customer sees when entering a space. Whether the flooring is tiles with grout, sealed concrete, wood or carpet, the durability will eventually start showing wear if not maintained.

Salting your exterior is a must during our cold, icy snowy winters. But this salt wreaks havoc once it enters through the front door, inevitably it will come in truck loads on a busy cold Alberta day. Having the proper cleaning program in place will not only promptly clean the areas but prevent long term damage to your floor. Long term maintenance depends on the type of flooring installed (see detailed list here).

BULB REPLACING

It comes as no surprise…we lack natural light during winter months. It’s all the more reason to have a frequent bulb replacement program in place. Ideally, this is simply included in your daily cleaning program. This is a small task which randomly occurs but during the decrease of natural light and increase of slippery floors, the possibility of slips and falls raises. Ensuring your building is well lit will help with staff and customer morale as well as preventing any avoidable accidents.

FURNACE CLEANING

Most of us are just starting to turn on the heat. Our furnaces and ducts have been sitting for several months collecting dust, pollen and possibly mold spores and now we need the heat. Investing in a duct cleaning will ensure everything is properly cleaned prior to igniting and spreading the air around your building. Investing in high-efficiency filters and implementing a replacement schedule will reduce the amount of visible dust the air will carry through the ducts.

HYGIENE CLEANING

Outside of maintaining materials and objects, it’s just as important to protect your staff, tenants, customers, and visitors. Hygiene plummets during the winter months and we see it all too often with the amount of colds and flus people catch. Sick days are not only hard on the people who are sick but also on the companies they work for and costly.

Disinfecting and sanitizing is a preventative measure which should be at the top of every scope of work to “prevent” sickness and reduce the possibility of transferring harmful bacteria. Knowing the difference between disinfecting and sanitizing is the first step to knowing how to properly reduce risks.

ELEVATORS & ESCALATORS CLEANING

This small area attracts a heavy amount of snow, salt, gravel and all other sorts of debris. Outside of the general daily cleaning requirements, a big problem area during the winter months are the door tracks. Elevators are made rugged, but doors are very sensitive. Large quantities of gravel can send the door off alignment, possibly shutting down an elevator and leading to a hefty repair bill. This also applies to the foot grates on an escalator. Preventative cleaning will ensure the doors can move freely and securely.

CLEANING FREQUENCY

Increased cleaning frequency of high traffic areas should be adjusted by weather conditions. During winter months foyers should be increased from every 2 hours to every hour. Smaller offices with weekend cleaning only should add a Wednesday visit to help increase cleanliness throughout the week.

QUALITY RESULTS

Rate your cleaning costs based on the protection it offers your investment, cleanliness to retain tenants, hygiene to protect staff, safety for your customers and longevity of your building. All the above should work in unison as a total package. For a more detailed guide on winter maintenance tips view link below: