Weather seems to always be a hot topic – especially in winter. Everyone you meet has an opinion about whether the beauty of the snow outweighs its inconveniences. Something that's not up for debate, however, is the potential danger that snow, freezing rain, and ice bring to many workplaces. Snow and ice turn into dirty slush in no time, which means floors get messy and slippery. Proper floor maintenance is important year-round, but winter warrants a different kind of diligence, especially around high-traffic areas like entrances and loading docks. Using a walk-behind or rider floor scrubber in your facility is the best way to keep work areas clear before winter and deal with snow and slush after they arrive.
Retail and Commercial Buildings
You know there will be a mess during winter when customers and clients are coming in and out of your facility frequently. Take car dealerships, for example. Cars are constantly being moved in and out of the service bay, while customers trek snow and slush into the showroom. The floors not only look terrible but can be dangerously slippery.
As winter approaches, start to adjust your staff’s cleaning schedule to account for more frequent floor scrubbing once winter hits. Mops are often the go-to, but a commercial floor scrubber such as the Bulldog WD20 is much more efficient. This cordless, battery-operated floor scrubber handles the heavy-duty cleaning needed for slushy winter messes, while being even easier to use than a mop. It's a compact walk-behind which means it can clean easily around displays at a rate of up to 20,000 square feet per hour. The best part is that it also dries the floor as it cleans thanks to a stainless-steel squeegee and a strong vacuum system, so you immediately reduce the risk of slips and falls. This type of floor scrubbing machine is perfect for dealing with winter weather in commercial spaces such as:
- Car dealerships and showrooms
- Grocery stores
- Schools
- Hotels
Big Box Stores and Distribution Centers
When your business is constantly receiving shipments or sending trucks out for deliveries, keeping the bays clean and dry is imperative for worker safety and efficiency. Forklifts and other large equipment need to be able to maneuver without risk. The Factory Cat Mini-HD walk-behind floor scrubber is incredibly easy to navigate through narrow aisles and crowded loading docks. Designed for tough environments, this heavy-duty floor scrubber features a large clean water tank to extend run times, so you can cover more area. This machine might be compact, but it has a powerful sealed transaxle for climbing steep ramps, as well as heavy-duty tires that remain stable if you’ll be extending your floor cleaning into outdoor areas.
Large Warehouses and Factories
Large facilities can mean large messes - you need a machine that can handle just about anything. The main concern during winter is typically keeping the outside moisture from creating problems inside, but dust control is a year-round concern for many warehouses, factories, and machine shops. The Tennant M20 industrial floor scrubber-sweeper is perfect for cleaning up areas wet from rain, snow, and slush, and then it quickly transforms into a dry sweeper with just the touch of a button. The seat design allows the operator excellent visibility to maximize both cleaning and safety, and it's very easy to maneuver. What's also great is that it's available refurbished as well as new, which is extremely helpful when considering the end-of-the-year budget.
Not thinking a ride-on model fits the needs of your business? Consider the Tennant T500, which is a top-notch walk-behind floor scrubber that can easily handle anything from the front lobby to the break room, then back to the factory floor.
Chances are, winter weather has either already snuck up on you or it's about to. If you aren't ready to commit to a purchase, or simply don't have time to research all your options, you can still plan ahead by scheduling a floor scrubber rental. Factory Cleaning Equipment (FCE) will consult with you about what type of floor cleaning machine fits your needs, and will also provide the proper training, maintenance, and service. FCE also offers super affordable daily, weekly, or monthly rates if you're thinking that year-round, on-site storage might be problematic.
Every business owner wants their facility to look clean, but what's really important is making sure the workers, vendors, and customers stay safe. Winter weather is inevitable. Injuries don't have to be.