Restorative Restroom Floor Cleaning

When commercial restroom floors are let go too long or have not been attended to properly, restorative maintenance will be required. Restorative restroom floor cleaning can be pretty in-depth depending on several factors. Types of flooring and how long and to what degree they have been neglected can play a significant part in the type of restorative cleaning may be needed.

In some cases replacement may be the only option. If damage has occurred due to neglect or misuse, then it is necessary to tear it out and start over. But in most cases restroom floors can be like new again with a little knowledge and some elbow grease. This will make them ready for daily cleaning to take over.

Things to consider when evaluating the need for restorative cleaning of restroom floors:

• Current Condition of the floors
• Types of flooring vinyl, grouted tile, epoxy, etc.
• Cleaning equipment that may be required
• Schedule for restroom downtime

Evaluating Restroom Floors

Before you begin the restroom floor cleaning process, it's important to understand what you are dealing with. Many types of flooring are used in commercial restrooms. The 2 most common are vinyl tile and ceramic grouted tile. Both have advantages and disadvantages when it comes to maintaining their cleanliness, but with the proper care, they are both fairly easy to keep clean.

Restrooms that have vinyl tile may require the floor finish to be stripped and re-coated. If this is the case make sure to follow the instructions provided by both the flooring and the floor finish manufacturer. We also provide detailed instructions on Stripping a Floor.

If the restroom flooring is grouted ceramic tile, it is important to understand the dynamics of the surface. There are 2 different surfaces that will need attention, the grout and the tile itself. The tile may be smooth or porous. If it is porous or rough, the steps to clean can be more difficult.

The grout is a completely different type of surface. Essentially, grout is made up of sand that is held together with a bonding agent, usually polymers or cement. This creates an extremely porous surface that will trap and hold dirt. Grout is commonly the #1 cause of restroom odors simply because the standard mop and bucket just cannot remove the soils. The buildup of soils can, over time, change the color of the grout. To find out what color your grout should be and see how dirty it really is, take a look behind the door or in a corner. Those areas don’t get cleaned as often and the grout will usually be the original color. Cleaning solutions intended specifically for grout such as Go2 Grout Cleaning solution, can be very beneficial in getting into the pores of the grout to list out dirt and soils.

Restroom flooring can be a challenge to restore, but remember that the time spent is an investment that will pay you back every day.