Interim carpet and floor maintenance are cost-effective alternatives to expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive deep cleaning and extraction methods, but require some planning and scheduling to be effective.
Interim Floor Care and Facility Maintenance
Conventionally, winter is the off-season for many facilities, including schools and summer resorts, seasonal hotels, and even small businesses.
During the loll in occupation and foot traffic, many organizations opt for annual deep cleaning services to rejuvenate the appearance of their carpets and hard flooring.
However, the accepted practice may be ignoring more effective and efficient interim cleaning services that help maintain the look of the flooring while protecting the health of facility occupants.
According to CMM Online;
During the past few years, the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) found there was something missing from carpet maintenance plans that kept them from being comprehensive.
At that time, a team of carpet manufacturers, carpet cleaning equipment manufacturers, and professional carpet cleaners came together to solve the problem, and the solution was interim maintenance.
Interim maintenance is the cleaning that takes place between vacuuming and deep cleaning.
It acts as a stopgap between these two types of maintenance to restore [the] carpet’s appearance by removing dirt that damages the carpet’s fibers.
It also refreshes [the carpet’s texture by making the carpet fibers stand upright.
Interim maintenance doesn’t require the level of work involved in deep cleaning, which makes interim cleaning convenient and less labor-intensive.
The How and Why Behind Interim Maintenance
In order to be effective, interim maintenance needs to be performed often enough to prevent the deterioration of carpets or flooring, but not so often as to become a burden on the business.
To accomplish this, an ideal interim maintenance program should be scheduled quarterly, which serves the dual purpose of reducing the amount of time, labor, and cost required during annual deep cleanings.
More specifically, you should schedule interim maintenance before:
- The carpet looks visibly soiled.
- The pile is flattened.
- The finish has completely worn away, or;
- The appearance of visible damage.
Additionally, the technologies used to clean the carpets or floors should allow for faster, more efficient cleaning cycles than annual deep cleaning--scrubbing and recoating for hard floors instead of stripping and refinishing encapsulation, as opposed to deep hot water extraction for carpets.
These more efficient and less time-consuming approaches allow for minimal disruption to the organization and a faster return to business as usual when compared to conventional deep cleaning methods, which translates into reduced labor costs and operational downtime.
One thing you will need to do before performing interim floor or carpet maintenance is to perform a thorough pre-clean, which should include:
- Sweeping and mopping hard floors.
- Vacuuming carpets, and;
- Pre-treat any potentially problematic areas.
Remember to always:
- Use products appropriate for your facility, floor type, and keep in mind any potential hazards to facility guests and occupants.
- Increase airflow when and where possible.
- Ensure everyone present is wearing the appropriate safety equipment, and;
- Make certain that the team performing the services has been thoroughly trained and, if possible, certified in all processes and technologies.
References & Resources
- The Forgotten Cleaning Step: Interim Maintenance
- Cost-Effective Cleaner Carpets: The Benefits of a Comprehensive Carpet Maintenance Program
- Looks Just Like New! How to Scrub & Recoat Your Resilient Floors
Takeaway
Interim floor care and facility maintenance helps protect your investment in your facility's appearance, presents a positive first impression to guests, improves occupant health and safety, and promotes a general sense of wellbeing.
To achieve maximum efficacy, interim cleaning should focus on heavily trafficked areas.
While quarterly scheduling is ideal, many organizations may be able to stretch out the time between regular cleaning and interim cleaning by providing additional protection for their flooring and carpets in the form of walkway and entry matting.
Consulting with an experienced local service provider can help you determine the best schedule, products, and approach for your organization while keeping costs to a minimum.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance interim maintenance, regular floor care services, or deep carpet cleaning and extraction services, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation onsite assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield, CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno, CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Palmdale, CA or Lancaster, CA, call (661) 371-4756
