Winter in the Northeast brings snow, ice, salt and slush, and all of it ends up inside your building. Without a plan, floors suffer and the risk of slips goes up. Good winter facility maintenance starts well before the first storm.
Here are practical tips to keep your building clean and safe all season.
Plan Winter Facility Maintenance Before the First Storm
First, confirm your plans for snow and ice removal. Many local governments require property owners to clear sidewalks within a set time after snow stops, so check your local rules. In addition, make sure your snow contractor and cleaning team know how to reach each other. Meanwhile, watch the forecast so crews can prepare ahead of a storm.
Set Up an Entrance Matting System
Matting is one of the best defenses against winter dirt. For example, use scraper mats outside to remove snow and grit. Then place wiper mats inside to absorb moisture before people reach your floors. Also, clean and replace mats when they become saturated, because a wet mat stops working.
Increase Floor Care Frequency
Even with good matting, salt and moisture reach your floors. Therefore, increase cleaning near entrances and in lobbies during bad weather. Salt residue left on floors can dull finishes and leave white haze. For more, read our guide to winter floor care.
Choose the Right Products
Ice melt residue needs the right cleaner. However, the wrong chemical can damage floors and finishes. So match products to your floor types, follow the label and use measured dilution. See our tips on cleaning chemical safety.
Keep People Safe
Wet floors are a slip risk. As a result, use wet floor signs, respond quickly to puddles and keep entrances dry. Similarly, check stairwells and garage entries, since they also collect snow and water.
Winter Facility Maintenance Ends With a Spring Reset
Winter leaves its mark on carpets and floors. So plan a deep cleaning once the season ends to remove salt and grit before they cause lasting damage. In addition, review what worked this winter and what did not, so next year’s plan is even better.
How WOW! Helps With Winter Facility Maintenance
WOW! Facility Services provides floor care services, carpet cleaning and day porter coverage to keep entrances and lobbies in shape. Every program starts with a facility assessment, and then we build a customized scope of work around your building. Once service begins, account managers complete quality control inspections against that scope. Meanwhile, our integrated operational platform technology documents inspections, deficiencies and corrections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I protect floors from salt damage in winter?
Use scraper and wiper mats, increase cleaning near entrances and use cleaners suited to your floor type to remove salt residue.
Does WOW! provide snow removal?
WOW! focuses on cleaning and floor care inside your building. We can coordinate with your snow contractor to keep entrances clean and safe.
Do I have to switch vendors after a facility assessment?
No. WOW! offers facility assessments at no cost and with no obligation. In fact, you can use one simply to benchmark your current program.
Which areas does WOW! serve?
WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, including Westchester County, Fairfield County, Rockland County and New York City.
Get Ready for Winter
WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Book a facility assessment at no cost and with no obligation, or call 1-866-780-9966. Want a quick benchmark first? Then grade your current service with the Facility Assessment Scorecard.