Keeping your warehouse floor clean is crucial for smooth operations, safety, and compliance. This guide provides expert insights into common warehouse floor types and their cleaning best practices. We’ll also explore how TC Facility Management (TCFM) cleaning services can help you maintain your flooring and make it last.
At the outset, two important points need to be noted. Whilst a cleaner armed with a mop and bucket might be considered to be the most cost-conscious choice for small warehouses, in our professional experience, mopping only tends to redistribute dirt but does not actually remove it. We will always recommend the use of a small 20L scrubber dryer instead, as such apparatus, whilst a small initial expense, will not only clean floors, but will also actually remove the dirt.
All costs in this blog are only intended as a guide regarding the relative costs associated with each floor type compared to the others and actual costs will obviously vary depending on the specific yardage of each facility.
Understanding Your Warehouse Floor: The Key to Effective Cleaning
Concrete (Power Floated/Laser Graded) Flooring: This cost-effective and durable option, comprising about 80% of UK warehouse floors, is easy to maintain with regular sweeping and machine cleaning. However, unsealed concrete is porous and prone to staining, requiring more intensive cleaning for spills. While generally slip-resistant when dry, it can become slippery when wet. Basic cleaning equipment such as a floor scrubber dryer is usually sufficient. For a 1,000 square metre warehouse, the initial installation cost of a concrete floor would be approximately £20,000, with annual maintenance costs of £1,000-£2,000.
Cleaning Best Practices:
- Routine Cleaning: Sweep daily to remove dust and debris. Clean using a scrubber dryer weekly with a pH-neutral cleaner.
- Spill Management: Clean spills immediately to prevent staining. Use a wet vacuum for large spills.
- Sealing: Apply a concrete sealer annually to protect against moisture and stains
Polished Concrete Flooring: Offering a sleek, reflective surface, polished concrete shares similar cleaning needs with standard concrete – routine cleaning and regular machine scrubbing. Its reflective surface, while aesthetically pleasing, can be slippery, especially when wet. Like concrete, basic cleaning equipment such as a floor scrubber dryer is usually sufficient.
Polished concrete floors also require penetrating liquids called silicate densifiers and stain guards to eliminate porosity and prevent staining. These treatments need to be reapplied periodically to maintain the floor’s appearance and durability. For a 1,000 square metre warehouse, the initial installation cost of a polished concrete floor would be in the order of £50,000, with annual maintenance costs of £2,000-£3,000.
Cleaning Best Practices:
- Daily Maintenance: For small areas, use a microfibre dust mop to remove dust and debris. For large areas, pre-sweep, and then use scrubber dryers
- Weekly Cleaning: Scrubber dryer with a pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid acidic or abrasive cleaners
- Polishing: Re-polish every 2-3 years to maintain shine and durability
Epoxy Resin Flooring: A popular upgrade from concrete, epoxy flooring offers a chemical-resistant and easy-to-clean surface. Its smooth, glossy finish makes it simple to wipe down and less prone to staining. However, some epoxy coatings can be slippery, particularly when wet. Cleaning requires standard equipment such as scrubber dryers and industrial cleaners, but the smooth surface often simplifies the process.
Over time, epoxy floors can develop scratches, chips, or wear in high-traffic areas. Repairing these damages often requires professional intervention and can be costly. To maintain the floor’s appearance and protective qualities, epoxy floors may need to be recoated every few years. This involves reapplying the topcoat, which adds to the maintenance cost. For a 1,000 square metre warehouse, the initial installation cost of an epoxy floor would start around £60,000, with annual maintenance costs of £3,000-£5,000.
Cleaning Best Practices:
- Daily Cleaning: Sweep with a soft-bristle broom or use a microfibre dust mop for small areas.
- Weekly Treatment: Use a scrubber dryer with a mixture of warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner
- Deep Cleaning: Schedule periodic deep cleaning with a professional service to remove embedded dirt and grime that regular cleaning might miss.
Rubber Flooring: Rubber flooring, ideal for areas needing shock absorption and noise reduction, is comfortable underfoot and offers good slip resistance. Cleaning involves regular sweeping and the use of a scrubber dryer. However, certain rubber types can be susceptible to staining from oils and chemicals, requiring specialised cleaning products. For a 1,000 square metre warehouse with rubber flooring, the initial installation cost would be approximately £40,000, with annual maintenance costs of £2,000-£4,000.
Cleaning Best Practices:
- Daily Sweeping: Use a broom with soft bristles or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment
- Damp Treatment: Use a scrubber dryer with a pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid using too much water
- Quarterly Deep Cleaning: Use a slow-speed scrubber with a suitable pad and cleaning agent
Terrazzo Flooring: This aesthetically pleasing option, consisting of polished concrete with embedded aggregates, is durable and easy to clean, similar to polished concrete. Its smooth surface minimises slip potential, though spills should still be addressed promptly. Standard cleaning equipment is typically sufficient.
Over time, terrazzo may develop cracks, chips, or wear in high-traffic areas. Restoring terrazzo involves re-grinding and re-polishing the surface, which can be labour-intensive and costly. To maintain its shine and smooth surface, terrazzo floors need regular polishing. This process involves using industrial-grade polishing machines and can be more frequent in high-traffic areas. Terrazzo is porous and requires periodic sealing to protect against stains and moisture. The sealer needs to be reapplied every 1-2 years, adding to the maintenance costs. For a 1,000 square metre Terrazzo-floored warehouse, the initial installation cost would be around £75,000, with annual maintenance costs of £5,000-£10,000.
Cleaning Best Practices:
- Daily Dust removal: Use a scrubber dryer with a pre-sweep mechanism to remove dust and debris
- Weekly Damp Mopping: Use a scrubber dryer with a pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid acidic or abrasive cleaners
- Periodic Sealing: Seal the floor every 1-2 years to protect against stains and wear
Comparison: In terms of ease of cleaning, epoxy and polished concrete generally lead the pack due to their smooth, non-porous surfaces. Concrete and terrazzo are also relatively easy to maintain. Rubber, while easy to clean day-to-day, may require more specialised products for certain stains. Regarding slip potential, concrete and polished concrete can be slippery when wet, while epoxy coatings can vary. Rubber generally offers the best slip resistance.
For basic cleaning, all options can be maintained with standard equipment such as a scrubber dryer with a pre-sweep option, and industrial cleaning machinery. A microfibre brush is effective, but only for very small areas. Specific stains or spills may necessitate specialised cleaning agents, especially for unsealed concrete and some rubber types.
TCFM recommends the use of scrubber dryers to clean warehouse areas. These machines are designed to be more efficient and effective than traditional mopping, making them ideal for large areas such as warehouses and factories. They are particularly valued for their ability to leave floors dry and safe to walk on almost immediately after cleaning, unlike traditional hand-mopping, which requires additional drying time and therefore needs to be cordoned off whilst drying.
Scrubber dryers are incredibly versatile machines, and a large part of that versatility comes from the variety of pad options available, which will be explored in a future blog.
TC Facility Management: Your Partner in Warehouse Floor Cleaning
TC Facility Management has decades of experience in warehouse cleaning, catering to some of the largest logistics companies in the country. We understand the unique challenges of warehouse floor cleaning and our colleagues have the expertise and equipment to clean all types of flooring, ensuring a safe, clean, and productive environment. Working very closely with our customers, we will develop bespoke cleaning plans tailored to your specific floor type, needs and budget. Please contact us for a no obligation quote to see how we can help you keep your warehouse at peak operational capability.
Our Warehouse Floor Cleaning Services Include:
- Deep Cleaning: Removal of stubborn dirt, grime, and stains.
- Scrubbing and Sweeping: Regular cleaning with a professional scrubber dryer to maintain a pristine appearance.
- Specialised Cleaning: For specific flooring types, such as epoxy or concrete.