Every winter, the same thing happens in Toronto office buildings. People walk in from the snow, and they bring salt, slush, and sand with them. Within a day, the lobby is covered in white streaks and the floor is slick. If you manage a building or run a business in North York, you have probably seen it. Here is what causes the damage, what it costs, and how to keep your entrance clean and safe.
What the Salt Does
De-icing salt keeps sidewalks safe, but it is hard on indoor surfaces. When shoes carry it inside, it dries into a white film. This film makes floors look dull and dirty. Worse, salt attracts moisture, so floors stay damp and slippery. It can wear down floor finishes, stain carpet, and leave marks on tile and stone. Over a winter, that adds up to real repair cost.
The Safety Risk
A wet lobby floor is a slip risk. A slip and fall can mean an injured visitor, a claim, and a lot of stress. In Ontario, building owners and occupiers have duties to keep their premises reasonably safe, including through winter. Good matting and fast cleanup help meet that duty. If you are worried about your legal duties, talk to your insurer or a lawyer. A cleaner can help with the practical side.
Stop Salt at the Door
The best cleaning job is the one you never have to do. Capture the salt before it spreads.
- Use a three zone mat system. The first zone, outside, scrapes off heavy dirt. The second, just inside, absorbs moisture and fine salt. The third, further in, dries the last bit.
- Make mats long enough. People need to take several steps on the mat for their shoes to get clean. A short mat is not much help.
- Choose the right type. Rubber or scraper mats work well outside. Absorbent mats work well inside.
- Swap or clean mats often. A soaked, salty mat stops working and can spread salt.
- Add wet floor signs. Place them while the floor is wet and remove them when it is dry.
The Right Way to Clean Salt Off Floors
Many people just push a wet mop around. That spreads the salt without removing it. A better approach includes:
- Dry mop or vacuum first with a vacuum that is made for wet and dry pickup, to remove the loose salt and sand.
- Damp mop with a neutral cleaner suited to the floor type. Some products are made to dissolve salt.
- Change the mop water often. Salty water just puts the salt back on the floor.
- Dry the floor, with a clean mop, a squeegee, or a wet vac, so it is not left wet and slick.
Use a floor product that matches your surface. Harsh or acidic cleaners can damage natural stone, and the wrong product can strip the finish from vinyl. Always check what is safe for your floor.
Carpet Care in Winter
Salt in carpet traps moisture and attracts dirt. It can leave stains that are hard to remove, and it can damage fibers over time. Vacuum often, using a good quality machine. Spot treat stains quickly. Plan for deep cleaning with hot water extraction at least once during winter, and again in spring if you can. Salt left in a carpet can keep coming back to the surface.
Do Not Forget the Details
- Glass doors and windows streak with salt spray. Clean them often.
- Elevators and stairwells collect salt too.
- Baseboards and the lower part of walls get splashed.
- Washrooms near the entrance see heavy traffic.
- Coat racks, umbrella stands, and boot trays need regular emptying.
Adjust Your Cleaning Schedule
A schedule that works in July may not work in January. In winter, many buildings add extra lobby passes during the day, plus a stronger floor clean at night. Ask your provider if they can change the schedule during snow season. It is often cheaper to add short, regular touch ups than to repair a damaged floor.
Protect Your Floors for the Long Run
A good floor care plan includes a protective finish or sealer where it suits the surface. Over time, the finish takes the wear, not the floor. A fresh coat in the fall, before the salt arrives, can pay for itself.
What to Ask Your Cleaning Company
- Do you adjust service in winter?
- How do you remove salt, and what products do you use?
- Can you advise on matting?
- Do you offer carpet extraction and floor refinishing?
North York Commercial Cleaning can help you build a winter plan for your entrance, floors, and carpets. Contact us for a quick look at your lobby.
