Lodging Engineer
Damp mopping delivers better results and mop head will also contribute to problems. unsealed grout or be left as a streak mark
avoids future expenses; conversely, wet Lastly, never use a treated mop, a mop upon drying.
mopping reduces safety and increases that has been used to wax or strip a floor
A focus on floor safety in your hotel will
long term maintenance costs. or a mop that has been used to clean the
likely result in a re-evaluation of some of
So how does all this effect your floor
kitchen floor and may be carrying grease
your housekeeping procedures. The use
safety? Wet mopping also leaves excess
or oils. Introducing oils can contribute to
of periodic slip test measurements can
water on the surface of the tile. The water
reductions in your floor’s coefficient of
provide you an objective means of as-
in and of itself is a slip hazard as long as
friction and consequently, increase your
sessing the quality of your housekeeping’s
it is present. As the water evaporates you
liability to slips and falls. Label your mops
impact. Ask yourself does a floor need to
begin to see mop streaks. Mop streaks
designated for use in your lobby for dust
be mopped or dust mopped wall-to-wall
are caused by residual dirt or soap that
or damp mopping only.
or are there areas around entrances that
has settled out of the water as it evapo- Now, back to those streaky floors. The require more frequent focus? Capturing
rates. This material is not bound to the tile streaks are caused by water saturated and removing dust and water as it is be-
surface, but sits on top of it. When given with dirt that has been allowed to dry on ing walked into your building is cleaner
enough pressure such as one walking, it the floor. In effect each streak is a concen- and safer. And remember, adjusting for
can break free effectively creating a dust tration of dust. Most “moppers” do not un- weather conditions is a must. You can
lubricant and a slippery floor. Failing to derstand the purpose of mopping a floor. also alert your insurance company that
damp mop water is another contributor They work under the premise they must you are having your floors tested periodi-
to streaks. As the dirt concentration in the get the floor WET to get it clean when in cally and you may find you can secure a
water rises, the water becomes saturated reality they should be wringing their mop reduction in your insurance premiums –
with dirt and unable to rinse additional dirt DAMP DRY before returning it to the floor. as they can use this data to defend you
without depositing old dirt back on the The damp mop is designed to lift the dust should you become subject to a claim.
mop. With a trained eye one can actually off the floor and rinse it off the mop in the With a little focus and effort your property
read the marks on the floor to determine bucket. This operates in much the same can have cleaner floors, become a safer
where poor mopping started and ended way you might lick a finger to lift the cor- hotel and operate more efficiently. null
based on the severity of streaks and mop ner of a magazine page. Too wet and you
marks. cannot lift the paper, but lightly damp and
About the Author: Alan Mayr is the Chief Oper-
If your staff is dust mopping, but failing
the paper sticks to your finger. When wa-
ating Office of MARBLELIFE, Inc., is a Carnegie
to sweep up the accumulated dust, you
ter is applied to the floor we simply dis-
Mellon Chemical Engineer by degree, and
are one stiff breeze from it returning to the
solve dirt, move it around, and deposit it
holds a University of Michigan MBA.
floor. Failing to periodically wash your dust
in your grout lines where it will stain any
Marble, Granite, Limestone or Other
Natural Stone Questions?
www.stoneandtilepros.com Have issues,
questions, problems related to your marble,
granite, or other natural stone and tile? From
slip and fall issues to stain management, to
efflorescence, and virtually and question you
might have, visit the Solution Center at www.
stoneandtilepros.com for your answers.
You’ll want to keep this great resource
bookmarked!
PAGE 15 | Winter 2009 / 2010 | Lodging Engineer
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