GETTING RID OF TOUGH SALT STAINS FROM WINTER WEATHER
Now that warmer weather is just around the corner, a lot of folks are doing their spring cleaning — and that includes businesses, schools, libraries and the like. In many cases, that cleaning involves removing salt stains left over from the winter, when it was tracked in on shoes or equipment. Because salt is an alkaline, the key is finding a “neutralizer” — an acidic cleaner that will dissolve the dried salt so it can be rinsed away.
REMOVING SALT STAINS FROM FLOORS
St. Louis is known for its slippery winter weather. Unfortunately, the salt products businesses use to keep customers and employees from slipping and falling all over parking lots, sidewalks, and patios cause lasting damage to different types of flooring. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we have a few pointers on how to get rid of salt on hardwood floors and removing salt stains from carpet or tile.
SALT STAINS ON WOOD OR TILE FLOORS
Any business with hard surface floors knows the struggle of keeping them clean in the winter. Sometimes it seems like the mopping will never end! The sooner you can clean salt from hardwood and tile floors, the better. Using the right products and techniques during cleanup will not only help you keep your floors gleaming clean, it will help head off long-term damage to your floors and its finish.
Notes:
- Stone floors can be damaged by acidic cleaners, so look for a product that is safe to use on natural stone.
- If your floor has a naturalistic surface texture or grout lines, avoid sponge mops.
- Use circular cleaning motions and rinse quickly to avoid streaks.
SALT STAINS ON CARPET
A salt-stained hard surface floor might just look like it needs a good mopping, but carpet stains send a different message. Stained carpeting can look like a long-term problem that’s been left unaddressed – not the best impression to make with your employees and customers. Here’s how to remove salt stains from carpeted floors.
SALT STAINS ON CONCRETE
Salt and deicers create a chemical mixture that, when diluted with water, can seep into concrete surfaces like driveways, parking lots, patios, sidewalks, and floors. As temperatures change, this seeped-in mixture can re-freeze and thaw repeatedly, leaving behind salt stains or even worse damage to your concrete.
REMOVING SALT STAINS FROM OTHER SURFACES
For most other surfaces such as clothing, shoes, and car mats, the same basic steps can be applied to remove salt stains. The main difference between surfaces is the ratio of cleaner to water and the application process.
Different stains require different approaches. Don’t let pesky salt stains from the winter ruin your clean areas during warmer weather. No matter what stain you don’t want, Acme Janitor in St. Louis, Missouri has a professional cleaning product to help you obliterate it. We even carry Green Seal Certified Products for your green cleaning needs. Ask us about the best commercial cleaning products to keep your company ready for business.