The following is sponsored content from Canberra Corporation.

When it feels like the whole world is understaffed, cleaning and maintaining floors can be a daunting task. In commercial settings, it can be even more time consuming and costly. But just how important is it to keep floors clean and well maintained?

We all know that the appearance of the flooring sets the tone for customers as soon as they walk through the door. The condition of the floors reflects the cleanliness and professionalism of a company. Well maintained floors make a good impression and build trust with customers while neglected floors may deter them from coming back.

There are many reasons to invest in proper floor care. Maintaining clean floors is paramount to perpetuating a positive brand image, but are there motivations beyond appearance? The short answer is a resounding “yes.”

Prioritizing Safety in Floor Care

Positive brand perception is important but the safety of employees and customers should remain priority. Maintaining clean and dry floors is vital to creating a safe environment in any commercial and industrial setting. Therefore, daily floor maintenance is required to prevent slip and fall accidents and reduce the risk of cross-contamination that is especially prevalent in high-traffic areas or environments with wet or slippery surfaces.

Slip and fall accidents can occur in any environment, including factories, hospitals, restaurants and offices, and can lead to lost workdays, decreased productivity and costly insurance claims. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of hospital visits and workers’ compensation claims in the United States. It is estimated that floors cause about two million slip and fall-related injuries each year, and wet surfaces are one of the most common causes of these accidents in the workplace.

Wet and dirty floors also increase the risk of cross-contamination, especially in health care settings. Floors are one of the dirtiest surfaces in a building, yet they are commonly overlooked as a potential source of pathogens. In a survey of five hospitals, it was found that floors in patient rooms were frequently contaminated with health care-associated pathogens. High-touch objects like medical devices, personal items and linens were often in contact with contaminated floors, transferring these pathogens to hands. This study suggests that floors could be a significant contributor to the spread of bacteria and viruses to other critical surfaces.

High-Turnover Demands Simplicity

With a business’ reputation and safety on the line, it’s important to weigh all options when selecting appropriate floor care solutions. When it comes to day-to-day floor care maintenance, traditional mop and bucket systems are bulky and inefficient and can spread contaminated water onto surfaces. Bucketless mops have increased in popularity due to their convenience and ease of use, but they often lack consistency and proper dilution, leading to product waste and user down time.

The best solution for daily floor maintenance varies and will need to be determined by the individual needs of each facility. A key consideration for what might work best is knowing if you are working for an industry with high turnover.

For example, turnover rates in the restaurant industry are at an all-time high at 75%, with training staff being a top challenge for 35% of restaurant managers. With high turnover, it is difficult to keep everyone trained on floor safety as well as informed on the best floor care solutions. A quick yet effective solution for daily spot cleaning that is accessible and easy to use is crucial in these instances so that staff can maintain a clean, safe and aesthetically pleasing environment.

Innovation in Mopping

For daily floor care maintenance, facility managers and cleaning professional alike need to look to innovative cleaning solutions that not only provide industrial-strength cleaning but also keep everyone safe. One new option is the JAWS® Professional Mopping System, which is a bucketless, mobile dilution mop that offers a safer, closed-loop delivery system that eliminates dilution errors and reduces waste and bulky container storage.

With safety and innovation at the forefront, the mop’s technology allows floors to dry 60% faster compared to cleaning with a standard string mop, which saves time and reduces the risk of slips caused by wet floor surfaces. Meanwhile, its advanced cleaning chemistry destroys pathogens on floors that could spread to high-touch objects, minimizing cross-contamination risks.

Floor care goes beyond just appearance. Keeping high traffic areas safe, reducing slip and fall accidents and minimizing the risk of cross-contamination should be top of mind for all facility managers.

To learn more about Canberra’s JAWS® Professional Mopping system, visit http://jawsmoppingsystem.com.