Requests for hard flooring cleaning services are on the rise. Here’s how your program can bring in more clients.
In many commercial spaces, the requests for flooring cleaning services are limited to industrial carpeting, tile, and sometimes hardwood. At least, that used to be true. More and more, new businesses are opening their doors with polished concrete flooring, stone or ceramic tiles, different types of hardwood such as bamboo, and vinyl, and linoleum are making comebacks.
How you clean these surfaces and market these offerings can have a considerable impact on your business. The place to start is in looking at some of the differences in care these materials need.
Bid on jobs and more with Janitorial Manager’s custodial management system. Schedule a free demo today to learn more!
What your flooring cleaning program should offer clients
Let’s first look at the ways some of these flooring cleaning procedures might be different.
Polished concrete flooring. Because there is no grout to contend with, gaps between wood planks, and so on, polished concrete is one of the easier flooring cleaning jobs. The trick here is to use a neutral cleaner and soft pads, so you don’t deteriorate or scratch the sealant. Outside of those specifics, concrete flooring generally only needs microfiber sweeping and gentle wet mopping.
Hardwood flooring (including bamboo). Hardwood flooring comes in various levels of hardness and qualities, but they all need the same care for the most part. And though bamboo is technically a grass, and also much harder than most wood flooring, it’s still susceptible to some of the same environmental issues, such as warping from dampness. However, these floors are also common, so you probably already offer hardwood flooring cleaning services. As a quick refresher, you can vacuum them (preferably with a soft bristle brush or no brush) and mop them with a damp, not wet, mop and gentle cleaner.
Tile flooring. The biggest issue with tile flooring cleaning is the tiny spaces between the tiles. Grout or gaps between tiles can limit the effectiveness of some cleaning methods. Like wood floors, you can vacuum tile with a very soft bristle brush or just with vacuum suction. Tile also requires mopping with a neutral cleaner, as harsher or more abrasive cleaners may cause discoloration.
Vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring is another material you’re likely already familiar with. You can start by vacuuming them, followed by a damp mop with a neutral detergent. After the first pass with a mop, go through again with just clean water to remove any cleaner left on the floor. Once the floor is dry, you can go through with a floor buffer. These floors also need to be polished regularly and given an occasional strip and wax.
Those are some of the flooring materials you’ll come across most frequently, but let’s think about this from a client’s perspective for a moment. Unless you are in the janitorial industry, you may not realize there are different protocols for cleaning vinyl flooring vs. hardwood or any other flooring material.
As a commercial cleaning expert, part of your job, and one way to build up your flooring cleaning program, is to educate your clients. The beauty of this is that through this process, your clients and potential clients begin to understand that your knowledge and business practices will keep their space looking great. In other words, you’re creating value.
There are several ways you can do this:
YouTube videos. YouTube may be one of the most underrated marketing channels around. YouTube videos give you a chance to show off your expertise, share your personality, establish your team as accomplished and knowledgeable, and you become a resource for people. And with the technology in smartphones today, you don’t even need special equipment or a professional studio for simple how-to videos. For example, you could create a series for different flooring materials to reach different audiences. Just be sure to include your business name and contact info in the video!
Social media. There’s so much you can do with social media. Post before and after pictures, short instructional videos (like your YouTube videos), or a series of simple tips.
Website and marketing materials. You can get specific and detailed on your website and marketing materials, stating that you take care of hardwood floors, tile floors, concrete floors, and other flooring products. Add a short overview of how you treat the different materials, so your audience understands that not all flooring cleaning standards are the same.
Walkthrough. As you’re conducting your walkthrough and talking to the facility owner or manager, point out the different types of flooring you come across and the kind of care each needs. Even if there’s only one flooring material, make a mention of it, especially if it’s something unique like marble flooring.
Proposal. Here’s one more place where you can stand out in how you address topics, such as how you’ll approach different surfaces. You can add it to your cover letter or get into specifics in an itemized list. In either case, your proposal may be the last chance you have to win a bid, so it’s worth the effort to detail your approach.
Remember, the beauty of marketing your commercial cleaning service is that while some things may seem like common knowledge to you, you’re the expert. You do this every day and you know a lot more than you think you do. Figure out how to share that knowledge and you’ll be bringing in business left and right.
Easily stay in touch with employees and clients, bid on jobs, manage projects, and more with Janitorial Manager. Check out a free demo to learn about all the great features!