Summary: Boston’s climate can be pretty harsh on commercial buildings, regardless of season. Staying ahead of the climate relies heavily on adapting cleaning and maintenance strategies to account for seasonal influences. It is what we do here at All Pro Cleaning Systems.
No matter where you might go across the country, property maintenance is directly tied to the weather report. Yet things are a bit more challenging in the greater Boston area thanks to our climate. From the Seaport’s modern high-rises to the historic cobblestones in the North End, local buildings are subject to a relentless seasonal gauntlet of environmental influences.
Boston feels the full force of nature year-round. Winter brings bone-chilling cold and heavy snowfall, while spring is the season for high-allergen weather. Humidity is the story of the coastal summers. Meanwhile, fall winds kick up debris that can make commercial cleaning exceptionally challenging.
To protect your people and your property investment, we recommend partnering with an experienced Boston cleaning company capable of ensuring that your facility makes the transition from one season to the next. All Pro Cleaning Systems can be that partner. In the meantime, understanding the biggest challenge of the season is the starting point for adapting cleaning strategies throughout the year.
1. Winter: Slush, Salt, and Illness
We start with winter because it is arguably the most difficult for facility managers throughout New England. Between fierce nor’easters and our signature coastal slush, maintaining a clean and safe environment requires a higher level of diligence. Winter brings with it three primary challenges:
- Rock salt that leaves behind aggressive stains
- High-alkaline ice melt that eats through floor sealants and waxes
- Indoor air quality that can encourage the spread of germs
Cleaning crews should be aware that no floor is immune to winter damage. Carpets are easily stained while hard floors can experience pitting, etching, and discoloration.
The Winter Cleaning Strategy
To make it through a Boston winter unscathed, a company’s commercial cleaning program must be highly defensive. It should focus on a combination of chemical neutralization and proper disinfection.
Chemical neutralization begins with floor mats at every entrance. A dual-mat strategy works best. Outside, heavy-duty scraper mats will dislodge heavy snow and salt chunks while absorbing some of the water. Inside, secondary mats soak up the remaining moisture. Both types of mats should be regularly cleaned and vacuumed with HEPA filters.
Inside, standard summer mopping solutions should be set aside for commercial-grade chemical neutralizers. Cleaners rated as pH-neutral work extremely well. Also, the cleaning crew should go the extra mile to sanitize all high-touch surfaces, including door handles, light fixtures, and elevator buttons.
2. Spring: Winter Crust and New Allergens
As winter turns into spring, cleaning crews begin to notice a lingering winter crust. Those with allergies know spring has arrived because their eyes start watering and their noses begin running. The biggest spring challenges are:
- Deeply embedded salt and sediment
- Spikes in pollen and other allergens
- Grime and salt film, especially on windows and glass doors
Spring cleaning comes with a dual role: tidying up after a harsh winter and directly addressing the environmental impacts of spring in Boston.
The Spring-Cleaning Strategy
A strong spring-cleaning strategy emphasizes a facility-deep cleaning and reset. Floor care should top the spring checklist, especially for facilities with carpet. Simple vacuuming will not do. Instead, spring cleaning calls for professional hot water extraction (steam cleaning). It is the best way to flush winter contaminants from the carpet.
To combat allergens, cleaning crews should focus on detail dusting – especially high surfaces like window ledges and ceiling fans. HVAC vents should also be dusted. Cleaning teams should use microfiber cloths and HEPA vacuum filters to capture allergens and prevent them from becoming airborne. Finally, spring is the best time to bring in a window-washing contractor.
3. Summer: Coastal Humidity and Foot Traffic
Boston summers are known for high coastal humidity. In addition, beautiful weather brings more people out. Commercial environments tend to experience a spike in foot traffic that can present unique challenges to cleaning crews. Here are the biggest things they face in the summer:
- Elevated humidity, which encourages mold growth
- Overworked HVAC systems that encourage dust distribution
- Increased bacterial odors because of high heat and humidity
Summer cleaning challenges are not always easily visible. Sometimes, it is only the nose of a well-trained professional cleaner that detects unseen issues.
The Summer Cleaning Strategy
Commercial cleaning during the summer emphasizes moisture control and air quality above all. Impeccable restroom hygiene is also necessary due to increased foot traffic. Cleaning crews can stay ahead of both by continually monitoring damp zones. Likewise, restroom cleaning schedules typically are adjusted for greater frequency. When sanitizing, cleaning crews need to allow the proper dwell time to combat the odor-causing bacteria that warm temperatures encourage.
4. Fall: Airborne Debris and Flu Season Prep
While fall signals the end of summer, it also brings with it plenty of airborne debris. Fall in Boston is a transitional time, when outdoor debris peaks at the same time that cold and flu season begins gearing up. The primary challenges at this time of year are:
- Wet leaves and organic matter tracked inside
- The early stages of cold and flu season
- Preparing interior floors for the coming winter
Making the transition from fall to winter does not have to be difficult. Cleaning crews just need to adapt their strategies.
The Winter Cleaning Strategy
Fall cleaning strategies must be proactive. What crews do during the fall becomes a preventative shield for the coming winter. Daily routines should include immediate spot-cleaning to remove wet leaves and other debris at entryways. Fall is also the best season for scheduling floor stripping, sealing, and waxing. Building up several coats is the best way to protect floors. In terms of sanitizing, enhanced protocols – like electrostatic spraying – can help slow down cold and flu viruses.
Nearly everything about our climate has an impact on commercial cleaning. Whether you handle cleaning in-house or contract with a Boston cleaning company, understanding the climate will help cleaning crews stay ahead of it.
All Pro Cleaning Systems offers comprehensive cleaning and facility maintenance services throughout the Boston area. We would be happy to explain how our services can properly maintain your building year-round.
FAQs
Why isn’t standard mopping good enough during the winter?
Standard mopping procedures and floor detergents do little to fight the chalky white residue rock salt and ice melt leave behind. Addressing the winter mess requires a specialized, low-pH chemical neutralizer combined with a commensurate mopping process.
How often should entrance mats be cleaned?
Weekly is sufficient during the summer. During the winter, mats may need to be cleaned and vacuumed multiple times per day. Frequency varies during spring and fall, based mainly on the weather.
What is ‘dwell time’ and why does it matter?
Dwell time describes the amount of time a cleaning solution sits on a surface before being wiped up. It is important because increased dwell time is necessary to kill the kinds of pathogens that make employees sick.
Why should carpets be deep cleaned in spring?
While fall is the best season for addressing hard floors, spring is the time to deep clean carpets. Deep cleaning eliminates stains and extracts the harmful winter chemicals that damage carpets.