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Winter Floor Care Guide — Protecting Floors from Salt, Moisture & Damage

Winters in can cause serious damage to floors. Salt, moisture, sand, and slush create safety risks and wear down finishes.

Here’s how to protect your facility.

1. Build a Proper Matting System

A full matting program includes:

  • Scraper mats (outside) — remove large debris
  • Wiper/scraper mats (inside entrance) — remove grit
  • Wiper mats (lobby area) — remove moisture

A 3-mat system removes up to 85% of contaminants before they hit your floor.

2. Increase Cleaning Frequency

Winter requires:

  • More mopping
  • Spot cleaning through the day
  • Auto-scrubber use in high-traffic areas
  • Extra vacuuming (salt turns into fine dust)

3. Use the Right Floor Cleaner

Winter floors need:

  • Salt-neutralizing cleaners
  • Low-foam detergents for autoscrubbers
  • Non-damaging formulas for coated floors

4. Protect Your Finish

Floor finish can be destroyed by:

  • Salt
  • Abrasive grit
  • Moisture
  • Sand

Use:

  • High-quality finish
  • Scrubbing and re-coating mid-season
  • Regular buffing or burnishing if applicable

5. Safety First

Prevent slip accidents with:

  • Wet floor signs
  • Proper matting
  • Non-slip floor cleaner
  • Increased inspections

Final Recommendation

A proper matting system + the right chemicals + increased cleaning frequency = the best winter floor protection program.