Whether it is a people-mover in a high-rise building or a cargo elevator, the elevator is generally one of the busiest areas in your building. This makes it one of the dirtiest ones as well. The question for many is: what is the right way to clean a commercial elevator? Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can keep it clean and looking like new. Here are 5 cleaning tips for commercial elevators.
Clean What Others Touch Regularly
The touch controls, handles, and railings are going to get dirty or sticky fast because of how often they’re touched. This is why they should be cleaned at least once a week, though this may need to occur daily in heavily used elevators. You can do this by wiping it down with a cloth and disinfectant spray. This has the side benefit of preventing dust and debris from interfering with how well the buttons work. You can run a vacuum cleaner along the rail. This will remove the dust and mud that can accumulate there to the point that the doors cannot close properly.
Clean the Visible Surfaces
People will notice the dust, streaks, and stains on shiny metal doors or glass windows. This is why they should be wiped down at least once a month. If you’re dealing with glass, use standard glass cleaner. If you’re cleaning metal or plastic panels, you can typically use disinfectant wipes. You can use microfiber cloth soaked in vinegar or specialty cleaning solutions on stainless steel elevator doors.
Pay Special Attention to the Entryways and Exits
Cleaning the doors so that they’re free of fingerprints and dust streaks is simple enough. However, you need to ensure that the elevator entryways and exits are free and clear. Ensure that there are no boxes or other items around the elevator making it harder to get out. Make certain that the floors in front of the elevator don’t present a trip hazard. This could be anything from a carpet that tends to slip underfoot to the elevator itself not stopping at the right location.
If there are any issues with the elevator itself, call in the experts for the safety of the users. Furthermore, you should arrange for the elevator to be inspected and regularly maintained. Services like ATIS elevator inspections can help you with that. Things like lubrication leaks will be identified and repaired instead of simply being cleaned up, ensuring that the elevator is safe to use. A side benefit of regular inspections is that you’ll maximize the operational life of the elevator.
Take Care of the Floors
The elevator floor will get dirty for the same reason other floors will; people track in dirt and debris on their shoes, while carts and wheelchairs can leave tracks on the floor, too. The solution is to use a floor cleaner compatible with the elevator flooring. The exception is when the elevator has carpets. In this case, vacuum it periodically and expect to do a deep clean at least once a year.
If you’re cleaning vinyl or rubber floors in the elevator, you can use diluted bleach to sterilize it, but it should be dry before anyone is allowed inside of the elevator. If someone spills something inside of the elevator, clean it up as soon as possible. Do not try to clean the pit, the space between the floor, and the door. Leave that to specialized personnel.
Elevator cleaning should be part of your building maintenance routine. Know how to do it right, and add it to the schedule to ensure that it gets done.
