Why winter cleaning matters
- More germs, closer quarters: people spend longer indoors.
- Salt + moisture = floor damage: finishes and carpet fibers degrade faster.
- Stale air: closed windows reduce ventilation; dust loads rise.
1) Control the entryway (biggest ROI)
- Deploy a 3-mat system: scraper outside, wiper at the door, finisher inside.
- Vacuum mats daily; launder or replace weekly during storms.
- Set a wet floor protocol: cones, extra mopping near peak traffic.
2) Floor care that survives salt
- Switch to a neutralizing rinse (for calcium chloride residue) 2–3×/week.
- Increase auto-scrub passes in lobbies and main corridors.
- Protective finish recoat before peak storms; spot burnish high-wear lanes.
3) Carpets: extract before they sour
- Hot-water extraction monthly near entries; quarterly elsewhere.
- Daily HEPA vacuum for walk-offs and runners.
- Use bonnet/encap for interim touch-ups between extractions.
4) Disinfection where it counts
Target high-touch points (knobs, railings, switches, breakrooms, nurse/health areas). Follow label dwell times and rotate chemistries to reduce surface damage.
5) Better winter air (simple wins)
- Replace HVAC filters on schedule; vacuum supply/return grilles.
- Dust high surfaces weekly (tops of lockers, vents, ledges).
- Add portable HEPA units to small rooms with poor circulation.
6) Nightly/weekly cadence
- Nightly: dust mop → damp mop/auto-scrub; restrooms; high-touch disinfection; entry mat care.
- Weekly: baseboard/detail edging; vent/grille dusting; neutralizer cycle; carpet spots.
- Monthly: carpet extraction (entries), finish recoat (as needed), inventory check.
Serving offices, schools, medical & residential across MA & CT. Ask about bundling janitorial + snow/ice for safer entries all season.