Whether your business mass produces products with the help of assembly lines or refines raw materials, keeping your shop floors clean is critical to the success of your business. Cleaning shop floors helps guarantee the safety of your employees, allows for easier movement around the shop floor, and can even extend the lifespan of your machinery.

With shop floor cleaning being so vital to the success of your business, you may be wondering how to clean shop floors. Pressure washing shop floors is the best way to clean shop floors, providing an efficient solution that keeps your factory, repair shops, or warehouses in tip-top shape.

Pressure washing your shop floors can revolutionize your business, so we’ve created a guide featuring everything you need to know about pressure washing commercial buildings. We’ll cover everything from how to clean a greasy shop floor to why pressure washers in San Antonio are the best shop floor cleaning equipment.

To kick things off, let’s discuss why your business needs to regularly partake in cleaning shop floor areas.

Why Regular Shop Floor Cleaning Shouldn’t be Overlooked

Cleaning shop floors consistently is an essential part of maintaining a healthy and safe working environment, which can directly affect the productivity of your business. Pressure washing also helps remove debris that can damage equipment over time and ensures your shop floors comply with regulations and industry standards.

Health and Sanitation: Protecting Your Workers and Customers

A clean shop floor can help prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause illness. Regular cleaning can also help prevent the spread of germs and viruses, which is especially important in high-traffic areas and industries like food processing.

Pressure washing shop floors can also help prevent slips, falls, and trips, all dangerous hazards common to most manufacturing environments. Learning how to clean shop floors and implementing a consistent cleaning routine with the help of pressure washing helps guarantee the safety of your employees while also boosting productivity.

Extending Equipment Lifespan: How Cleanliness Saves You Money

Regularly cleaning shop floors can extend equipment lifespan by removing dirt, dust, and other debris that can get into equipment and cause damage. Over time, dirt and debris can accumulate on shop floors, and if left unchecked, this buildup can get into equipment and cause problems like clogged filters, overheating, and reduced efficiency.

Mastering the art of how to clean shop floors helps keep your machinery operating at peak efficiency. Additionally, pressure washing shop floors helps shine a light on any potential issues with your equipment by providing a clean baseline that allows for efficient inspection.

Regulatory Compliance: Meeting Health and Safety Standards

Many industries have regulations and guidelines regarding cleanliness and sanitation, and failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines or other penalties. Pressure washing shop floors helps businesses to comply with these regulations.

For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains guidelines regarding sanitation and cleanliness to protect workers. Cleaning shop floors helps free employee work areas from dangerous hazards while acting as a protective layer against a surprise inspection.

With the health of your employees and the lifespan of your machinery on the line, determining the best way to clean shop floors is crucial to the long-term success of your business. With that established, let’s look at some of the common challenges you will encounter when cleaning shop floors.

The Challenges of Shop Floor Cleaning

Learning how to clean shop floors requires understanding the specific obstacles you may find. In the manufacturing process, you may end up with several different types of stains, and you’ll also need to consider the floor material, such as the differences between concrete and asphalt.

These factors will help you find the right shop floor cleaning equipment for the job while ensuring your business is running at maximum time efficiency.

Dealing with Different Types of Dirt and Stains

Different types of dirt and stains can present a challenge during shop floor cleaning because they may require different cleaning methods and solutions to remove them effectively.

For example, if you are trying to learn how to clean a greasy shop floor, you may run into challenges since oil and grease are not water-soluble. You will need to pressure wash oil stains for the best results.

Other stains include rust, which will naturally occur when working with heavy machinery, paint spills that require specialized solvents to remove, and dirt and grime.

Understanding the Specifics of Your Floor Material

The floor material of your shop can also influence the best way to clean shop floors. We recommend using pressure washers to clean concrete, brick, asphalt, and porous tile surfaces.

Non-porous materials like natural stone, wax, or sealed flooring may require unique cleaning solutions and could be damaged if you use the wrong materials.

Time and Labor: Balancing Cleaning with Other Operations

Even when armed with the best way to clean shop floors, you will want to ensure the operations of your business are unaffected by the frequency of your cleaning routines.

We recommend implementing a cleaning schedule that places cleaning tasks, including pressure washing shop floors, during low-activity periods like weekends and nighttime hours.

Without efficient shop floor cleaning equipment like pressure washers, you may end up paying for labor at all hours of the day, so ensuring you have the right tools is critical.

You will also want to properly train employees on how to clean a greasy shop floor and other considerations of the process to avoid costly mistakes. This can include the correct PSI for pressure washers, proper pressure washer safety standards, and how to clean around delicate machinery.

What is the Best Way to Clean Shop Floors? The Case for Pressure Washing

Pressure washing shop floors is the best way to clean shop floors, but why is that the case?

The best commercial pressure washers are highly effective at removing stubborn dirt and stains, thanks to the mechanics behind pressure washing. Other cleaning methods like scrubbing or mopping may not be able to tackle complex materials like paint, rust, or grime, and also take more time and energy.

The Science Behind Pressure Washing

Pressure washing uses a high-pressure water spray to remove dirt, grime, and other substances from surfaces. Whether you choose a gas vs electric pressure washer, the machine will pump water from a connected water source through a high-pressure hose.

Water will flow out based on a rate of gallons per minute, which is what the GPM on pressure washers represents. Depending on the machine, the water pressure can range from 100 to 3000 pounds per square inch (PSI). The high-pressure stream of water is then directed onto the surface being cleaned, where it blasts away dirt and grime.

Comparison with Other Cleaning Methods

Pressure washing shop floors is superior to sweeping, mopping, or scrubbing. Sweeping and mopping fail to eradicate embedded stains and other stubborn materials like rust or paint while also requiring more manual effort.

Scrubbing is slightly more effective than sweeping and mopping but costs even more time and energy. You can also opt for chemical cleaning solutions to deal with tough stains, but they can rack up your cleaning bill quickly and require special disposal and handling.

Economic Advantages: Time, Labor, and Cost Savings

Pressure washing shop floors is faster than sweeping, mopping, or scrubbing, saving you time and money spent on labor. You can quickly clean large areas while minimizing the risk of employee injury if they are adequately trained and wearing adequate pressure washing clothing and equipment.

Pressure washing also helps you save money on cleaning supplies and chemicals. The best soaps for pressure washers are affordable while helping you get the job done. Thanks to the quick cleaning time provided by pressure washing, your employees can spend less time cleaning stubborn stains and more time ensuring your business processes go smoothly.

Now that you know why pressure washing shop floors is the best way to clean shop floors, we will share with you some of our best pressure washing tips with a comprehensive guide.

How to Clean a Shop Floor With a Pressure Washer: Comprehensive Guide

Learning how to clean a shop floor with the help of a pressure washer is simple. You will need to do a small amount of preparation beforehand, including assessing the cleaning needs of your shop.

Choosing a pressure washer equipped with the best pressure washer accessories available will also help simplify the cleaning process.

Once you have that handled, cleaning your shop floor with a pressure washer is the easiest part, so let’s dive into everything you need to know.

Evaluating Your Cleaning Needs: Size, Type of Dirt, Frequency

The needs of your shop floor will vary, so it is vital to assess the common issues you run into. If you run a shop with lots of machinery that can accumulate rust, dirt, or paint spills on the ground, you will want to opt for a pressure washer that is up for the challenge.

You may also be wondering, what size pressure washer do I need? Most industrial businesses run into heavy-duty spills like paint or rust, which will require higher PSI and GPM washers.

Selecting the Right Pressure Washer

Hotsy is the clear leader in industrial cleaning equipment. With several cold and hot pressure washers for sale and a storied track record dating back to the 1970s, Hotsy has been trusted by business owners for every industrial cleaning need. Our reputation for delivering durable, high-quality equipment that keeps your shop floors and business clean is unmatched.

Once you choose Hotsy, you’ll need a few tips to select the best pressure washer for your needs. Industrial businesses will want to opt for pressure washers with a PSI of at least 2800, with that number often going above 4000.

The GPM of your pressure washer will also depend on the needs of your shop. A GPM rating of 4 will allow you to tackle most jobs, but we recommend a rating of 5 or 6 if you want to speed up the cleaning process and eliminate the most stubborn stains.

Pressure washers come with electric, gas, or diesel-based motors. Electric pressure washers are the best choice for your indoor shop since they are quiet, energy efficient, and lack fumes, unlike gas and diesel motors. Additionally, electric models are easier to maintain if you are worried about how to service pressure washers.

If you want to skip the guesswork, you can also reach out to us directly, and we will help you find the best pressure washer for your shop. With over 40 years of experience, we can guide you in the right direction and offer personalized recommendations.

Supercharging Your Cleaning Efforts with Soap and Attachments

Your choices of accessories and pressure washer soap will help increase the efficiency of your business’s cleaning efforts. Learning the intricacies of how to use pressure washer soap and pressure washer degreaser arms you with the knowledge you need to tackle tough stains.

In addition to knowing what soap to use for pressure washers, your choice of pressure washer parts can help you adapt your pressure washer to your shop’s specific needs.

We highly recommend the rotary surface cleaner, an excellent way to clean large flat surfaces and remove any excess dirt or grime. It can even be used on driveways and other asphalt surfaces, ensuring your high-traffic shipping and loading areas are safe and clean.

Preparing Your Shop Floor for Cleaning: Precautions and Pre-Treatments

Once you have your shop floor cleaning equipment in place, it’s time to prepare your floors for cleaning. You’ll want to remove any loose debris or objects from the floor. You can also briefly sweep or vacuum your floors, allowing you to identify those tough stains that won’t come out without pressure washing.

Be sure your area is well-ventilated, and protect your precious machinery from soap and water by covering or moving it.

The Step-by-Step Pressure Washing Procedure: From Setup to Cleanup

Now that you’re ready to learn how to clean shop floors with pressure washing let’s run through the steps.

Gather all necessary equipment, including your washer, hoses, nozzles, soap, and safety gear like gloves and eye protection.
Start the pressure washer, or check out our guide on how to start a pressure washer if you aren’t sure how.
Begin by pressure washing the surface, starting from the highest point, to allow the water to flow down.
Use a sweeping motion to guarantee you are covering all areas.
Once you are complete, turn off your washer and disconnect any hoses. Rinse the area with clean water to remove excess cleaning solution or debris.
Inspect the area to verify you have removed the stains and debris, repeating the process if needed.
Clean and store your equipment, and ensure all cleaning solutions and chemicals are stored properly.

Establishing a Routine Shop Floor Cleaning Schedule

Creating a cleaning schedule will guarantee that cleaning tasks are completed regularly and efficiently. Consider the frequency of each task, like sweeping, mopping, and pressure washing, depending on the needs of your shop floor.

High-traffic areas and areas around machinery may need daily upkeep, while others can go for weeks without cleaning.

Be sure to assign responsibility to employees or teams, training them on the required procedures. You should also review and adjust your schedule paired with employee feedback to ensure your shop floor is cleaned efficiently.

Tips for Keeping Your Shop Floor as Clean as Possible

Here are a few more tips for tidying your shop floors and operating at peak efficiency.

Encourage all employees to participate in keeping the shop floor clean. This can include simple tasks such as sweeping debris or wiping down equipment after use.
Train all employees in cleaning procedures and verify they can use the necessary equipment and supplies.
Floor mats can help trap dirt and debris in high-traffic areas and are simple to clean.
Regularly inspecting your equipment can help you identify leaks and rust that can damage your shop floor if left unchecked.
Address any spills or stains immediately to prevent them from becoming more difficult to deal with over time.

Final Thoughts on How to Clean Shop Floor With a Pressure Washer

Learning how to clean a shop floor with the help of a pressure washer is an easy way for businesses to streamline their cleaning processes. With pressure washing being the best way to clean shop floors, buying or renting a pressure washer is one of the best investments you’ll make in your business.

Our Texas pressure washing store is a certified Hotsy dealer with over 40 years of experience serving San Antonio, Laredo, New Braunfels, and other locations across the South Texas region.

We sell and rent hot water pressure washers and pressure washing trailers that can help keep your shop floors in peak condition, all backed by a dedicated customer service team that can answer any questions and help you find the perfect machine for your industry.

Check out our blog for other articles on everything about pressure washers, from how to start a pressure washer business, pressure washing factory floors, pressure washing chemicals for concrete, warehouse pressure washing, how much to rent a power washer, or where to rent pressure washers near me.

Otherwise, browse our inventory today if you are ready to optimize your business’s cleaning routines. Our South Texas team will help guide you to a suitable pressure washer, and you will soon be on your way to creating a pristine and efficient work environment.

Shop Floor Cleaning: How to Clean Shop Floor With a Pressure Washer