Maintenance and Sanitation
Uncarpeted floors require more time and chemicals for routine maintenance.

At first glance, uncarpeted floors may seem easier and cheaper to clean than carpet. After all, mopping seems to be all that is needed. Actually, uncarpeted floors require more time and chemicals for routine maintenance. These include: waxing; stripping; washing; drying time; polishing/buffing, etc.

Soft surfaces are also less expensive and less time consuming to maintain than hard surfaces, according to A Life-Cycle Cost Analysis for Floor Coverings in School Facilities, published by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), March 2002. Cleaning carpet instead of hard surfaces can reduce material costs by 49% and labor costs by 64%.

Click here to read the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification article on cost analysis for school floor coverings.

Click here for a review of vacuum cleaner test methodology.

Click here for Green Label vacuum testing requirements and standards.

Click here for information on CRI Green Label Approved vacuums.

SEE AND DOWNLOAD THESE AND OTHER RELATED STUDIES

• IICRC Lifecycle/Cleaning Costs (IICRC 2002)
• Critical Review of Vacuum Cleaner Test Methodology (Valkenburg 1996)
• Vacuum Procedures
• Green Label Vacuum List
• Why Test Vacuum Cleaners? (Why Test 2000)
• Indoor Environment Characterization of a Non-Problem Building Abstract (Cole 1994)