How to Fix Slippery Floor
Slippery floors are not only a nuisance, but they can also cause serious injury. Marble floors and concrete garage floors can be especially slippery. Spilled grease, oil and liquids on floor surfaces are often at the root of the problem, but some floors are slippery even when clean.
The most common reason a floor may be slippery is that it simply has not been cleaned properly or as frequently as needed. Thus, in this case, many slip-and-fall hazards can be eliminated just by properly cleaning the floor and using the right tools, chemicals, and equipment. Some of the other causes of slippery floors and their solutions include;
- Oily or over-treated dust mop.
For this, the solution is rinsing or machine scrubs the floor, then dust mop using non-oil dust mop treatments. It is advisable always apply dust mop treatments per label instructions.
- Soiled tools.
Especially when refinishing a floor, tools such as mops and buckets should be thoroughly cleaned. Often, cleaning professionals use brand-new mops for floor refinishing, which is a very good idea. Coat the bucket with a fresh liner to make sure it is clean as well.
- Wrong or inferior chemicals were used.
Generally, the floor finish should always indicate that it is “slip resistant.”, but in this case, it is better to use higher quality products. They may cost more but are often well worth the investment.
- Too many or too few coats of finish were applied.
Interestingly, both situations can result in a slippery floor. It is recommended applying three or four coats and then tests the floor for slip resistance.
In some cases, a slippery floor may need to be stripped and refinished, but, before going through all that trouble, machine scrub first. Oftentimes, this will remove any soiling or film on the floor that may be causing it to be slippery. Another solution is by adding suitable special agents. There are also some agents that can be added to the floor to reduce the slipperiness of clean floors. Here are solutions to fix slippery floor based on the floor materials.
Tile, Wood, and Marble Floors
For this type of floor, firstly sweep dust and debris from the floor. Then continue by mop the floor with soap and warm water to remove any grime and dirt from the floor. Allow the floor to dry thoroughly. For the agent, pour an anti-slip solution such as Add-A-Grip, Safety Floor Treatment by Slip Resistant Solutions or WearMax from Global Safe Company in a bucket. Add the appropriate amount of water according to the solution directions. For example, Add-A-Grip requires one part solution to 10 parts water. Then, mop the solution on the floor, then allow it to dry thoroughly. Next step is to mix one part vinegar with two parts water in a bucket. This solution is used to increase the amount of friction on the floor surface. Then, apply the vinegar solution to the floor with a mop two to three times a week.
Garage or Concrete Floor
For this type of floor, firstly clean it by sweep dust and debris from the floor. Then, mop the floor with soap and warm water to remove any grime and dirt from the floor. Allow the floor to dry thoroughly. Next is mix non-skid additive such as Skid-Tex with floor paint designed for concrete. After that, apply the paint and additive to the floor with a brush roller. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly. Finally, remove the backing from anti-slip adhesive strips and place them on the floor to add extra friction to the floor. Anti-slip adhesive strips come in different colors and transparent to match your floor or decor.
