Establishing outdoor winter cleaning habits doesn’t have to be a challenge.

Cleaning the outside of your facility during the winter can be difficult. With rain, snow, ice, and freezing temperatures getting in the way, it can be easy to forget about cleaning. However, if you stop cleaning the outside of your facility during the winter, then you run the risk of losing new and existing customers to competitors that do keep up with cleaning during the wintertime. Make sure your store is clean and safe during the winter months by learning how to use CAF products and maintain a clean facility with the fluctuating temperatures.

The trick with winter cleaning is that you need to be aware of what the outside temperature is before you clean. If it’s still above freezing, then it is safe to clean like you normally would depending on weather conditions. It’s important to keep in mind that some of the CAF products that use bacteria for bioremediation may take a little longer to work in the colder temps as the bacteria slows down in activity. Once the temperature drops below freezing, winter cleaning requires a different method. Depending on the cleaning product you are using, the product could freeze or not work properly when applied outside. Below is a helpful cleaning guide on how to use CAF products for winter cleaning.

 

Winter cleaning with CAF products:

 

SAFE PATH™ – get ahead of the snow and ice

Above Freezing: Avoid applying product at above freezing temperature but, if necessary, pretreat just before a storm for best performance results.

Below Freezing: Use product as instructed on packaging.

 

FRIGO® + ORUS® – continue providing customer amenities

Above Freezing: Use only ORUS if temperature will remain at above freezing. To prepare for future below freezing temperatures, add the recommended amount of FRIGO based on the size of your squeegee bucket and the expected below freezing temperature.

Below Freezing: maintain squeegee bucket solution daily by using ORUS and adding the recommended amount of FRIGO.

 

EXIMO® / FORO® – winter cleaning oil stains with ease

Above Freezing: Continue EXIMO / FORO use as instructed on product. This includes wet application given that overnight temps will not freeze solution. Understand that our proprietary CAF bacteria are live organisms and will be less active the colder the temperatures get.

Below Freezing: Do not use wet application EXIMO / FORO. Do not apply dry EXIMO / FORO to wet or icy concrete surfaces. When surface is dry, continue using dry EXIMO / FORO at freezing or below. The proprietary CAF bacteria will lay dormant until temperatures rise above freezing and will begin the bioremediation process at that time.

 

OTIS – multi-surface winter cleaning

Above Freezing: Continue OTIS Concentrate use as instructed on product

Below Freezing: At or below freezing, spray diluted OTIS concentrate directly onto microfiber towel, dry cleaning towel, or paper towel. To rinse, wipe down surfaces using water applied directly to dry towel. Do not spray solution or water directly on dispensers.

 

OTIS Wipes – wiping away grime during the wintertime

Above Freezing: Continue OTIS Wipes use as instructed on product including the rinsing process.

Below Freezing: Wring out excess solution from wipes before using on freezing surfaces.

 

PROTERO® - polishing surfaces during the chilly months

Above Freezing: Apply ready to use spray directly to microfiber towel, dry cleaning cloth, or paper towel.

Below Freezing: Never spray product directly onto metal surface to avoid freezing. Use as you would otherwise during above freezing temperatures.

 

Knowing how to do proper winter cleaning for your facility will help you and your team be successful this winter. Customers will recognize and appreciate your dedication in proving a clean store during the chilly winter months.

Have questions? Contact us! We are happy to help.