Like any food or beverage processing location, your brewery needs to be kept spotlessly clean. Dirty, wet floors can cause a lot of issues, from sanitation concerns to slipping hazards. But many brewery owners are unsure exactly how best to clean, sanitize, and protect their floors. Here is what you need to know.
How Often to Clean Your Brewery Floors
You should wipe up spills as soon as they occur and mop the floor thoroughly every night. If the floors become visibly dirty or wet, you may need to mop them additional times throughout the day. Deep clean the floors regularly in tandem with your deep cleaning schedule for your lines and other equipment.
How to Clean Your Brewery Floors
Preparation
Clean everything else first. There’s no sense in cleaning the floors, only to spill beer or other debris on them. As a general rule, it’s best to clean any room from top to bottom to prevent having to redo areas that are lower down.
Always sweep before you mop. You can use a dust mop, a broom and dustpan, or even a vacuum brush attachment. If you don’t thoroughly sweep away dust and debris, mopping could actually cause it to stick, making it that much harder to remove.
Soak up any visible spills or puddles with a damp mop or rag to prevent pushing them all over the floor. You can add a bit of glass cleaner for stubborn spots.
Finally, prepare a solution of mild detergent and water. Depending on the type of concrete coating on your floors, acids and harsh cleaners can cause damage. Stick to common floor cleaners that are marked on the packaging as safe for use on the type of floor coating you have.
Technique
Dip your mop in the solution and lightly wring it out, but be careful not to wring it too dry. You need to saturate the floors for proper cleaning action. Use a deck brush that is safe for use on your type of flooring to scrub down the floors, removing all signs of dirt, beer or other contaminants. Then start dipping your mop in the solution, wringing it out thoroughly, and mopping up the water. Dip frequently to keep the mop as sanitary as possible. Be sure to plan your path to avoid mopping yourself into a corner!
Another alternative is to use a commercial floor scrubber. There are several brands on the market, but all work in roughly the same way. With separate tanks for cleaning solution and water recovery, they avoid the problem of pushing around dirty mop water, and they allow you to clean and dry your brewery floors in a fraction of the time that mopping requires.
Brewery floors take a lot of abuse, from heavy foot traffic to ongoing moisture. Cleaning them is never fun, but following the steps above can help ensure that they are as clean and safe as possible. This reduces risks to your employees and customers alike, and keeps you on the right side of health and safety regulations.
Concrete Coatings of the Carolinas provides top quality concrete floor coatings targeted to different needs. We provide expert information you can trust to help you make the right decisions for your organization. To learn more or schedule a free consultation, contact us today.