Escalators are notoriously challenging to clean. Even conventional cleaning systems and tools alone fail to produce acceptable results, leaving dirt and grime on each step right underneath the brush guards.

Finding the right set of tools and equipment is necessary to ensure that you get the job done every time. So, here are a few tips to help you make the right decision.

The benefits of escalator cleaning

Prevents accidents

Cleaning your escalators by getting rid of those grime and other slippery material can drastically reduce the number of slip and fall accidents. As a business owner in Australia, these accidents could potentially expose you to several lawsuits, increase your property insurance and generally cause you to lose potential profit. Creating a regular escalator cleaning schedule using Escateq tools can help guarantee that you’re protected against such incidents.

Effective first impression

There’s no better way to build a long-lasting impression than with a clean workspace. Smudges and dirt on the glass enclosure can make your office appear unkempt and poorly maintained as a whole. So, ensure that your risers, handrails and steps are entirely clean to leave them with a positive impression once they walk towards your escalator.

Prevents mechanical breakdown

Lastly, keeping your escalator clean means that you’ll find it less likely to perform maintenance checks as frequently as a dirty escalator. Depending on how busy your business is, escalators receive considerable foot traffic. This is why it’s easy for these machines to accumulate dirt over time. Keeping them clean ensures that every part remains fully functional by preventing gunk and grime from building up.

Equipment to use for wet and dry-cleaning method

Escalator dry cleaning machines

Escalator dry cleaning machines are pieces of industrial cleaning equipment designed to get rid of dirt, grimes and stains from any part of the escalator. They use powerful suction to eliminate all the dirt residue stuck in the escalator’s crevices. They’re also known for most janitorial cleaning services because of how efficient and helpful they are in eliminating stains and dirt.

Escalator wet cleaning machines

Another popular choice for many escalator cleaning services is wet cleaning machines. Unlike the dry-cleaning ones, these pieces of escalator equipment head units use chemicals mixed with water to get rid of unwanted dirt and stains from the engine. They have a specially designed feature that prevents water from seeping further into the escalator, where they may likely cause damages.

How to choose the right equipment

An essential aspect when cleaning the escalator is the machine itself. Some would say that the only way to clean an escalator is to bring it down, disassemble all its parts and use a pressure washer to clean it. However, it can be expensive and messy this way.

Even more, your escalator will remain unused for several days, affecting your business’s overall productivity. When choosing the right equipment and tools to do the job, you can consider the following points.

Get a piece of commercial-grade equipment

In choosing a piece of cleaning equipment, it’s always best to ensure that your investment is worth it. Although a regular vacuum cleaner may look like its commercial counterpart, it has a different set of features that makes it less effective when cleaning your escalator.

Use specially designed handrail cleaner 

Dirt and grime can be hard to eliminate, especially once they get stuck to your elevator railing. So, consider using a specially designed cleaner to give your elevator handrails a thorough cleaning.

Choose a reliable brand

When choosing any piece of equipment, consider a reputable brand to ensure its quality. You can also read the reviews to have an idea about the quality of the product. It’s a practical way to see how effective it is at doing its job and if it’s sturdy enough to last for several years.

Check its features 

Not all cleaning tools and equipment are designed equally. Others might have better features compared to others. You can visit the manufacturer’s website to see if they have any additional features that might help make escalator cleaning a lot easier.

Purchase enough mop heads

Your cleaning tools can wear out over time, particularly your mop heads. This is one reason why you must purchase enough quantities of mop heads to handle all the necessary cleaning. It’ll also allow you to change it and put the used one aside for laundry.

Rent or borrow if necessary

Another practical way to keep your escalators clean is by renting or borrowing a few infrequently used equipment until your business volume demands it. By doing so, you won’t feel frustrated seeing your gasoline-powered pressure washer deteriorate because of lack of use.

Effective ways to keep your escalators operating

Only keep it running when needed

Escalators don’t need to run all the time. You can turn them off in areas where no one uses them. Also, businesses running several escalators should turn a few of them off if it’s not peak business hours. You may also want to consider rotating which elevators need to be turned off to avoid overusing one of your working escalators.

Use effective cleaning solutions

Keeping your escalators clean and free of any grimes ensures that no trapped dirt or debris might affect their performance. Doing it regularly also ensures that your escalators won’t get strained from all the junk that weakens their interior.

One way to address such problems is by using cleaning solutions formulated to eliminate all the dirt that may have been stuck in your escalator. These are concentrated cleaning solutions formulated to dissolve all the grime without damaging any of the escalator’s parts.

Perform regular check-ups

Often, many businesses tend to overlook inspecting their escalator in a year. However, neglecting to do so may cause significant problems in the long run. Regular check-ups ensure that your escalators are running as smoothly as possible. You can also visually check your escalators to see if there is any oil pooling surrounding the base or any disturbing noise that may indicate unwanted tension.

Why posting safety rules is essential

Escalators may seem safe enough, but you’ll never know when accidents will happen. Most escalator incidents occur from the unsafe riding of passengers as they get on and get off.

Posting a few safety signs at every entrance makes sure that riders know the basic escalator safety rules to help protect them from any accidents. At the same time, doing so will help protect your business from potential complaints. Here are a few helpful safety tips that you can post to help keep the public safe.

• Check the escalator’s direction before onboarding.
• Pick up your feet and step carefully before and after boarding the escalator.
• Never attempt to sit on the handrail.
• Never play, halt or stand still at an escalator landing to prevent pileup.
• Check your shoelaces, drawstrings or any other item that might get trapped in the escalator.
• Refrain from riding an escalator barefooted.
• Be cautious when wearing rubber-soled shoes or flip flops to help avoid the sides of the escalator.
• Only use the emergency shutoff button when necessary.

The bottom line

Keeping your escalators clean is essential to your business. Not only does it reflect the way you manage your transactions, but it also ensures that everyone remains safe while using the escalators. It’s highly advisable to choose only quality cleaning materials to maintain your escalators to prevent them from breaking down.