Floor marking robots reduce single use carpets

The ExCel event and conference venue in London is the first in the UK to own a floor marking robot as part of its commitment to making events more sustainable.

Local suppliers of commercial flooring in Chester and North Wales use carpets to divide large event spaces into distinct areas. After the event, these carpets may be thrown away. It’s estimated that the United Kingdom event industry wastes six million tonnes of carpet every year.

ExCel is a carbon neutral venue that is committed to environmentally friendly practices. ExCel has invested in a robot, made by the company August Robotics, known as Lionel which can be programmed to automatically mark out floor areas. This does not need the services of a specialist floor marking service.

ExCel’s sustainability manager Natalie Sykes said:

“We are always looking for innovative new ways to help reduce our emissions and waste. As such, we’re delighted to be working with August Robotics to automate future floor marking operations.”

She said that she was delighted that ExCel is the first UK event venue to use the floor marking robot.

Marking floor areas using robots instead of carpets does not mean carpets are not needed in events and exhibitions. Trade stands can still be carpeted. Carpets are a relaxing floor covering in lounge areas. A quality carpet is durable and, after an event is over, the carpets should be suitable for her use, even if many people have walked on it during an event.

What to do with your old carpets

When it's time to replace a carpet in your Chester or North Wales home, what do you do with the old carpet? Many discarded carets end up in landfills, which is not particularly good for the environment. There are carpet recycling services that extract the material in carpets to make other products. News18.com, a news website, has come up with some innovative ways to use old carpets.

Make coasters and mats

Cut the carpet into a small oval or rectangular shape and glue cork or jute under them to make heatproof table coasters and mats.

Doormats

If parts of the carpet are not worn too much, cut them into square or circular shapes to make door mats. If using them on smooth, hard surface floors, add an anti-slip base.

Plant pot bases

Circular shaped pieces of carpet placed under plant pots help prevent soil and water from spilling on the floor.

Pet comforters

Deep pile carpet pieces make comfortable places for dogs and cats to relax and sleep. They help keep pets warm, especially when placed on smooth surface floors.

By the bed

Old carnet pieces make good beside runners. Use rectangular pieces and stitch or paste a contrasting colour material on the corners to improve the looks. Carpet bedside runners are comfortable and warm for bare feet to step onto on chilly days.

Expect a quality carpet to last for a long time, meaning you won't have to worry about discarding it for many years.

How to clean and care for your LVT flooring

Luxury vinyl tile (LTV) flooring is a kind of material that is chosen by people who want their floors to look attractive while also being cost-effective and easy to clean and maintain. It can be made to accurately replicate the look of everything from wood to ceramic or stone-tiled floors at a fraction of the cost of any of those.

It is also comparatively simple to keep in a good standard. However, good cleaning and maintenance will still be needed if you want to retain the appeal of your LVT floors.

So how should you go about that?

Dealing with loose debris

All floors inevitably end up with loose bits of dirt and debris during the day. That can be from food spillages or just things picked up by boots and shoes and brought into the home. There are two methods for removing this sort of surface debris from LVT floors either of which will work very well.

The first is to use a vacuum cleaner suitable for hard flooring material like LVT. If you are not sure whether that applies to your vacuum cleaner, or you do not have one, using a dustpan and brush will be just as effective.

After these pieces of debris have been cleared away, it will be best to wash the floor. A cloth or a mop will be fine for that, but make sure that they have been wrung out thoroughly before starting, because they should be damp rather than sopping wet. An electric mop will be the best option of all, because it enables you to manage the water level better and will buff your floor afterwards to help prevent unsightly streaks.

Sweeping and washing an LVT floor is something that you should do either one or two times per week. The frequency will depend on how often the room is used.

You can deploy specialist cleaning fluids on an LVT floor but be certain that they are suitable for it before you apply them. Never add wax to this type of flooring though, because it will make the surface slippery and dangerous as well as dulling the look of the tiling.

Getting rid of stains

LTV floors are often fitted in rooms such as kitchens where stains from food and drink spillages are very likely to occur. That need not be a problem, but it is important to know the correct cleaning method for dealing with stains.

Soaking a cloth in hot water and a LVT-friendly detergent cleaner, wringing it out until it is damp and applying it to the stains will be the best first option for getting rid of them. If the stain in question is from something greasy it may be more stubborn and resistant to cleaning though, in which case a brush with soft bristles should be the next step. Move the brush in circular motions and with a gentle touch until the stain is gone.

Afterwards the floor should be given a wipe with fresh water and a damp cloth, before being buffed for quicker drying and no streaks.

Caring for LVT floors to maintain their appearance

You now know what the basic cleaning methods are for LVT floors, but beyond that there are some other steps that you can take to care for them. These will help to ensure that the tiles last longer and maintain their optimum appearance.

1. Use mats

Having mats at every entry point to your house or commercial premises is a very good idea. These will trap things like moisture and particles of dirt and debris to prevent them getting onto the floors in the first place.

That will save you cleaning time and will also ensure the floors stay looking good for longer.

2. Minimise sunlight

If the LVT is being fitted on a floor that will be exposed to a lot of harsh sunlight, it can be a smart move to try to minimise that. This is because sunlight can cause the tiling to become faded or discoloured.

Keeping any blinds or curtains closed during peak periods of sunshine will do that. Of course, if it is commercial flooring that will probably not be a viable option. However, it is possible to get LVT flooring that comes with UV protection that will prevent harsh sunlight from damaging it.

If the flooring is to be fitted in a commercial setting or a room in a house such as a conservatory, having that UV protection will be essential.

This should give you an overview of the basics of cleaning and caring for an LVT floor. Carry out light cleaning on a regular basis while making sure to avoid getting too much water on the floor when washing it for the best results, and protect it from harsh sunlight if it does not have UV protection.

What type of flooring is best for a commercial kitchen?

The floor of a commercial kitchen will need to be able to withstand high levels of heat, as well as heavy duty equipment, constant footfall and regular spillages and stains. Therefore, the material used for this sort of environment must be ultra-hard wearing and durable if you do not want to have to replace it regularly.

Commercial kitchen floors must also be slip resistant, for safety reasons, and easily cleanable while limiting the potential for infection. So what are the best types of floors for the kitchen of a restaurant or café?

Vinyl

The vinyl flooring typically used in commercial kitchen spaces is created from a blend of synthetic and natural polymers. The structure of these makes the material very long lasting and ensures it does not become slippery. Examples of the kinds of vinyl found in such kitchens include sheet floors, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or vinyl composition tile (VCT).

Luxury vinyl tile is the best of these because it is stronger and more durable than vinyl composition tile or sheet flooring while also being available with pre-treatment that provides a guard against infection. Given the importance of health and safety in food preparation areas, that is a key point to consider when choosing flooring.

Ceramic tiles

These are made out of clay that is shaped into square tiles and then kiln-fired. It is a kind of floor that offers high durability and very easy maintenance, provided you get the right glazing. This should be melted glass and it will be essential for commercial kitchens. It prevents damage and means that stains can be easily wiped away.

Unglazed ceramic tile floors are too fragile and vulnerable to water damage to be suitable for use in the kitchen of a café or restaurant. Opting for tiles also means that a single damaged one can be replaced instead of an entire floor.

Resin

The third popular flooring choice for kitchens is resin. This is one of the easiest floor materials to clean and it is hard wearing enough to cope with boots, shoes and heavy kitchen equipment. Other advantages of resin are its slip resistance and hygiene qualities, all of which are ideal for kitchen areas.

As with vinyl and ceramic tile floors it is available in different colours and styles.

These will be the best floor options for a busy commercial kitchen, and each can be installed by experienced professionals.

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Cat scratching mat could save your carpet

Cats and carpets don’t live well together if the cat has a habit of damaging the carpet through scratching. A cat scratching mat could be the answer.

Scratching is a natural instinct for a cat. It exercises its forelimb muscles ready for hunting. It’s also a form of marking territory. Many cats will scratch outdoors, but cats who spend most of their time indoors may scratch indoors. If your cat decides to scratch the carpets in your Chester or North Wales home, the best solution is to provide an alternative scratching area.

A common solution to prevent cats from scratching the carpet is a scratching post, but not all cats like to use them, and cat owners may feel that a post spoils the aesthetics of the room. A scratching mat is an alternative to a scratching post.

Perhaps the best cat scratching mats are ones made from natural woven sisal which is a non-toxic natural material. The best feature non-slip latex underlay that prevents the mat from sliding. The natural light brown look of sisal blends with the décor. These mats can be used on the floor or attached to a wall. One owner said:

“This distracts my problem child from clawing my couch. I haven’t stuck it to anything since he seems to love rolling around with the mat.”

If a cat will not use a scratching post or mat relocate it next to where the cat sleeps as cats often prefer to scratch just after they wake up.