Floor Cleaners Make Floors More Slippery

Ten out of 19 of the best-selling household floor cleaners made floors more slippery than they were before cleaning, according to a study by the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), Southlake, TX.

“Over half of the products left a slippery residue after only one application,” insisted Russell Kendzior, founder and executive director of NFSI. “Most of the products tested contained a strong fragrance; it was like putting perfume on the floor. Although they made the room smell good, such fragrances are most likely the culprit behind the slippery film.”

The study also found that the average product reduced the floor’s slip-resistance (traction) by 10%. After a month’s worth of applications, 13 out of 19 products left a slippery residue, with an average decrease in slip-resistance of 18%.

Executives said more than 1 million people seek emergency room treatment for an accidental slip-and-falls each year and most of these take place in the home. Slips-and-falls are the leading cause of accidental death for people over the age of 75 and is estimated to cost society more than $60 billion annually, NFSI said. More info: www.nfsi.org.