As performers traverse a stage throughout the day, the floor can become very dirty. A dirty floor isn't just gross and unsightly; it also puts performers at risk of making mistakes in their movement or suffering an injury. That's why it's important to keep your stage floor clean—and to do that, you need the right cleaning products. Here are two fluids you should never clean your stage with and one that you should.

Don't Clean With Water

It's not uncommon for stage managers to assume that cleaning a stage with water alone is the best way to avoid any damage. While it's true that water may not damage your stage floor, it's not a sufficient cleaning fluid. Whenever people practice or perform on your stage, they'll leave behind oily residues from sweat or lotions (especially if you host a lot of dance performances). As you may already know, oil and water don't mix—instead of cleaning up the residue, water simply spreads it around further. That's why it's important that you use cleaning chemicals when maintaining your stage. Luckily, if you choose the right detergent, you won't have to worry about stage damage.

Don't Clean With Household Cleaners

Another thing many people who maintain stages don't know is that you can't use the same cleaning chemicals you'd use for your floor at home. Most household cleaners leave surface residue behind after you use them. This residue is great at making floors look shiny and protecting them from dirt, but it's terrible for stage floors because it makes them sticky and slippery. This messes with the friction, increasing the risk of accidents for those performing on the stage. Instead of heading to your local shop to buy cleaning chemicals for your stage, you should head to a specialist cleaning company.

Do Clean With Specialist Chemicals

Since water and household cleaners aren't good options for stage floor cleaning, your best option is to buy cleaning chemicals from a specialist cleaning company. These shops stock commercial and industrial-strength cleaners that are made to maintain surfaces like stage floors safely and efficiently. In particular, you should opt for a general-purpose or floor-specific degreaser with a mid-range PH level. This will clean dirt and kill bacteria without leaving surface residue or destroying the non-slip finish your stage already has. If your flooring doesn't have a coating (non-slip or otherwise), make sure you look for a cleaning detergent specifically made for that surface. Every uncoated material reacts to chemicals differently, so using the wrong cleaner could cause your floor to wear down quicker.

Contact a supplier of cleaning chemicals to learn more.