On the other hand, a gleaming, well maintained escalator can dazzle visitors. No matter how good the rest of your building looks, people are going to form an opinion—either positive or negative—based on this important focal point.

The trouble is escalator steps are not easy to clean. The grooves in the tread act like dirt and gunk magnets, trapping and holding soil in hard-to-reach areas that traditional floor sweepers and vacuums can’t touch. Furthermore, liquid soaps and solvents are not practical for escalator maintenance, as these chemicals can do damage if they get inside the lubrication system.