Does the NYC subway ever get cleaned?
The New York City subway is one part of the everyday life in that city, which moves millions of residents and visitors in its network. The constant worry of every subway commuter is cleanliness. Given its heavy usage daily, has it ever been cleaned at all? Let's have a look into how it is cleaned as this will show what efforts are placed into keeping this mass movement hygienic and otherwise.
Clean Practices in the NYC Subway
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had set up several cleaning processes to ensure that the subway was as clean as it could be. As with everything, it never satisfies the expectations of commuters. There are, however systematic attempts to keep the train and stations clean.
Daily Cleaning Routine:
After each service day, subway cars are cleaned rigorously. They are swept, mopped, and chairs are wiped with approved disinfectants on the seats and surfaces. The New York MTA has professionals who work tirelessly to clean the cars before they're put back in service again for the next day.
While nightly cleanings happen, deeper cleanings occur much less often. Average subway cars are cleaned deeply every 72 days or roughly five times a year. When deep cleaning occurs, the entire surface area of the cars is scrubbed with industrial-grade cleaners to dislodge grime and disinfect.
Subway Station Cleaning
Cleaning does not stop there: the subway stations, in turn, need maintenance work. The MTA employs crews that maintain the stations' cleanliness throughout their entire network. This comprises sweeping the platforms, removing rubbish, and keeping facilities like the restrooms clean.
Despite these efforts, reports show that cleanliness varies significantly from one station to another. Some stations are more attended to than others, thus resulting in differences in the general cleanliness experience for riders. In fact, audits have shown that much of the subway infrastructure suffers from neglect, with many areas needing urgent attention.
Challenges Faced by Cleaning Crews
One of the big challenges of cleaning crews would be the massive number of daily subway riders—some 5.9 million on average. High traffic flow can undo all efforts so quickly, and so hard to keep a consistent area clean. Problems with littering and vandalism can add layers of difficulty to this end.
The MTA has also come under fire for its cleaning practices and frequency. An audit has shown that only a few tracks were cleaned according to the MTA's standards. This means that commuters face unsanitary conditions because of the poor maintenance. These results show that a better maintenance practice is necessary and more funding for the cleaning programs.
Due to continuous concerns over cleanliness, the MTA has sought various innovative measures to improve their cleaning processes. For example, specialized vacuum trains called "VAK-TRAK" are used to suck up debris on tracks at intervals. However, these machines have encountered operational problems and often do not collect the debris satisfactorily.
In addition, during an extraordinary situation like the COVID-19 pandemic, the MTA took unprecedented action by closing down the entire subway system for deep cleaning, a first in more than a century. It was done to ensure the safety of essential workers, who were forced to depend on public transportation at such a critical time.
If you are overwhelmed by filth after a day of traveling within New York City's subway network, services such as Sparkly Maid NYC can help keep the accommodations clean and welcoming in your stay.
Cleanliness Challenges
In conclusion, even though there are established cleaning protocols for both subway cars and stations in New York City, challenges still prevail in terms of their effectiveness and consistency. The efforts by the MTA in maintaining cleanliness are laudable but often fall short due to high ridership levels and limited resources.
As a rider of this city, one has to be more vigilant in the surroundings and contribute constructively by throwing waste, and the subway may be not always the cleanest place, but knowing their cleaning practice sets expectations on what can be expected.
Ultimately, this is going to depend on your personal experience and whether you can handle the NYC subway or not. And remember-if ever you will need help maintaining a clean living space after navigating through this vibrant city's transit system, Sparkly Maid NYC is always there to make sure that your home is kept clean and spotless throughout your visit!
