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General Floor Cleaning Methods
Sweeping
- Sweep floors daily to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating as they act like sandpaper under feet and wheels and can damage your floor
- Use a broom or mechanized sweeper with soft nylon bristles as stiff brushes may scratch the coating and cause gloss floors to dull
Scrubbing
- Scrub floors weekly or as often as needed to prolong the life of your floor coating
- High traffic areas such as aisle ways and areas where oil and grease are frequently used may require daily scrubbing
- Equip your automatic floor scrubber with the correct brush or pad to protect your floor finish
– Use soft nylon brushes and white or red pads
– Do not use stiff brushes or pads, which will dull or scratch your coated surfaces
- Use the correct dilution rate recommended for your scrubbing equipment or detergent
Liquid Spills
- All liquid spills are safety hazards and should be cleaned up immediately
– Wipe, mop or use automated equipment, depending on size of the spill
– Mop or scrub the area to remove sticky or greasy residues as soon as possible to prevent accumulation of dust and dirt that can damage floor
- Spills of caustics, acids and solvents should be cleaned immediately and thoroughly
– Harsh liquids that remain on the floor may soften, discolor, or remove coating or sealer
– Always wear personal protective equipment for chemical spill clean up
Stain Prevention and Removal
- Stains can be prevented by cleaning spills immediately
- Most stains can be minimized or removed without further damage to your floor
– Use mild solution, progressing to stronger removers until the stain disappears
– Inks, dyes and stains resulting from chemical or acidic spill may never be removed
– Wear rubber gloves and eye protection when working with cleaning chemicals
Rubber Marks & Burns
- Rubber marks are deposits of rubber on or near the surface of the floor coating
– In most cases, these can be removed by scrubbing with a strong concentration of a solvent-based detergent(orange/yellow) and water
- Rubber burns show on the surface of coating caused by heat and friction from spinning tires
– In most cases, these cannot be removed
– Keep floors clean to keep tires from slipping and spinning on your floor
- Tire stains (plasticizer marks) are caused by tires sitting on top of a coating and an exchange of chemical components between the non-rubber tire and the coating when they are in contact for an extended time
– These types of markings are impossible to remove
– Place a barrier between the tires and the coatings to prevent this
– Recoating of the area is the only way to eliminate these
Scratches and Gouges
- Scratches and gouges shorten the life of floors when moisture seeps into cracks, resulting in peeling of the coating
- Avoid sliding heavy machinery, pallets, or sharp objects across the floor
Top Floor Maintenance Tips
- Sweep floor daily with mechanized sweeping equipment or broom
- Scrub floors at least once a week with proper brush and detergent or we recommend using an auto scrubber
- Clean all spills immediately before they damage the coating, especially spills that are chemical or acidic in nature as they could stain or discolor the floor
- Place walk off mats at entry ways to minimize dirt and moisture entering the facility
- Protect the floor by using mats when moving or sliding heavy machinery, pallet or materials
- Dropping heavy or sharp objects on floors may cause chips/gouges in floor coating
- Use appropriate brushes on high-gloss finishes as stiff bristles or heavily worn brushes will dull the finish
- Use a general-purpose cleaner for regular cleaning as caustic cleaning solutions or solvents may dull your floor finish
- Have gouges, scratches, de-lamination or peeling repaired as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your floor
- Place chair mats under wheeled chairs at decks and work stations to prevent abrasion over time
- Protect the floor by making sure chair legs do not have sharp edges and have felt or rubber protective pads
Product Recommendations
Detergent
- Use a moderate foaming detergent that will rinse easily with hot or cold water
– Light Soil – non-butyl, non-caustic industrial detergent
– Oil/Grease – high-alkaline, non-caustic industrial detergent
Equipment
- Prior to using brooms, scrub brushes, scouring pads or any other cleaning utensil on the finished floor, conduct a test on a product sample to be sure surface damage/scratches will not result from its use.
- When using a power floor machine, brushes should be soft poly bristles. Do not use stiff nylon or metallic bristles. These types of brushes or aggressive pads will damage the floor finish.
- When using a power washer, do not exceed 1,500 psi and use a wide spray applicator. Use of higher psi or targeted spray nozzle can damage the floor.
- Use of a soft neoprene squeegee is appropriate and can be inexpensively purchased at Menards. Avoid the stiff barn cleaner type squeegee as it will not do the job. Another option is to purchase what is called sponge squeegee which will not only absorb water but help direct water to drain or outside for additional cleanup.
Following these simple instructions will assure you of a long lasting, hard wearing floor for years to come.
Importance of Maintaining your Floor
Your floor will look its best when it is clean. Routine maintenance of the floor PCS has installed assures you of a safe, long-life system that will continue to look and perform as it did when it was first installed.
- Proper maintenance will prolong the life of your floor coatings
- Implementing a good floor care program will help maintain the appearance of your floor and help minimize any safety hazards
- Dirt and dust are abrasive and dull the finish and decrease the life of your coating
- Frequency of maintenance will increase in harsher environments or environments with more dirt or soil accumulation