Category: Floors

General Information :
Bare concrete floors are actually very porous. Oil, grease and dirt will permanently stain concrete if not cleaned off soon enough.

Tools & Technique :
Heavy duty degreaser/cleaners will generally do a good job keeping up the concrete’s appearance. Use according to directions.

Try to give the chemical time to work – scrubbing may be necessary. Rinse off with water.
Sealed concrete must be treated more carefully. Harsh cleaners – such as T.S.P. – can damage the seal. Try a milder cleaner to start. Since the floor is sealed it will clean-up much easier than bare concrete.
Try to avoid messy clean-ups by putting cardboard under a oil-drip or lawnmower. Frequent sweeping gets rid of surface dirt before it has a chance to grind into the concrete.

Specialized Tools & Chemicals :
When possible pressure washing is an effective cleaning method for concrete. Be careful on older concrete – too much pressure can break it apart.

General Info:
In most cases cork floor should be sealed in which case using a neutral chemical and washing should be fine however if the cork is not sealed it becomes more challenging. Cork should not be exposed to large amounts of water. Rather if it is not sealed you should use a dry method such as a foam rubber sponge which is like a large eraser without the pumice which are in pink erasers.

The dry sponge or foam rubber sponges are available at any janitorial supply store or hardware or paint stores. Common sponges should not be used. Since cork is so porous be sure absorb as much as possible with a good absorbent towel almost treat it like you would removing a carpet stain, by blotting and absorbing rather than scrubbing. Using stronger chemicals like bleach etc. will damage the cork

This question was submitted from Phil S.

“How do I remove dried paint from linoleum flooring?”

Dried paint can very difficult. You will need to use a stronger solvent.

Try these techniques :

First, try using a neutral cleaner and saturate the paint. Then using either your fingernail or a plastic scraper (so you will not damage the linoleum) try to remove the paint.

If this doesn’t work, you will have to use a general purpose solvent or a solvent like rubbing alcohol. The problem with using solvents is that they may effect the floor so be sure to apply the solvent to a cleaning rag first, and then try to remove the paint as best you can.

Be sure to always test a small area first when using a chemical or technique which you have not used before on the surface you are working on.

This question was submitted from Kirsten M.

“I just moved into a new apartment with a vinyl tile kitchen floor. The tile appears to be older than I thought and in some spots it’s very dull and has lost its gloss. Is there any way to clean the tiles and give them back some of their texture and shine?”

Vinyl tile which looks dull are usually low on wax or finish.

Try these techniques :

Give the floor a good cleaning with a strong ammonia based cleaner. Bbe sure you scrub the floor evenly and rinse with clean water until there are no soap suds in the mop water. You want to be sure that there are no traces of soap residue.

Next buy a floor wax or sealer, either from local hardware store or janitorial supply store. (You will have better results with a commercial product and they cost not much more than what you would pay in a grocery store for far inferior products).

Then apply a fresh coat of wax to the floor. Apply at least 2 coats – the second coat should be applied at a 45 degree angle to the first coat for full coverage of the floor with no spots missed.

If you want the floor to shine even brighter add a couple of thin top coats and your vinyl floor will shine like new.

General Information :
Choose the type of product best suited to your preferred method of maintenance and the condition of your floor.

Newer, good condition floors need less care. A cleaner with polish, or a cleaner with polish which also removes old finish at the same time, are good choices.

For older floors using separate cleaner, polish and stripper products may be needed. Combination products may not clean well enough or leave enough polish to adequately protect the floor.

It also depends on the amount of use and traffic on your floor. In general the harder the use the more likely dual or triple purpose products will not be adequate.

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This question was submitted from Imelda.

“How do you get rid of glue from coming up from in-between vinyl tiles?”

Try these techniques :

To remove this glue you should use a general purpose solvent available at hardware or janitorial supply stores.

Just pour some and a rag and wipe. You may have to use a soft scrubber to agitate the glue before wiping.

To clean heel scuffs off hard floors, simply erase them with a white vinyl eraser!

Rubber tile floors are made of natural or synthetic rubbers colored by mineral pigments. It has a non-porous, smooth surface resistant to most stains, abrasion and cleaners. Although very durable, rubber floors can be damaged by oil, solvents, abrasive cleaners, harsh alkalis and sunlight, which can discolor the rubber.  All of the above can make the floor lose its elasticity.
Vacuuming is the easiest way to remove dust and lint. Regular cleaning is best with detergent and water. Rubber floors can be finished if a shiny surface is desired.

“I removed a rubber backed mat from my white floor in front of my kitchen sink, and the area under the mat has turned yellow. What will remove this stain?”

The short answer is nothing. It is likely a linoleum floor, which as a result of having moisture trapped under the mat has left this permanent yellowing. There is no way to remove this type of stain. The best solution is yet another mat to hide the stain or to replace the flooring.  A jute or natural backed mat will permit moisture to escape and will not cause further damage.

Rubber tile floors are made of natural or synthetic rubbers colored by mineral pigments.  It has a non-porous, smooth surface resistant to most stains, abrasion and cleaners. Although very durable, rubber floors can be damaged by oil, solvents, abrasive cleaners, harsh alkalis and sunlight which can discolor the rubber.  All of the above can make the floor lose its elasticity.

Vacuuming is the easiest way to remove dust and lint. Regular cleaning is best with detergent and water. Rubber floors can be finished if a shiny surface is desired.