Floor Maintenance

How to Clean Hardwood Floors

How to Clean Laminate Floors

How to Clean Marble Floors

How to Clean Bamboo Floors

How to Clean Tile Floors

How to Clean Vinyl Floors

How to Clean Linoleum Floors

Floor Cleaning Chemicals

Types of Floor Cleaning Chemicals

How to Strip a Floor

1.) Choose a floor stripping chemical that's appropriate for your floor type. Follow your floor manufacturer's suggestions in regards to cleaning chemicals. Often using the same brand as the last floor wax you used will yield desirable results. Refer to the chart below for more information on matching the right chemical to your floor type.

2.) Ensure proper ventilation in the area you are working in. It is important to wear protective clothing and start by testing your stripper in a small corner.

3.) Determine how you'll divide the floor and in which direction you'll be moving. This is important to decide before you've started so as to avoid letting the finisher harden or trapping yourself away from the exit. Work farthest from the exit, and plan on stripping about 100 foot sections at a time using your floor scrubber.

4.) Line three buckets or small trash cans with trash can liners. Fill one with the water and stripper solution, another with clean water, and the third with your tools including scrubbers and scrapers. Be sure to stock up on safety apparel for you and your employees including gloves, safety glasses/goggles, dust masks, and protective coats.

5.) Use a mop to apply stripper in small sections. Thoroughly coat the floor, but be sure not to saturate or flood the area. Its important to test new products in a small, not immediately visible area first to ensure they work well and won't cause permanent damage to your floors.

6.) Use your floor stripper according to the instructions. This will scrape away wax build up. Use any other scrapers or brushes you've stored in your bucket for hard to reach areas including corners and up against baseboards if necessary.

7.) Remove the wax buildup and stripper solution. Use a wet-dry vacuum, squeegee, or a squeegee attachment on your floor scrubber.

8.) Repeat these steps in sections to let the stripper soak in before scrubbing. If necessary, repeat over sections of flooring that have more build up.

9.) Mop the floors with clean water and allow to dry. This ensures all stripper and wax residue is removed from the floor surface.

Floor Stripping Chemicals

How to Use a Floor Stripping Machine

How to Wax a Floor

1.) Read all instructions found on your floor wax or finisher. Depending on the product and its ingredients, procedures and dry times may vary.

2.) Use a brand new mop head. Using a new mop head each time you wax is important for not setting dirt and grime back into your floors.

3.) Ensure proper air flow. Most finishes do not contain as many harsh chemicals as floor stripper. However, it's good to avoid inhaling too many fumes by allowing fresh air to circulate the room.

4.) Line a bucket or small trash can with a trash can liner and fill with wax. This makes the wax more accessible as you mop the floors. When you're done using it, simply dispose of the wax-filled liner for easy clean-up.

5.) Dip your mop in the bucket and apply a thin coat of wax to the floor. Avoid soaking the mop and use a wringer to get rid of excess wax if necessary before making contact with the floor. Work toward the exit to avoid becoming trapped.

6.) Allow time for wax to dry completely. How long it takes the wax to dry will depend on the temperature and humidity level in the room. The wax should be completely dry before moving on to the next step to ensure it has been properly attached to the floor.

7.) Repeat the application process as necessary. Most floors will require 2 to 5 layers of wax. However, be sure each layer is completely dry before beginning the next. This will avoid any unsightly wax buildup.

8.) Buff and polish using a floor machine to obtain a brilliant, glossy shine.

Once you've determined what machine would work best for you, be sure to find a compatible floor pad. They also play a role in ensuring the overall cleanliness of your floor. There are many different pad options that are designed for specific jobs and floor types. Before you go to make your purchase, be sure you know how to choose a floor pad.

Rotary floor machines can accommodate pads, discs, and bonnets that are both up to 1" larger and smaller than the "standard" pad size. For example, if a machine lists its pad size as 12", it is compatible will all 11" and 13" pads as well.

Floor Finish Chemicals

How to Use a Floor Buffer Machine