Floor Care Basics

Harmful Substances: Gasoline, lighter fluid, Solvent floor finishes and cleaners, Turpentine.
Benefits: Durable
Precautions: Avoid oils or solvents: They will attack the binder and cause colors to bleed.
Same as vinyl.

Use & Care:
1. Use mild detergent or soap.
2. Rinse with clear water.
3. Dry immediately with mop or wet/dry vac.

Type: LINOLEUM (CORK, OIL ROSIN BACKING, PIGMENTS, RESINS, WOOD
FLOOR)

Resistance to Soil & Chemicals: Grease, Oils
Harmful Substances: Abrasives, detergents, harsh alkaline, solvents.
Benefits: Durable
Precautions: Avoid excess wetting, use adequate furniture rests to avoid indentations.

Use & Care:
1. Use a mild detergent solution: avoid alkaline solutions.
2. Rinse with clear water.
3. Remove water immediately with wet/dry vacuum.

Type: RUBBER (ASBESTOS FIBER, PIGMENTS, SYNTHETIC RUBBER)

Resistance to Soil & Chemicals: Acids, many stains, milk alkalines.
Harmful Substances: Alkaline, Gasoline, Kerosene, Naptha, Oils, Solvent agents, Turpentine.
Benefits: Anti-slip, Durable, Flexible (minimal cracking) Won’t warp or buckle.
Precautions: Air will dry and crack rubber tile, avoid direct sunlight, lubricating oils cause
colors to bleed, Tiles can become dull and "Chalky".

Use & Care:
1. Use a mild detergent solution,
2. Rinse.
3. Remove water promptly.

Type: VINYL- (FILLERS, MATRIX RESIN, PIGMENTS)
Resistance to Soil & Chemicals- Alkaline, Grease, Mild acids, Moisture, Oil.

Harmful Substances: Abrasives; grit, sand scouring agents, Solvent floor finishes and cleaners.
Benefits: Can tolerate: constant wetting exposure to sun, extreme temperatures, durable, low cost.
Precautions: Avoid excessive wetting to prevent tile warping, Avoid scratching, cannot remove, Brittle at extremely low temperatures, Use furniture rests to protect against indentations.

Use & Care:
1. Use a neutral detergent solution.
2. Rinse.
3. Dry with a wet/dry vacuum.

Type: CERAMIC/QUARRY (CLAY BAKED INTO THE HARDNESS OF STONE)
Resistance to Soil & Chemicals- Alkaline salts, Avoid agents harmful to cement grout, Ice
melting compounds, Oils, Paint, epoxies, lacquers, Soaps, Steel Wool.

Harmful Substances: Harsh alkaline agents
Precautions: Ceramic tile is very durable but the grout base is susceptible to crystalline salt damage.

Use & Care:
1. Use neutral cleaner to avoid damage to grout apply with mop.
2. Remove cleaning solution, rinse thoroughly.
3. Clean grout with grit brush.
4. Application of a sealer is not necessary, but will protect exposed grout Use a water base sealer.

Type: CONCRETE- (CRUSHED ROCK, PEBBLES, SAND, WATER)
Resistance to Soil & Chemicals- Very poor resistance capabilities if not sealed.

Harmful Substances: Acids, salts
Benefits: Durable, fire resistant, handles heavy traffic, low cost, low maintenance, smooth.
Precautions: Avoid colored coating in moisture or high traffic areas, Neutralize excess alkalinity before painting or sealing, Very porous; should be scaled immediately to avoid dusting and deep penetration of oil and dirt.

Use & Care:
1. Use a neutral cleaner.
2. For stubborn soil accumulations, use a slightly alkaline solution.
3. Never use an acid solution; concrete is soluble in acids.

Type: MARBLE ( CARBONATED OF LIME, CRYSTALLIZED ROCK)
Resistance to Soil & Chemicals- Minimal resistance, capabilities, stains easily, with easy stain
removal.

Harmful Substances: Acid cleaners, Ammonia, Harsh alkaline agents, metals, oil, sand, abrasives, Soaps.
Benefits: Attractive
Precautions: Seal with penetrating sealer.

Use & Care:
1. Use a neutral cleaner.
2. Rinse thoroughly
3. Dry with soft cloth to avoid streaking.

Type: TERRAZZO (CRUSHED AGGREGATE, GRANITE, MARBLE, QUARTS)
Resistance to Soil & Chemicals- Animal fats, resistance capability, extremely poor if not
sealed.

Harmful Substances: Alkaline agents, epoxies, floor oils, paints, powdered scouring,
cleansers, steel wool, strong acids.
Benefits: Attractive, cool in summer, durable, low maintenance, warm in winter.
Precautions:Very porous; coating advisable.

Use & Care:
1. Use a neutral detergent.
2. Damp mop.
3. Air dry.

Type: WOOD TYPES; (MOST COMMON) (MAPLES, OAK) THREE MAIN TYPE:
BLOCK, PARQUET, PLANK
Resistance to Soil Chemicals- Resistance capability dependent upon how the floor has been
sealed.

Harmful Substances: Abrasives, Alkaline agents, dampness, oils, soap & detergents.
Benefits:- Attractive, durable, floor adapts well to building renovation, warm.

Use & Care: Floor must be sealed before any maintenance program can be used.
1. Sweep, dust mop (water treated) or damp mop in commercial settings,
2. Wood block for flooring; use a neutral cleaner,
3. Never clean wood floor with soap and water.

Jack Bockstanz