| Recommended
Floor Care Procedures |
PREFACE
To achieve optimum appearance and proper film protection
for your floor coverings, it is extremely important
to use the right equipment for each task. The best
floor finishes in the world will look bad and be
less likely to hold up if laid with a dirty mop
or applied from a bucket that has other chemical
residue in it. There are many different kinds of
equipment to maintain floors and it is critical
that your equipment match the maintenance program
you have established.
Floor finishes are applied to floor coverings for
three reasons:
1) To protect the floor coverings from wear, stains,
and daily abuse.
2) For case of maintenance allows spills and normal
soil to be easily removed.
3) Appearance, well-maintained floors provide an
image-enhancing aspect.
INITIAL TREATMENT
Procedure #1 Stripping the floor of any old finishes.
1. Plan the job and check the area to be stripped
outlining what will be needed to totally clean and
remove old finish from all areas. Note edges and
comers where build up may have occurred and require
extra attention. There are no short cuts in the
stripping procedure, when you are finished stripping
the floor must be clean and spotless before applying
new coats of seal and /or finish.
2. Gather all the necessary equipment for the stripping
job and check to insure that all tools are in proper
working order.
3 . Remove all furniture, equipment, or free standing
items that exist on the area to be stripped. Draw
a diagram prior to removal to aid in putting everything
back in its proper position when the floor is finished.
4. Sweep the area if large debris is evident, otherwise
a thorough pass with a dust mop treated with a water-based
dust mop treatment is recommended to remove soil
and dirt.
5. Remove stubborn stains and chewing gum, as noted
in your pre-inspection, prior to stripping the floor.
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6. Pre-spray baseboards and corners
where buildup is visible with a heavy duty mixture
of stripping compound or a product designed specifically
for this job. These are powerful stripping compounds-be
careful to control their application.
7. Have the appropriate “Wet Floor” signs placed
strategically throughout the area to be stripped.
8. Mix your stripping solution according to the
manufacturer’s directions and apply liberally to
the area. Caution: If you are using hot water, it
will evaporate at a faster rate than lukewarm water
and you will not be able to strip as large an area.
Work according to your plan for stripping, depending
on the number of people in your crew.
9. The steps for stripping include: (a) Mixing the
stripper; (b) Applying the stripper; (c) Letting
the stripper sit for 5 to 10 minutes; (d) Physically
agitating the floor with a floor machine; (e) Removal
of the stripping slurry; (f) Rinsing the floor at
least twice if using an alkaline stripper.
Procedure #2 Rinse the floor of any alkaline residue.
1. Pick up all stripping solution with a wet vacuum
before laying the rinsing solution down.
2. Using a rinse mop, dip mop into clean, warm rinse
water. Do not ring out the mop. Lay the rinse water
over the entire area that was stripped. A neutralizer
may be added to the first rinse.
3. Pick up with wet vacuum or mop.
4. Apply second rinse using clean water, pick up
with wet vacuum or mop. Be sure to go over the entire
area that was rinsed with a well rung out rinse
mop to pick up any streaks or footprints.
5. After the floor has dried from rinsing, check
the floor for any residue or white film. This can
be done by wiping your hand over the floor. If a
film is still evident then additional rinsing is
required-even the world’s greatest floor finish
will not adhere to a floor covered with an alkaline
film.
6. Allow the floor to dry fully before applying
seal or your first coat of finish.
Procedure #3 Applying floor finish or seal with
a mop.
1. Always use a clean mop head designed for applying
floor finishes and mark the mop handle appropriately
so that this mop is not used for any other purpose! |
2. Soak mop head in warm water and
wring out thoroughly. Water will fill the mop fibers,
thus saving finish.
3. Put a plastic garbage can liner in your mop bucket
to assure that your finish will not become contaminated
from previous chemical that may have been used in
the mop bucket. This will also assist you in faster
cleanup later.
4. Dip mop in the bucket of finish and damp the
mop head lightly in the wringer. You want the mop
to be full of finish but never dripping. A gentle
twisting of the mop handle will also cause excess
finish to be removed.
5. Start applying the finish in a comer of the area
furthest from your exit point and begin by outlining
along baseboards. When doing larger areas where
the finish may have an opportunity to dry before
you can return for a parallel run-seek to establish
an outline that will be consistent with the floor
tiles.
6. Fill in the area between the outlined edges,
applying finish with a smooth overlapping stroke.
We recommend that all finishes be applied in medium
to thin coatings. Wet the mop with finish as necessary
and make sure that the finish is being applied evenly.
7. Continue applying finish, covering each area
before the adjoining area is dry. A smooth and even
application will assure that all the pores in the
floor are properly filled for lasting protection.
8. After the first coat has dried (normally 15 to
25 minutes, but this will depend heavily on the
humidity and air flow) apply a second coat in the
opposite direction, following the procedure outlined
above.
9. Subsequent coatings should be applied as above.
Be sure to allow proper drying time between coats.
If multiple coats are to be applied at one time,
the first two coats should be applied 6 to 8 inches
away from walls, partitions display cases, etc.
Successive coats are then applied to the entire
floor.
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
During all daily maintenance procedures it will
be important to watch the floor for developing traffic
pattern and respond to these situations accordingly.
Procedure #1 Cleaning the floor (with a wet mop).
1. Sweep the area if large debris is evident, otherwise
a thorough pass with a dust mop treated with a water-based
dust mop treatment is recommended to remove dry
soil and dirt.
2. Always use a neutral detergent mixed according
to the manufacturer’s directions when cleaning highly
finished floors. Alkaline cleaners can soften, damage
and create an unsightly film causing additional
maintenance. |
3. When wet mopping a floor it is
important to change the mopping solution when visible
contamination occurs. There is nothing worse than
mopping a floor with dirty water or using a soiled
mop head! Start with clean equipment and be sure
to clean it when you are done.
4. Apply mopping solution liberally (do not flood)
allowing the solution to contact the floor for approximately
2-3 minutes and pick up excess with mop. Physical
agitation with the mop may be necessary in badly
soiled areas.
5. If using an alkaline cleaner, “Rinsing” is required.
Procedure #2 Cleaning the floor (with an automatic
scrubber).
1. Sweep the area if large debris is evident, otherwise
a thorough pass with a dust mop treated with a water-based
dust mop treatment is recommended to remove dry
soil and dirt.
2. Perform pre-operation checks on the scrubber
as described by the manufacturer or recommended
by the distributor ( batteries, brushes/ pads, squeegee
blade, etc.).
3. Always use a neutral detergent mixed according
to the manufacturer’s directions when cleaning highly
finished floors. Alkaline cleaners can soften, damage
and create an unsightly film, which is even more
apparent when using an automatic scrubber. By causing
more agitation than a mop, an automatic scrubber
can leave side trails of solution.
4. Fill the scrubber solution tank with water first,
then add the proper amount of chemical.
5. Choose an appropriate pattern that will assure
full coverage and lay down, scrub and pick up the
mopping solution using the automatic scrubber. Be
sure to use a damp mop to pick up any trails that
may be left.
Procedure #3 Dry Burnishing, High speed and ultra
high speed maintenance.
1. Accomplish only after sweeping, dust mopping,
damp mopping and/ or automatic scrubbing the floor.
All buffing programs are actually “controlled abrasion
processes,” therefore it is necessary to remove
all soil prior to burnishing or you will run the
risk of embedding soil into the finish film causing
unsightly yellowing.
2. Follow distributor recommendations as to the
proper pad for your machine and floor finish you
have selected.
3. After dry burnishing, run a clean dust mop over
the floor.
Procedure #4 Top Scrub and Recoat (with a single
disc machine).
1. Sweep the area if large debris is evident, otherwise
a thorough pass with a dust mop treated with a water-based
dust mop treatment is recommended to remove dry
soil and dirt. |
2. Depending upon the
depth you wish to penetrate into the finish film
during the top scrub procedure- use either an all
purpose cleaner (for deeper penetration) or a neutral
detergent (for light penetration) and a green pad
for light scrubbing or a blue pad for deep scrubbing.
Always mix chemicals according to the manufacturer’s
directions.
3. Apply solution liberally (do not flood) allowing
the solution to contact the floor for approximately
2-3 minutes and thoroughly scrub using the single
disc machine.
4. Pick up solution with mop or wet vacuum. Use
a detail mop with clean water to remove any trails
or footprints.
5. (Optional) Dry buff the clean floor to knock
off any edges and smooth the surface prior to applying
a new coat of finish. This step will enhance the
appearance level of the floor noticeably.
6. Apply one coat of floor finish in the traffic
areas as described in the “Applying Floor Finish”
procedure. For appearance sake this coat must be
applied evenly and if necessary feathered at the
edges. If lines are apparent where new finish has
been applied, wait at least one hour and dry buff
edges.
Procedure #5 Top Scrub and Recoat (with an automatic
scrubber).
1. Follow the same procedure for “Cleaning” with
the automatic scrubber using the double scrub method.
Double scrubbing provides two passes with the automatic
before the solution is picked up and normally utilizes
a more aggressive pad or brush.
2. Lay solution down on the first pass with squeegee
in the up position. Make return pass along the same
path with solution turned off and squeegee down.
3. Be sure to have a clean detail mop available
to pick up any trails which may be left from the
automatic.
4. Using a neutral detergent in this process will
alleviate the need to rinse, however if you are
performing a more aggressive top scrub with an all
purpose cleaner, then rinsing is necessary prior
to recoating.
5. (Optional ) Dry buff the clean floor to knock
off any edges and smooth the surface prior to applying
a new coat of finish. This step will enhance the
appearance level of the floor noticeably.
6. Apply one coat of floor finish in the traffic
areas as described in the “Applying Floor Finish”
procedure. For appearance sake this coat must be
applied evenly and if necessary feathered at the
edges. If lines are apparent where new finish has
been applied, wait at least one hour and dry buff
edges. |
Procedure #6 Spray buffing, conventional & high
speed maintenance.
1. Follow steps outlined for “Cleaning”.
2. Using a spray buff compound, lightly mist the
product through a trigger sprayer directly onto
the floor ahead of the buffer. Spray buff compounds
may vary, however, their purpose is all the same
- to provide lubricity to the pad surface, assist
in working out heavy marks from the floor surface,
and to facilitate better blending in scratched areas.
3. Buff the area where the spray buff has been applied
until dry (this will vary with the speed of your
equipment and type of pad being used). Be careful
to notice areas of wear and pay particular attention
to the depth of gloss (this will indicate when recoating
is necessary, especially in traffic patterns.)
4. Dustmop the entire floor after spray buffing.
Procedure #7, Restoring, high speed and ultra high
speed maintenance.
1. Follow steps outlined for “Cleaning”.
2. Follow the dilution recommendations of the manufacturer
for the restoring compound and always use a clean
mop and bucket to apply.
3. Put a plastic garbage can liner in your mop bucket
to assure that your restorer will not become contaminated
from previous chemicals which may have been used
in the mop bucket. This will also assist you in
faster cleanup later.
4. Dip mop in the bucket of restorer and tamp the
mop head lightly in the wringer. You want the mop
to be full of product but never dripping. Apply
evenly to all areas and allow to air dry.
5. Once dry follow the steps as outlined in the
procedure for “Dry Burnishing”.
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The
Janitech Companies
106 High Street
Cumberland, RI 02864
(Tel) 401-724-4300, (Fax) 401-724-4900 |
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