Floor Care and Cleaning Chemicals/ How They Affect Tile, Vinyl, Hardwood and Natural Stone Floors

IMG_1008What you are cleaning with could be the cause of the problems you are experiencing on your hard surface floor coverings like ceramic tile, vinyl, hardwood and natural stone.

Neutral cleaners are supposed to be neutral on the pH scale (7.0) and for the most part they are. The only way to be certain is to test them with a pH paper. You may find that some neutral cleaners are slightly higher and some slightly lower. What you want out of a good neutral cleaner is one that will clean all types of floors without rinsing and does not leave a residue. Neutral cleaners should not be used if you expect great results when cleaning a surface with a heavy gross soil load that has been there a while. Neutral cleaners are designed to remove the accumulation of light daily soils.

Do you have a natural stone floor? Most natural stone floors are acid sensitive. So if you’re cleaning with a pH level lower than 7 (neutral) then your most likely “etching” that stone which may be noticeably visible immediately after cleaning if the pH is to low. You can clean natural stone with alkaline cleaners but be sure that you rinse very well as to not leave a residue.

Vinyl floors that have an acrylic coating applied will clean up with alkaline cleaners (pH 8-14) however, over time the alkaline will start to break down and dull the finish on the floor. Cleaning with a neutral cleaner will clean the floor and keep the floor finish from damage.

One of the most common questions we get about hardwood floors are “why does it appear and feel like there is a “sticky” residue on the floor”? Well, because there usually is. Many customers we have worked for have told us about the products they have used. We always come to the conclusion that the floor was maintained with a product that the pH level was to high on the alkaline side of the scale. You usually won’t go wrong with a neutral cleaner on hardwood floors. Neutral cleaners are the safest for hardwood floors.

Ceramic tile and grout are very durable floor coverings. They too need to be cleaned with the appropriate pH level cleaner. Once again, a good neutral cleaner- no rinse cleaner diluted will lift soil and won’t leave a residue behind.

After a while, you will need to give your floor a “deep clean”. Deep cleaning would involve using a pH cleaner somewhere between 8-14 on the pH scale. Remember, when using alkaline you must rinse the floor thoroughly as to not leave a residue or cause breakdown of protective coatings and sealers.

The single most important thing you can do for any floor covering is “dry soil removal” sweeping and vacuuming. Sand and soil if left on a floor will act as a sandpaper and start to break down your floor covering. Clean your floors properly and they should last you a long time.

Jamie Strohmeyer/ Owner

Green Bay Floor Restore

Tile & Grout…..Are You Sure Your Grout Lines Are Dirty?

IMG_0355If you have spent anytime on your hands and knees trying to get the grout lines on your floor cleaned, you know that it is not a very pleasant job. Of course, that’s why I suggest you give Green Bay Floor Restore a call and stop spending the time to clean it yourself and spend the time doing something you enjoy. Have you ever stopped to wonder if what appears to be dirt discoloring the grout is not dirt?

 

I have seen it from time to time after I have pre-sprayed the floor with our high alkaline biodegradable safe pre-spray, scrubbed each grout line with an aggressive made for grout lines brush that what appears to be dirt doesn’t emulsify. Not until I introduce the heated high-pressure steam with our rotary floor tool do I find that the grout lines have been colored with a “grout marker”. These inexpensive grout markers over time start to flake off with routine cleanings and suddenly the old grout color starts showing through and gives the appearance that the grout is dirty.

 

In some cases the “grout marker” as “seen on TV” can be steamed off, but in almost all cases the original grout color is stained. Because grout is porous, the stains are permanent which usually is the reason why the “grout marker” was applied in the first place.

 

No worries, your tile and grout floor is not “doomed”. Green Bay Floor Restore offers a service that can color seal your floor. You can literally change the color of your grout lines and you won’t have to worry about the color “flaking” off. It actually soaks into the grout and seals it.

 

You can schedule a Free consultation and if you allow me to test a few areas of your floor, I can actually show you the results you will get when you use Green Bay Floor Restore.

 

Let me know how I can be of service to you.

 

Jamie Strohmeyer

Owner/ Green Bay Floor Restore

Certified “Clean Trust Firm” IICRC

 

Residential Maintenance Tips for Hardwood Floors

Dirt Dragon 1You’re going to want to use mats in traffic areas and doorways to protect your hardwood floor investment. Avoid some rubber –backed mats as they may discolor the floor.

To maintain your hardwood floor dust mop with a microfiber mop and our recommended floor cleaner, call us for information on the proper cleaners. You do not want to use wax or silicone –based polishes or cleaners. Some wood-flooring cleaners sold at the large department stores may actually make your floors more difficult to clean and cause problems when the floor requires refinishing. Some of these products may even attract dirt.

When you notice wear on your hardwood floor give us a call for a re-coat. Recoating can be done with a traditional screen and coat process or with our dust free refinishing system. Our system is a combination of an intensive deep cleaning with a specialized machine and a new coat of finish.

Recoat before the floor has worn down to the bare wood. If the floor has been worn down to the bare wood, it may need to be sanded. With proper cleaning and recoating when needed, the average homeowner will never have to go through the sanding process.

Green Bay Floor Restore offers free in home consultation’s on all our services. For your your tile, grout, carpet, vinyl & wood floor cleaning, sealing and recoating needs give us a try.

Sincerely,

 

Jamie Strohmeyer / Owner

Green Bay Floor Restore