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Archive for the 'Floor Finishing' Category

Oct 22 2008

Floor Finish & Floor Wax Terms and Definitions in Plain Language:

Published by scsupplies under Floor Finishing, Flooring, Maintenance Edit This

Floor Finish & Floor Wax Terms and Definitions in Plain Language: What is in Floor Finish and Floor Wax?

Alkali Soluble Resins
Alkali Soluble Resins are resins that can be mixed in with an alkaline solution. Resins are thick liquids that harden when dry. Alkaline Solutions are soapy, slippery and caustic, and are easily removed from a floor by stripping. The resins in the solution contribute gloss and leveling, while the alkali in the solution allows removal by stripping.
Biocides
Literally translated, bio means “living,” and cide means “kill.” Biocides eliminate and protect against bacteria and mold, which would ruin a floor finish before it is used.
Defoamers
Defoamers allow floor finish to dry without dried foam bubbles.
Plasticizers
Plasticizers are chemicals that allow the wet polish film to dry into a tough, durable film. There are two types of plasticizers: permanent and fugitive. Permanent Plasticizers stay in the film for the life of the polish, while Fugitive Plasticizers disintegrate during the drying process. Both types of plasticizers are required in a balanced floor finish formula and have a significant effect on the performance of a floor polish film. Permanent Plasticizers contribute to durability, while Fugitive Plasticizers help equally distribute and level the floor finish. Fugitive Plasticizers are also called “coalescents.”
Polyethylene or Wax Emulsions
Emulsions are combinations of two liquids that normally would not combine, such as oil and water. Obviously, wax and water would not naturally mix well, either. Polyethylene or wax emulsions allow the polyethylene or wax to be mixed with water to allow easy application on a floor.
Polymers
Polymers make the finish stronger. They can be described as extremely small plastic and wax beads that melt when the floor finish is applied.
Stabilizers
Stabilizers protect floor finish products during shipping and storage until they are used. Without stabilizers, high or freezing temperatures during transportation and storage would ruin some of the properties of floor care products.
Wetting Agents
Wetting Agent is a general term used to describe chemicals that help a solution emulsify, spread, and level on a floor.

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Before we began selling cleaning products and janitorial supplies, we used cleaning products and janitorial supplies for over twenty years in our cleaning business. We have extensive experience in the cleaning business and plenty of real-world product knowledge. We’re here to answer any and all of your questions about choosing the right products for your cleaning and janitorial service needs. Feel free to call us, send an e-mail, use the live chat feature on our web site, or contact us with your cleaning product or janitorial cleaning service related questions.

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Oct 21 2008

Floor Stripping Tips:

Published by scsupplies under Floor Finishing, Flooring, Maintenance Edit This

Floor Stripping Tips: Stripping Floors, A Guide for Beginners and Professionals

Occasionally, when floor finish (traditionally called “floor wax“) becomes worn, it needs to be replaced. Before new floor finish is applied, the old finish needs to be removed. Removing old floor finish is called “floor stripping”.

Before you apply stripping solution the floor, make sure you follow the manufacturers dilution instructions for the particular floor stripping products you are using. Stronger is not always better. The stripping solution must contain some water to be effective and emulsify the old floor finish, wax and sealers.

Allow the floor stripping solution to penetrate the old floor finish (floor wax) for several minutes. Then, scrub the floor with the appropriate floor scrubber. For heavy buildup and extremely aged finishes, you may have to apply more stripping solution to the floor as the solution becomes saturated with old, loosened wax and finish.

There is a way to check if the floor is ready for scrubbing. While wearing rubber gloves, scrape the finish film with the center section of an aggressive stripping pad. Click here for an article on how to choose floor pads. If you can easily scrape the loosened old wax finish down to the bare floor, it is has emulsified and is now ready to scrub. If the pad scrapes only a slippery layer of finish, then you need more dwell time and/or more floor stripper solution.

One very important tip to remember is that you should generously apply stripping solution to the floor. Many beginners commonly make the mistake of not applying enough. When you do not apply enough stripping solution, two bad things happen. First, the old floor finish is not fully separated from the floor. Second, the floor dries too fast, allowing the old floor finish to re-adhere before you can get it up. It takes time to apply stripping solution, scrub the entire floor, and remove the dirty water by mopping or vacuuming. Once you have applied the stripping solution, scrubbed the floor, and removed the dirty water; give the floor a final rinse. Remember, if the floor begins to dry before this cleanup and rinse, you will have to repeat the procedure and reactivate your stripping solution.

Regular floor stripping is no longer necessary if you use any of our floor finishes and use good maintenance procedures. Actually, excessive floor stripping can damage floors as well as increase product and labor costs. It is necessary to use floor strippers only when:

  • Removing heavy floor polish and wax buildups.
  • Removing polish and wax with burnished in dirt that cannot be removed by deep scrubbing.
  • Removing factory coatings from new tile flooring.

However, when floor stripping is required, we have the cleaning products that will get it done right. Two of the most popular floor strippers used by floor care professionals are HOT SHOT No-Rinse Speed Stripper and ONYX High Productivity Floor Stripper.

Once you have successfully stripped your floor, be sure to use the right floor finish, floor wax and floor sealers. ShopCleaningSupplies.com carries a wide array of floor and carpet care products that you can buy and now use with confidence.

For your clients have gone “green,” we also carry environmentally friendly, “green” floor cleaning products.

Be sure to check out the floor stripping products, floor machines and professional cleaning supplies at ShopCleaningSupplies.com.

Our full selection of cleaning supplies and janitorial products for helping keep your home and business environments clean and safe includes the following categories:

Special Offers:

Cleaning Tips and Product Information:

Before we began selling cleaning products and janitorial supplies, we used cleaning products and janitorial supplies for over twenty years in our cleaning business. We have extensive experience in the cleaning business and plenty of real-world product knowledge. We’re here to answer any and all of your questions about choosing the right products for your cleaning and janitorial service needs. Feel free to call us, send an e-mail, use the live chat feature on our web site, or contact us with your cleaning product or janitorial cleaning service related questions.

ShopCleaningSupplies.com - The Internet’s #1 Source For Cleaning Products and Janitorial Supplies
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Sep 25 2008

Tips on Floor Finishing:

Published by scsupplies under Floor Finishing Edit This

Tips on Floor Finishing: How to Create a Great Floor Finish

ShopCleaningSupplies.com has the floor care products you need, along with the experience and know how to help you use cleaning products the right way.

While floor finishing in private homes often means hardwood floor refinishing, floor finishing in the commercial cleaning business often involves tile and concrete. Proper floor finishing requires the proper floor care products. Your mop heads need to be in good condition. Also, you will save significant time and money by using the correct type of mop. Always use laundered rayon-blend mop heads for waxing. Soiled or new cotton mops can turn the finish brown. Before using mops, soak and tightly wring them, so they absorb less finish and are easier to clean.

Floor wax and floor finish are two different terms that mean the same thing. Whether you call it floor wax or floor finish, different floor chemicals have different characteristics, depending on the type of floor you are finishing and how that floor is used. Certain floor finish chemicals are better with certain floor finishing equipment and certain floor sealers. You should also choose floor finishing chemicals according to what is most important to your client: appearance, durability, protection, or economy.

Before you start floor finishing, you should determine if floor stripping is necessary. There is a simple test to make sure. Apply one coat of floor finisher to a small area and let it dry. Then, apply masking or cellophane tape to the finish and pull it up quickly. If the finish comes off with the tape, you have poor adhesion. Poor adhesion means that you need to decide if the floor needs stripping or if you need to use another floor finisher.

If floor stripping and floor sealing are not required, then sweep and clean the floor with floor cleaners and let it dry completely. Then, when applying floor finish, apply more than one coat. Usually, you should apply two or three coats. More coats mean a shinier floor. Make sure you allow each coat to dry before applying the next coat. It will take at least 45 minutes for each coat to dry.

It is important to apply the coats of floor finish a certain way. Different areas of the floor need different numbers of coats. Foot traffic lanes need more coats than other areas. Apply three coats to foot traffic lanes for every one coat in non-traffic areas along the edges. This helps prevent edge buildup. On the first application, stay at least 12 to 14 inches away from baseboards and corners. Gradually work closer to the edges with each subsequent coat. Apply finish in uniform, medium to full coats. Thin coats may dry faster, but often lose strength and powder relatively quickly.

For the environmentally conscious, we offer green floor cleaning products.

We hope this article helped with any questions you had about floor finishing. Please remember to use ShopCleaningSupplies.com for your floor finish, floor wax, and floor sealers, floor stripping products, hardwood floor wood finish, floor restoration maintainers, floor machines, floor scrubbers, floor buffers, air movers and floor fans, and all your floor and carpet care products.

Our full selection of cleaning and janitorial products for helping keep your home and business environments clean and safe includes the following categories:

Special Offers:

Cleaning Tips and Product Information:

Before we began selling cleaning products and janitorial supplies, we used cleaning products and janitorial supplies for over twenty years in our cleaning business. We have extensive experience in the cleaning business and plenty of real-world product knowledge. We’re here to answer any and all of your questions about choosing the right products for your cleaning and janitorial service needs. Feel free to call us, send an e-mail, use the live chat feature on our web site, or contact us with your cleaning product or janitorial cleaning service related questions.

ShopCleaningSupplies.com - The Internet’s #1 Source For Cleaning Products and Janitorial Supplies
Everyone is our Customer!

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