Following a regular and well-planned maintenance program will ensure a beautiful floor and increase its service life.

Click here for more insight into creating a Flooring Maintenance Plan for Your Facility.

Helpful Tips

• Always use proper safety signage while working, especially during wet maintenance.
• Use walk-off mats at every entrance to help control grit and soil; clean walk-off mats regularly. We recommend mats without latex or rubber backing since these backings can cause permanent discoloration.
• Protect the floor with plywood or Kraft paper during construction and while moving equipment and furniture.
• Select proper non-staining furniture rests and casters; the contact area should be smooth, flat, and firmly on the floor at all times.
• After removing loose dirt and debris, use a damp mop and a properly diluted cleaner for daily maintenance. Do not use an excessive amount of liquid.
• When using disinfectants, always follow manufacturer’s instructions for use to avoid slippery conditions and possible discoloration.
• Protect your floor by avoiding the use of brown and black pads, or stiff-bristled, highly abrasive brushes.

Initial Maintenance

Immediately After Installation

• Newly installed flooring should not be exposed to rolling load traffic for at least 72 hours after installation to allow the adhesive to dry.
• Do not wet wash, machine scrub, or strip the floor for at least five days after installation. Excess moisture can interfere with the adhesive and/or seam treatments.
• When performing wet maintenance, always use proper signage and prohibit traffic until the floor is completely dry.
• Remove any adhesive residue with a clean, white cloth dampened with denatured alcohol.
• Sweep, dust mop or vacuum the floor to remove loose dust, dirt, and debris.
• Damp mop the floor with a properly diluted cleaner, like S-485 Commercial Floor Cleaner.
• Apply at least two coats of a high-quality commercial floor polish, like S-480 Commercial Floor Polish to temporarily protect the floor until regular maintenance procedures can begin.

Preparation for Commercial Traffic

• Thoroughly scrub the floor, passing slowly in each direction.
• If the floor is badly soiled and/or scratched, strip it using the procedure above but use a properly diluted strippingsolution in place of the cleaner.
• PLEASE NOTE: The use of aggressive strippers such as mop-on/mop-off, no-scrub and no-rinse strippers is not recommended on tile floors less than two years old because they may affect the adhesive bond.
• Rinse the floor with fresh, clean water and allow the floor to dry.
• Apply 3 to 5 coats of high-quality floor polish, like S-480 Commercial Floor Polish.

Daily & Periodic Maintenance

Sweep & Damp Mop in Areas with Light Soiling

• Sweep, dust mop or vacuum the floor to remove loose dust, dirt, and debris.
• Damp mop the floor with a properly diluted cleaner, like S-485 Commercial Floor Cleaner, on a regular or daily basis.

Machine Scrub for Heavy Soiling and Corrective Cleaning

• Thoroughly scrub the floor, passing slowly in each direction.
• Rinse the floor with fresh, clean water and allow the floor to dry.
• If needed, additional coats of floor polish may be applied. If there is sufficient base of polish remaining (3 to 5 coats), buff, spray buff or burnish to restore gloss.

Restorative Maintenance – Stripping Existing Floor Polish

• Mix stripping solution to the appropriate dilution, depending on floor finish buildup.
• Cordon off areas to be stripped and apply liberal amounts of solution uniformly on floor with mop.
• Let stripping solution soak for the appropriate amount of time recommended by the stripper manufacturer.
• Keep areas to be stripped wet. Rewet if necessary.
• Machine scrub the floor (300 rpm or less) with a 3M blue pad or equivalent to break up the polish film. Do not allow stripping solution to dry on the floor.
• Remove dirty stripping solution with a wet vacuum or mop.
• Rinse the floor with fresh, clean water and allow the floor to dry.
• Apply 3 to 5 coats of high-quality floor polish, like S-480 Commercial Floor Polish.

Maintenance Equipment & Accessories

We recommend using the following accessories and equipment as part of a regular and well-planned maintenance program to ensure a beautiful floor and increase its service life.

• Wet mops (microfiber, cotton, synthetic blend)
• Dry mops (microfiber, rayon, polyester, acrylic)
• Polish applicators (optional)
• Use a 3M® 5100 red pad or equivalent brush or pad for a light scrub
• Use a 3M® blue pad or equivalent brush or pad for a deep scrub
• S-480 Commercial Floor Polish
• S-485 Commercial Floor Cleaner

Use a 3M® 5100 red pad or equivalent brush or pad for a light scrub	Use a 3M 5300 blue pad or equivalent brush or pad for a deep scrub
S-480 Commercial Floor Polish	S-485 Commercial Floor Cleaner

Floor Protection

Guidelines for Floor Protection Devices

• The contact area should be smooth, slightly rounded and large enough to distribute the load evenly without damaging the floor.
• Floor contact devices should be manufactured from non-staining materials.
• Felt glides are recommended on smooth, hard surface. They must be kept clean and properly maintained.
• Nylon glides are recommended on heavily embossed or textured surfaces.
• When using rolling casters, we recommend double wheel options. To avoid damage under the casters, use a non-staining chair mat.
• Furniture, appliances, and equipment should be leveled so that all flooring protection devices rest fully and firmly on the floor.

Correcting Scratch Whitening

Darker-colored VCT patterns may be susceptible to scratch whitening. Follow this link for procedures to correct scratch whitening.