rubber flooring

[rclllc]

i just got this new account w/ rubber floors in the bathrooms. what's the best way to care for rubber? there is no sealant or finish on this floor at all.

[monayuki]

Hey Bud,

Is this Rubber Flooring for Commercial ? I have not done rubber floors yet but rubber mats we use the same cleaners for Hardwood Floors. Hope this helps.

[J4K Cleaning]

If it is the rubber type floor I am thinking of you don't want to seal or finish it. Is it completely smooth or does it have raised areas in it? I would just use a neutral cleaner on it.

[Kevin]

From the Endura Website

Regular Endura Maintenance After Initial Cleaning

A. Wet Cleaning
Sweep the floor.

Prepare a neutral floor cleaning solution (pH of 7-8) using a recommended detergent mixed in warm water. For light soil, the dilution ratio is usually 2 liquid ounces per gallon of warm water (see Recommended Cleaning Detergents).

Apply the solution with a deck brush or with a nylon or rayon mop. Allow the solution to stand for five minutes. If an automatic scrubber is used, apply the solution with the machine.

Scrub the wet surface with a deck brush or automatic scrubber with the vacuum turned off.

Remove the solution with a mop or wet vacuum, or with the scrubbing machine with the vacuum turned on.

For added luster, dry brush after the flooring is thoroughly dry (at least 2-3 hours).
Small installations – Use a bath towel wrapped around a push broom.
Large installations – Use a polishing machine (up to 350 rpm) using a Union Fibre or bristle brush (see Recommended Brushes).

CAUTION:

1. DO NOT use strong solvent cleaners such as Lestoil, Top Job, Pinesol or similar products.
2. NEVER use gasoline, turpentine or acetone!
3. DO NOT use black, brown, green, red or beige pads!
4. DO NOT use cleaning and polishing machines that exceed 350 RPM!
5. DO NOT apply unapproved acrylics, waxes or topcoating.

Questions

A. Spot Cleaning & Black Scuff Mark Removal

Spray Windex or similar mild solution on area to be cleaned.

Wipe clean with a soft dry cloth or towel.

Buff area with a soft dry towel to help return the luster.

B. Removing Gum

Spray Orange Desolvit on the stuck gum.

Remove with a wood or teflon spatula.

Remove residue of gum with mineral spirits.

Buff area with soft dry towel to help return the luster.

Special Cleaning Questions or Circumstances
If Endura has been subjected to any of the following, the tiles will look very dull and will pick up tracked soil easily.

· Over scrubbing

· Solvent or acid spill

· Over-concentration of cleaner

· Abrasive pad or too stiff a brush

Remedy
To help restore the tile to its normal luster and condition, please follow these instructions:

Tiles must now be scrubbed clean. Use Taski Profi or EnduraClean.

With a mop, apply a one to one mixture of Taski Wi-Wax evenly onto the cleaned tile.

Normal use of Endura does not require the use of floor finishes. Endura's internal waxes will provide luster, which can be enhanced by dry brushing.

Recommended Cleaning Detergents

EnduraClean™ Neutral cleaning Detergent for Endura Rubber Floor Tile and Stair Treads

Taski Profi Neutral Cleaning Detergent

Taski Wi-Wax Cleaner/Maintainer (for mopping or for use in small areas such as stairwells)

Taski Combiplus Cleaner/Maintainer (for use in cleaning large areas with an automatic scrubber)

Taski products are manufactured by Diversey Lever Company - [phone] for nearest distributor.

There may be other suitable sources for neutral cleaners. However, these have not been tested by Endura. Remember (very important), neutral means a pH of 7 to 8.

Recommended Brushes and Pads for Scrubbing Machines

A. Wet Cleaning Brush
Specify a 22 gauge flagged nylon bristle for cleaning, available from:

Carlisle Sanitary Maintenance Products
402 South Black River Street
Sparta, WI 54656
Tel: [phone]

B. Wet Cleaning Pad
Taski contact microfiber cleaning pad
DiverseyLever: [phone] (Customer Service)

C. Dry Polishing Brush
Specify the Union Mix Brush for dry buffing (be sure to use this brush dry). See addresses above.

The recommendations herein are based on the best available data obtained through testing and field experience. However, because of variations in actual applications or site conditions, the results may vary.

If any questions arise that have not been addressed in this literature, please call Endura at 800-447-8442.

www.endura-flooring.com/installation.html

[ECBS Clean Team]

This reminded me of one of our worst experiences doing floors.

We did the "track" at a Circuit City. It was red rubber flooring with raised circles. They insisted on having the floors stripped & refinished.

We used the same process we use to strip vinyl. the color bled into the carpet that surrounded the track. We tried to apply the finish with our finish system when it needed to be applied with a rayon mop. It was hell.

If I had to do it again: They make stripper that will not bleed the color, I would use a stripping brush ( to get around these circles), & I would apply the finish with a mop.

[Grizzly]

Sounds like Johnson Rondelle or the same type of flooring. All advice is sound. If you do use a 175 swing machine to clean it, use a very light brush driver and make sure and cross hatch it. We have used our autoscrubber on these types of flooring with great success but you must cross hatch especially if it is the rondelle style with the raised little circles. Only go one way and you get a dirt build up on the back side of the circle. My two cents worth.

Bill

[monayuki]

Sounds Similar to Cork Flooring too.

[rclllc]

thanks for all the info people. it was helpful.