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Post by luvdogz on Jun 11, 2010 12:05:28 GMT -5
Hi Everyone,
I stripped and waxed exam rooms in a doctor's office just two months ago (have a swing machine which I hired someone to strip floors with). When they were done, they looked beautiful!! Now most of them are starting to look dull and some have the wax worn off in spots. This is a very high traffic office so I put on 5 light coats of wax. How do I maintain these floors without starting from the beginning? I do not have a burnisher, only the swing machine. Without using any machines, could I put another couple of coats of wax on these floors? I'm a female and I'm kind of afraid of the swing machine. I also don't want so many coats of wax that stripping will be impossible next time it has to be done. Is buffing a floor hard to learn and do I need to do this? I really need some expert help here!! My husband did all this work but he passed away in January so I am learning from scratch. Thanks for ANY help, info, instructions, etc. you'd send to help me out!! I truly appreciate your time!!
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Post by lemming on Nov 5, 2010 15:15:24 GMT -5
Don't be afraid of the swing machine! If that is all you have, put a red pad on it and scrub the floor down with a little neutral cleaner, mop it up and coat the floors. The trick with the swing machine is to keep the pad as flat as possible and then tilting it up or down causes it to gradually go left or right with little effort by you. Just be careful around carpets or door thresh holds where the pad might grip and go out of control. Check school or government auctions for buffers and other equipment. I got a 1200 rpm machine that way for $15 and all it needed was a new switch $2 another thing that can help is the use of floor mats at entryways and furniture glides where chairs may scratch the finish and hard mats where rolling office chairs are used. Hope this helps
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Post by luvdogz on Nov 14, 2010 14:06:59 GMT -5
Thank you very much, lemming, for your reply regarding my maintaining waxed floors. I truly appreciate your help!! I had my nephew try it but, because he didn't really know what he was doing, I didn't dare try it out. I've got to get someone who knows what they're doing for me to have the courage to turn it on myself. It's scary when it starts running and starts moving! It's got alot of power and I'm afraid it will slam into a wall or something. My nephew didn't know how to get it to move left or right either. The manual said to raise the handle to go right and lower the handle to go left. We couldn't get it to do either. It is a Powr-Flite floor machine, 1.5 HP, 175 RPM. How do I lift or raise the handles? They look like bike handles to me and don't seem to move at all. My husband made this look so easy and relaxing..... Thanks, again, for your help!! It is appreciated more than you know!!!!!
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Post by lemming on Nov 16, 2010 16:20:35 GMT -5
It sounds like you might not have the handle locked down. This can cause it to either not move at all, or fly off in some random direction. Adjust the handle to what is comfortable to you and lock it down. Then grab the handles and look down at the machine and using your imagination see only the pad turning in a counter clockwise direction. If you lift up on the handle (tilting the whole machine forward) it puts more pressure on the forward edge of the pad and it will grip more on the floor and start pulling the machine to the right. If you push down on the handle, the rear edge of the pad grips more and it pulls the machine to the left. Go practice this in a large open space and you will be surprised at how easy it can be to manipulate the machine with little effort. Just make your movements gradually and let the machine do the work. It Is kind of relaxing It's not as scary as you think! If you have some soapy water on the floor this will make the machine glide easily and you won't have to struggle with it no matter how powerful or heavy it is.
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Post by lemming on Nov 17, 2010 3:09:30 GMT -5
This video might help. however I wouldn't recommend scrubbing a carpet yet until you get comfortable with using the machine. It takes a little more muscle to control that thing on a rug even if it is soaped up!
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Post by alisharanderson on Nov 25, 2010 18:38:30 GMT -5
This will help you out
Start by placing doormats or rugs. Doormats will catch much of the grit otherwise tracked into your home. Doormats should be vacuumed or shaken out often to maintain their effectiveness. Area rugs, placed under tables and in high traffic walkways, will protect the wax finish from repetitive abrasion.
In all cases, place anti-skid mats under area rugs and doormats. Anti-skid mats can be purchased pre-cut or in bulk at many hardware stores or at a carpet store. Cut the mats three to four inches smaller than your mat or carpet so that they don’t show when in place. Never use double-sided tape or other adhesive materials to fasten carpets to the floor. The wax, and possibly the stained concrete, will be damaged.
Protect your floor from mechanical abrasions wherever possible. Remove metal buttons and casters from all furnishing and substitute clear buttons or felt pads. Casters should be of a non-marking type only. Often- moved furnishings such as dining room or desk chairs, piano benches, etc., should have felt pads attached to the feet, or area rugs underneath. Other occasionally moved heavy furnishings can have padded foot caps or cups placed underneath.
When Cleaning
Dry dust mopping, sweeping, swiffering, or vacuuming will remedy most cleaning situations. Floors that are kept free of grit and soil will remain more durable and retain more of their beauty for a longer period of time. When necessary, the floor may be damp mopped using a sponge- or string- type mop. Clean, warm (not hot) water is recommended.
Additional cleaning may require a mild soap solution (Ivory Dish Soap, etc.) or a neutral cleaner solution to remove sticky or greasy residues from the floor. Never use a detergent, abrasive cleaner, or ammonia containing cleaner. Neutral cleaners are neutral pH surfactants that lift or emulsify contaminants without attaching the integrity of the wax finish. They can be purchased at home centers or janitorial supply houses.
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Post by eriklitt on Sept 10, 2012 0:59:28 GMT -5
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