VINYL MAINTAINENSE

General Maintenance

The amount of daily usage will determine how often cleaning is required. Sweep as necessary with a soft broom. Care must be taken if you use a vacuum cleaner, do not use vacuum cleaners with "beater bars". Wipe over with a clean damp mop or cloth, which should be rinsed frequently in clean water.

CAUTION: Remember that all floors can be slippery when wet.

When necessary wash with a solution of clean water and mild detergent or domestic floor cleaning emulsion. Rinse thoroughly and soak up residual water. For additional lustre buff with a dry cloth. Spots, marks and spillages should be wiped up as soon as possible.

Do not use:

• Wire or nylon wool scouring pads
• Furniture polish
• Spirit based polish
• Powder or liquid abrasive cleaners
• Bleach or strong detergents

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Check that the

cleaner/polish is suitable for use with cushioned vinyl floor coverings.

Periodic Maintenance

The floor should be cleaned periodically by using a floor machine equipped with a scrubbing brush, wet vacuuming or dry buffing.

Vinyl floors with a protective PU lacquer do not normally require polish. Other floors will require polishing to protect the floor's surface from staining agents and to give a surface shine. For such floors apply a liquid emulsion floor polish after installation and thereafter at 6 - 12 monthly intervals as required.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a floor polish or cleaner. To avoid build-up, it is important to remove the previous layer of polish prior to re-polishing. The old polish can be removed by using an appropriate stripping solution and a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Once the new polish has been applied, buff to a gloss finish using a dry buffing machine.

Maintenance in case of stubborn stains

In the case of extremely stubborn stains, such as acids, alkalis, shoe-polish, blood, mustard, food, candy, fruit and fruit juices, grass, urine, excrement, vomit etc, Beauflor recommends using a suitable cloth or a towel soaked with a neutral floor cleaner and water, or a cloth soaked with methylated spirit For stains which won't wipe up easily, such as chewing gum, iodine, wax, oil, asphalt, tar etc. the sooner you act the better.

Carefully remove the excess with a dull kitchen knife, then rub the area lightly with mineral spirits, isopropyl alcohol or lighter fluid. Repeat as necessary until the stain has been removed.

After removing any stubborn stains always rinse well with clean water.

Protecting your floor from physical damage

Avoid the following:

• Rubber backing on doormats may result in yellow discolouration of the floor immediately beneath.
  Choose a natural fibre mat in preference.
• Rubber feet on furniture may cause staining. Remove them altogether or replace with coasters or felt pads between them and the floor.
• Spirit-based products such as shoe polish, solvents, hair dye and permanent marker pens. Wipe up spots and marks as quickly as possible. Also applies to turmeric, mustard and strongly coloured foodstuffs.
• Corrosive substances such as acid and alkaline solutions can damage the surface of the floor, clean up any spills quickly and carefully avoiding direct with the substance. Wear protective clothing (gloves etc. when doing so).
• Bitumen/tar from freshly resurfaced or melted roads and pathways. Some inexpensive rubber shoe (and slipper) soles can also cause stains.

The above list is indicative of materials likely to cause damage but is not to be considered restrictive.