Armstrong Flooring Cleaning and Care Instructions

Initial Care

1. After installation, remove all debris using an electrostatic dust mop or vacuum. Allow 48 hours before cleaning or sealing.
2. Adhesive residue can be removed with a clean white cloth dampened with a small amount of mineral turps. Follow container warnings, then immediately rinse with clean water (test in an inconspicuous area first).
3. Complete one of the following options:
   • 3.1. Standard Scrub: Scrub the floor using a pH 7.0-8.5 neutral detergent. Rinse with fresh water. Ensure the surface is completely dry, then apply a minimum of three (3) coats of high solids floor finish (e.g., Peerlessjal Gemini). Follow manufacturer's instructions. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next. Dry burnish. [Illustration: Automatic scrubber cleaning floor ?] [Illustration: Single disc floor polisher cleaning floor ?] [Illustration: Broom cleaning floor edges ?]
   • 3.2. For Badly Soiled Floors: Strip the floor surface using a low alkali stripper. Rinse with fresh water. Ensure the surface is completely dry, then apply a coat of high-quality sealer. Allow the sealer to dry completely, then apply a minimum of three (3) coats of high solids floor finish (e.g., Peerlessjal Gemini or HyShield). Follow manufacturer's instructions. Allow each coat to dry completely.
4. Dry Burnish: This should only be performed on a clean floor using a single disc straight line polisher up to 1700 RPM with a white pad. This process enhances floor protection. [Illustration: Auto scrubber cleaning a large, unobstructed floor area] [Illustration: Single disc floor polisher cleaning a large, unobstructed floor area]
5. Spray Burnish: If desired, use a pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner. Ensure chemicals are diluted to appropriate levels for each application as per manufacturer's instructions.
6. After Hand-over: Apply additional coats of polish to build a foundation for ongoing maintenance, enabling the floor to withstand regular scrubbing and burnishing. Depending on the surface condition, repeat options 3.1 or 3.2 and build up the total coats of applied polish to the desired level. For optimal performance, a total of five (5) coats of polish is recommended.

Routine Care

Daily: Sweep, vacuum, static mop. Regularly damp mop, wet scrub, and burnish using a pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner.

The frequency and type of maintenance required depend on traffic flow, application, environmental conditions, and customer requirements. Light and accent colours may require more maintenance. In high traffic areas or areas with minimal maintenance, darker, more camouflaging colours should be considered.

Daily Tasks:

• Sweep, static dust/microfibre mop, and vacuum thoroughly to remove all dirt and dust. [Illustration: Mop cleaning floor with static symbol ⚡] [Illustration: Vacuum cleaner]
• Spillages/Stains: Any liquid spills or potentially staining marks should be cleaned immediately using spot mopping or spot scrubbing.
• Stains: Immediately remove the contaminant. Spot clean with a neutral floor cleaner using a soft nylon brush. After stains are removed, rinse the floor with clean water and allow to dry.

Daily/Regular Tasks:

• Daily: Damp Mop (Nylon/Rayon/Microfibre) with pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner. [Illustration: Damp mop cleaning floor ?]
• Regular: Spot scrub edges and fixtures using a soft-bristled broom and pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner. [Illustration: Broom cleaning floor edges ?]

Regular Maintenance:

• Wet Scrub: Use an automatic scrubbing machine or a single disc polisher (<600 RPM) with a medium nylon brush, red or blue pad, and pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner. Auto scrubbing takes approximately 20% of the time of damp mopping. For maximum efficiency, use damp mopping in obstructed areas only. [Illustration: Automatic scrubber cleaning floor ?] [Illustration: Broom cleaning floor edges ?]

Regular Maintenance (Large & Unobstructed Areas):

• Dry Burnish: For clean floors only, use an auto scrubber or a single disc straight line polisher up to 1700 RPM. Spray burnish if desired using pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner, using a white pad only (e.g., 3M™ TopLine Speed Burnish Pad 3200 or similar).

Refurbishment:

As required, strip and re-seal/polish VCT as per Initial Care options 3.1/3.2. Regular refurbishment, particularly in high traffic areas, will provide the best protection for the VCT.

Protection During Construction

All vinyl flooring must be protected during the construction period using a cardboard or paper-based floor protection system.

Where additional or solid protection is required, first install a cardboard or paper-based flooring protection system, and then apply rigid material over this (e.g., plywood, hardboard, corflute®). Armstrong Flooring DOES NOT recommend the use of plastic materials for the protection of vinyl floor or wall products during construction (e.g., builder's plastic, corflute®, sticky back carpet, or vinyl protector films), as these materials can damage the floor/wall.

Surface protection must be applied over clean floors only.

DO NOT tape or stick protection directly to the floor. DO NOT allow water to sit on or under the protection materials, as this could damage the floor and/or cause irreversible whitening/clouding of the surface. Should the protection materials become exposed to water, they MUST be immediately removed. Allow the floor to dry, then re-apply surface protection.

Warnings & General Hints

1. Follow manufacturer's instructions for all cleaning chemicals.
2. Use triple commercial walk-off mats (must not have a rubber backing) at all exterior doorways and entrances. Mats should be as wide as the doorways and long enough (min. 3.5 metres) to trap dirt before reaching the resilient floor. Clean walk-off mats frequently. Sand and grit are abrasive and can damage floors. Stopping contaminants at the entrance means less dirt trafficked through the building, protecting your investment and helping keep maintenance costs down.
3. Ensure all furniture legs have well-maintained, non-abrasive feet. Exposed metal legs and/or rigid/sharp chair or table leg stoppers can damage flooring.
4. Ensure the floor is protected from rubber products (particularly black type), such as chair feet, tyres, and mats, as these can cause staining.
5. As with any vinyl flooring, the use of improper cleaning agents and/or corrosive chemicals such as acids, alkalis, caustic or solvent agents (e.g., hydrochloric/sulfamic acid, paint stripper, benzine, toluol, acetone, or strong scouring powders) may damage floors.