Armstrong Flooring™

Initial Care

1. After installation is completed, remove all debris (sweep or vacuum ?).
2. Damp mop using pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner. Allow 48 hours before mopping.
3. If necessary, wet scrub using an automatic scrubbing machine or single disc polisher operating at less than 600RPM (use a medium nylon brush only) with a pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner.
4. Adhesive residue may be removed using a clean white cloth dampened with small amounts of mineral turps. Carefully follow warnings on the container, and immediately rinse with clean water (test in an inconspicuous area first).

Routine Care

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

Frequency and type of maintenance required depends on traffic flow, application, environmental conditions, and customer requirements. Light and accent colours can require more maintenance. In high traffic areas or areas with minimal maintenance conducted, the use of darker, more camouflaging colours and patterns should be considered.

Daily Tasks:

• Sweep and/or vacuum thoroughly to remove all dirt and dust.
• Spillages/Stains: Any liquid spills or potentially staining marks should be cleaned immediately using spot mopping/spot scrubbing. Stains should be immediately removed. Spot clean with a pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner using a soft nylon brush. After stains have been removed, rinse the floor with clean water and allow to dry.

Daily/Regular Tasks:

• Wet Scrub using an automatic scrubbing machine or single disc polisher (< 600RPM, use medium nylon brush only) with a pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner. Auto scrubbing takes approximately 20% of the time of damp mopping. For maximum efficiency, spot mop in obstructed areas only. For commercial kitchens and showers, a low alkaline cleaner can be used to cut through fatty deposits.
• Spot scrub edges & fixtures using a soft-bristled broom and pH 7.0-8.5 neutral floor cleaner.

Illustrative Cleaning Methods:

• Mop Cleaning: Depicts a floor mop with bristles being used to clean a floor.
• Automatic Scrubber: Shows an automatic floor scrubbing machine in operation.
• Broom Cleaning: Illustrates a broom being used to clean a floor, with suds or foam visible.

Commercial Kitchens/Showers

In these areas, a low alkaline cleaner can be used to cut through fatty deposits.

Note: The following are unsuitable and not recommended for use on safety flooring:

• Microfibre mops and string mops.
• Dry burnishing (buffing) with cleaning/buffing discs/pads on a high-speed swing polisher or cleaning discs/pads on auto scrubbers. Use of these methods will prematurely wear the flooring and reduce slip resistance.

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 a rigid material over this (e.g., plywood, hardboard). 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 or films), as these materials can damage the floor/wall.

Surface protection must be applied over clean floors only.

DO NOT tape/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 whitening/clouding of the surface, which may be irreversible. Should the protection materials be exposed to water and become wet, the protection materials 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 doorway entrances and long enough (minimum 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 (particularly black type) products 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.