Use and Care Manual

HSFSTBCareGuide02282007r7
Maintaining Laminate or Hardwood Flooring in Heavy Use Areas
The key element in the maintenance of Laminate or Hardwood flooring in heavy use areas is to keep the
flooring surface free from smeared or streaked areas, which then lead to increased maintenance rather than less since
streaked or smeared areas also attract dust and dirt to stick to the flooring surface. Sticky areas of flooring cause trouble
in two ways; one, the area attracts dirt; and two, the sticky dirt transfers to shoe traffic and spreads the soil and grit around
a wider area.
The use of protective walk-off mats in areas around beverage service, entry doorways, vending areas etc. will
help with everyday tracked in dirt and other spots and spills that once on the flooring surface, attract dirt more readily.
Shaw Hard Surfaces Technical would advise that your maintenance staff adopt "Dry Cleaning" methods for
maintaining your Laminate or Hardwood flooring product in heavy use areas. This regimen would involve the following
methodology:
1. Once or twice daily dry dust-mopping of the Laminate or Hardwood flooring surface using a premium grade
cotton dust mop head. Even shoe scuff marks can be removed from the pre-finished Laminate or Hardwood flooring
surface using a dry cotton dust mop. (We do not see optimum results when using synthetic or blended fiber dust mop
heads.)
2. Spot clean any sticky areas on the flooring using a three step method of applying a mild, neutral pH cleaner like
Shaw’s R2X Hard Surface Cleaner, to a cotton cloth; using that cloth to clean the sticky spill area, and then buff-drying
the sticky spill area with a dry cotton cloth to prevent residue from the cleaning process to remain on the surface. (This
"buff-dry" anti- residue step is very important to keeping the flooring appearance clean [not smeared], and uniform!) There
is no need to wet mop the entire flooring area for one or two spills. Spot clean and thoroughly dry the spill areas, and
continue dry cleaning the rest of the flooring using the dust mop.
3.
Small, slightly sticky areas can also be removed using the dry dust mop; but remember, when the dust mop head
begins to tack or grab to the floor, (does not glide easily), it is time to switch out for a replacement one.
4. The cotton dust mop heads used for daily cleaning should be routinely removed from service, laundered, (hot
water washed and thoroughly rinsed and dried), and then placed back into service. Purchasing several cotton dust mop
heads and setting up a rotating use schedule is easiest on the maintenance team, and provides additional back up
equipment so you are prepared for those heavy traffic or inclement weather days.
Remember: Frequent routine dry dust-mopping and spot cleaning / buff drying of problem areas can be
accomplished much more quickly, and with much less risk of slippery surface areas, than wet or damp mopping
of the entire flooring surface.