The dos and don’ts of flooring maintenance

Epoxy flooring solutions require regular cleaning to maintain their lifespan, aesthetic and overall safety. Daily wipe-downs with ingredient specific products, buffing and scrubbing are a number of ways in which this can be achieved. Follow these guidelines for cleaning best practice to achieve the very best floors for many years to come.

DO

• Carry out initial floor cleaning before use of the area and take care when installing equipment on the new floor. Heavy equipment can mark or damage the flooring.
• Have a regular maintenance schedule – clean your floor regularly to stay on top of dust and dirt build-up.
• Maintain heavily trafficked areas (e.g. entrances) where the levels of grit, dirt and wear are the highest.
• Clean up spills immediately.  Remove traces of oil and grease immediately with an aqueous solution of alkaline detergent.  
• Ensure that cleaning and maintenance levels are higher in areas subject to accidental contamination by chemicals including bacteriological or radioactive materials.  
• Use brushes instead of mops if your resin flooring has a textured surface. This will ensure that grooves and ridges in the flooring are effectively cleaned.  
• Always use the highest quality equipment available to achieve longer lasting and better results.   
• Ensure that your cleaning equipment itself is regularly cleaned.  
• Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturers of chemicals and equipment.

DON’T  

• Do not use excess concentrations of cleaning agents. Exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended dosage can prove harmful to those cleaning and/or using the floor space.
• Do not mix cleaning chemicals and agents. This can be potentially dangerous to the people cleaning the floor and/or the users of the space.  
• Do not use excessive water.
• Do not use solvents as they will attack the floor if undiluted.
• Do not use synthetic scrubbing pads on textured resin floor finishes. The textured finish will cause rapid deterioration of the pads and will change the flooring profile. It will also change the anti-slip properties of the flooring over time.
• Do not use phenol based cleaning chemicals, as they will cause degradation of resin floor surfaces.

* This list has been collated from information provided by The Resin Flooring Association (FeRFA) Guide to Cleaning Resin Floors.

According to Colin Murphy, Product Manager at Hychem, regular cleaning of resin flooring is the number one way to ensure a very long lifespan of the product surface.

“The simple fact is, floors which are kept clean will last longer. Dust and debris can become abrasive over time and can shorten the lifespan of your installation,” said Mr Murphy.

For the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries, it is particularly important to maintain hygienic surfaces, where proper cleaning techniques are essential.

“Resin flooring provides a hardwearing and hygienic solution. It is relatively easy to clean in comparison to other flooring types and are seamless once installed.

“Flooring types such as vinyl or tiles allow dirt and bacteria to build-up between the cracks. If liquid finds its way beneath vinyl flooring via the seams, it can begin to warp and peel away.”

“Many Hychem resin floors also have an antimicrobial ingredient added, that resists the growth of mould and other harmful microbes. This is a fantastic addition to the product range at Hychem, and provides clients with a highly effective and hygienic solution,” said Mr Murphy.

For more information please contact Colin Murphy on 0410 319 557 or see the Hychem product range online.