This do-it-yourself blog post is intended for experienced DIY’ers. If you are ever uncertain, please enlist the services of a professional who will always use the proper materials and have the knowledge and expertise for the work involved.
Stripping your floor is an effortful, but worthwhile project. Wood flooring (along with many others) can lose its lustre and get scraped and damaged, making it always look dirty. When you strip your floor, you are removing the old wax coating to make room for a new one. There are also different kinds of floor strippers for sealants and other finishes, so it is important that you are choosing the right type of stripping agent for the floor and finish that you have.
When searching for a stripping agent, keep your eye out for environmentally friendly brands, as they will be less dangerous to both the environment, but to your health as well. Can contain toxic and dangerous chemicals that are poisonous and very irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. You can find more information by reading the guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Also remember that buying cheap stripping agents may end up costing you a lot more in the long run. It may not do an efficient job, causing multiple applications, or it may damage your floors. High quality floor stripping products will get the job done better and faster.
The process:
Once you’ve chosen and bought the stripping agent for your floor, you must rent a floor scrubber. They are often for rent at any local hardware store. The larger the surface area you are covering, the larger the scrubber should be – this will help you save both time & money.
Make sure there is no furniture in the room, and that the floors have been washed immediately before the application of the stripper. Simply wash the floor with water and a very mild liquid soap to help pick up any excess debris.
Once the floor is dry, apply the stripping agent to the floor using a clean (preferably new) mop, making sure that you are following the directions on the packaging carefully. You may find that it is easier to do the floor in sections rather than all at once.
Next, the solution must be left to soak on the floor for the amount of time indicated on the package. Letting the stripping agent soak into the surface is paramount.
Once the solution has soaked adequately, it is time to use the floor scrubber. You can coordinate your scrubbing time with the soaking times to help work in sections. Work carefully with the scrubber; many people find their first attempt to be somewhat difficult, as they have a tendency to pull away when running.
Once you have scurbbed for the amount of time indicated on the packaging instructions, it is time to wash the floor thoroughly. It is easier to do this once the entire floor has been stripped.You will notice debris and wax being mopped up as well as the solution – this is the desired result.
Once the floor is thoroughly cleaned and dry, seal the floor with a sealer and floor finish.
At Go Green, we’re not just a cleaning company. We’re your partners in creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment for your business in Edmonton.
(780) 437-1011At Go Green, we’re not just a cleaning company. We’re your partners in creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment for your business in Edmonton.
With over 40 years of combined experience in the field of facilities services, We offer our clients top quality cleaning and maintenance services with high standards, and we are committed to only using environmentally friendly cleaning products. Read more below to learn about touch point cleaning, and why keeping your spaces clean is important to your health.
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