Importance of Professional Cleaning for VCT Tiles
Walk into virtually any commercial facility today and odds are pretty good the floor under your feet is vinyl composition tile (VCT). VCT has proven to be a highly popular flooring choice because of its durability and ease of maintenance. But in order to sustain its durability and be reasonably scratch resistant, VCT flooring needs to be cleaned regularly and maintained properly. Additionally, VCT requires protection, and a polyacrylate floor finish creates a “renewable, repairable, restorable” wear layer that can be used to maintain the beauty and clean, shiny appearance that people want to see in a floor.
Thus, a primary goal for maintenance professionals is keeping VCT floors clean and looking their best, which helps extend the life of the floor. However, accomplishing this goal is fraught with challenges, such as constraints on time, budget and personnel.
Cleaning professionals increasingly find themselves having to do more with less. In the 2009 “Cleaning in a Down Economy” industry survey conducted by Procter & Gamble Professional™, 85 percent of cleaning professionals indicated that they have adopted a “doing more with less” approach, placing greater emphasis on staff productivity and cleaning efficiency. Choosing the right cleaning products can help deliver better floor appearance, less labor, and potentially lower costs.
How to Maintain the Shiny Look of VCT with Lower Cost
Simply put, sticking to a regular maintenance schedule and using the right cleaning products are the best way to maintain the look of any VCT floor. Below are tips for maintaining VCT.
Proper matting
Daily cleaning regimen
Recoating
Routine maintenance
Scrubbing pads
How to Choose the Right Tile Cleaning Products
To ensure the best results from a maintenance program, use a neutral-impact professional tile floor cleaner that is designed to be used on VCT. This cleaner should be extremely effective in removing a broad range of abrasive particulates from the surface of the tile in order to achieve a uniformly glossy, clear and bright appearance. The No. 1 cause of dulling, or wear, is soil that has been left behind by the cleaner. Additionally, choose a cleaner that is designed to be used with a specific finish. If the cleaner and finish are compatible, then the life of the floor can be further extended.
When it comes to selecting the right floor finish product, maintenance professionals need to have a thorough understanding of a facility’s need and the product’s features. Environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, will impact how much time is required by the finish to dry completely. Choose a product that is formulated to dry and cure well in a wide range of environmental conditions. Lastly, consider the product’s durability and its capability of providing a lasting shine without frequent buffing or burnishing.
In choosing the best stripping product for the job, it is important to select one that is highly effective, while still being safe. The right stripper should remove the finish completely the first time, eliminating the need for reworking areas to achieve proper levels of cleanliness before the new finish can be applied. This can help save time and money.
Holistic Approach to Floor Care
About Ed Thomas
Ed Thomas is a principal researcher and a 31-year veteran at Procter & Gamble Professional. He helped develop the P&G ProLine brand of commercial floor finishes, hard surface cleaners, and products for the foodservice industry. Ed is a ServSafe® certified professional and is an alumnus of the University of Cincinnati, College of Engineering and Applied Science.
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