Who knew there were so many things that could go wrong while restoring your floors? You guessed it- we knew, and we’re here to share our insider tips with cleaners everywhere! When done correctly, stripping and refinishing floors is a great way to bring them back to life and keep them looking brand new. Here are 8 common cleaning mistakes to avoid when stripping and refinishing your floors…
If you cover too big of an area, then the stripper will dry onto the floor making the finish harder to remove. To avoid making this popular floor care mistake, section off different areas of the floor one at a time. This way, you’ll get equal coverage and avoid streaking or wasted product.
On the other hand, if you don’t allow enough dwell time, then you’ll leave patches of finish. While there are many variables that can affect the outcome of finishing your floors, such as consistency, technique, and lighting, one common way to guarantee patches is by forgetting to pause regularly while moving the machine across the floor.
Unfortunately, there is more than one way to get a patchy outcome. If you use a clogged pad, then you’ll also leave patches of finish behind. Switching the pad out regularly ensures the best possible outcome for your floors. The base of your finish will help determine how quickly the pad will clog and how often you’ll need to change it out (i.e. is it oil-based, water-based, etc?).
If you don’t rinse with clean water, then the finish will peel up from the floor. Using dirty water is likely to cause a bad reaction with your finish. Remnants of product or dirt in the old water can damage the finish and cause it to peel and stick when stepped on.
This next floor care “no-no” is probably the most well-known of them all. Still, it’s a commonly made mistake that has earned a spot on the list. If you use a dirty mop, then the floor will be streaky. Dirt and residue from prior cleaning jobs stay in your mop unless properly rinsed each time. Simply put, a dirty mop tends to leave more behind than it picks up.
If you pour finish into a dirty bucket, then the floor will be dull. Due to contamination, it’s extremely important to always clean your bucket before pouring any finish into it. Going the extra mile and lining the bucket before use is the best way to ensure no contamination and produce sparkling clean results.
Dirty buckets aren’t the sole reason for dull results. If you recoat before the finish is dry, then the floor will also be dull. Once you’ve applied, scrubbed, and rinsed the finish, it’s important to give the finish time to settle and dry completely before recoating to avoid a dull shine. For best results, consider recoating the finish 4-6 times.
Finally, if you put the floor fan on too soon, then you will leave ripples in the finish. Waiting for the finish to dry completely during each recoat can feel tedious and time-consuming. However, it’s important to not rush the final stage by using a floor fan right away. The wind from the fan will cause the finish to shift slightly and leave an undesired ripple effect in your floors.
There you have it. These 8 stripping and refinishing tips are sure to help get the job done efficiently and produce the like-new results your business deserves.
If you’re looking to improve your floors today, you’re in luck! Midlab makes it easy to strip and refinish floors with products that were specially formulated to leave your floors strong and shining long-term. Take the first step toward better floors by checking out our exclusive line of MAXIM strippers and refinishers, now available in FlexMax packaging for a simpler, more efficient way to restore floors.