Floor care is a four step process namely foundation, buffing, preservation and maintenance.
The first phase of floor cleaning is foundation. Floor finishes are not permanent fixtures. Periodically a floor must be stripped of its old finish and a new finish must be applied. The main reasons to strip a floor of its existing finish are that when there is a break down in the floor surface and there are definite worn traffic areas that are beginning to show. These areas are indicated by a worn away finish and seal, and the bare floor becomes exposed. Secondly, a noticeable flaking or shipping of the surface of the finish from too much old finishes. This mainly occurs when the wet scrubbing procedure has not been followed. The final way that you know your floor will need to be stripped and resurfaced is when the floor looks wet in dark shadowy areas of the floor. This is usually blamed on burnishing the floor without wet mopping first. This results in shiny dirt. And lastly when there is a staining from spills or from in adequate pick up of the cleaning solutions while mopping the floors.

Once the decision has been taken to refinish the floor, the first stage is to strip the floor of its existing finish. Equipments needed for mopping are clean dust mop, dust pan and brush, standard speed floor machine with pad drive assembly or stripping brush, clean floor stripping pads, wet pick up vacuum, set of wet floor signs, clean mop buckets with clean wringers, wet mop buckets with clean wringers, putty knife, door way mats, hand pads and holder for edge cleaning, floor stripping concentrate and stripper neutralizer concentrate.

The purpose of stripping is to remove both the old floor finish and all of the dirt that has been embedded in that finish. This is accomplished in the following way: First mop the floor to remove all loose dirt and dust. Then get two clean mops and two clean mops buckets and fill the buckets half full with hot water. Add the recommended amount of stripping solution to one of the buckets. Rope off the areas to be stripped and place warning signs at appropriate locations. Place mats at the exits to the area being stripped so that stripping solution is not tracked to other floors.

Lay down a generous amount of the stripping solution in a small area of the floor and let stand for approximately five minutes. Do not allow the solution to dry. If allowed to dry, the stripping solution, mixed together with the old finish, will turn into a dirty gray paste, and the entire process must be begun again. After the solution has stood for five minutes, start scrubbing along the base boards or in the corners with a scrubbing pad.

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