How To Clean And Maintain Rubber Floor Tiles

The extreme durability and low maintenance cost of the rubber floors are some of its best qualities. Many kinds of liquid do not damage or stain the surfaces. It has a yielding and resilient nature that makes it damage-resistant from any physical impact. The growth of mildew and mold is also impossible on the rubber tiles as well as being resistant to burn. However, debris and dirt can accumulate on its surface. Based on this quality, rubber tiles have gained much popularity in home flooring use. Likewise, to keep the floor looking its best and disinfected, there are proper steps for cleaning and maintenance homeowners should regularly do.

Initial cleaning

Refrain from cleaning newly installed rubber flooring for at least 72 hours if it has been installed using adhesive. It has to get firm on the adhesive holding the tiles or sheet in place. Within three days of installation, the floor can usually be treated applying basic cleaning instructions.

Rubber flooring maintenance

Dirt and small debris present the most common maintenance issues. These find their way into our rubber floors by being blown in through air ducts and windows and walking on the floors with boots or shoes. Using rugs at the entrance and exit of our houses, to some extent, can cut down this natural occurrence. The floor can be worn out over time by these small specks if not removed in time as they happen to be abrasive. Also, to clean debris, vacuum or sweep on a regular basis. For stains, use a wet mop. It washes without risks of damage.

Rubber Flooring Homemade Cleaning Solution

One cup of vinegar added to a gallon of hot water provides a cheap means for natural rubber cleaning and disinfecting. Just remember to change the solution frequently keeping it clean and the water should always be warm if not hot. For a fragrancing effect mix the home-made solution with a squeeze of lemon or a few drops of essential oil. For extreme dirt, use a more concentrated version of the home-made solution together with a hand brush applying extra force on the floor, taking care not to end up with the brush scarring the floor.

Things to avoid when cleaning rubber floors

Avoid using cleaning agents containing turpentine solutions, acetone based and acidic chemicals. Also, steel wool and scouring pads may scar and slice the rubber surface causing severe damage in the cleaning process.

Rubber flooring water concerns

Rubber can safely be immersed in water for mopping and cleaning purposes since it’s not affected by either water or moisture. After the cleaning process, it’s appropriate to let the floor air dry for a perfect streak-free finish. A concern may however arise should the rubber floor be installed over a plywood sub-floor. Should that be the case, then letting the water settle in the seams between the tiles can lead to leaking of moisture down causing rot or mold in the sub-floor wood.

Buffing rubber floors

The rubber floor conditioner is applied either using the hand with the aid of cloth or by employing the buffing machine. When using the machine, it’s advisable to operate it at below 350 revolutions each minute. Failure to do so leaves us at the risk of damaging floors. A better and a cheaper alternative is mixing a cup of fabric softener into a gallon of water and use it to mop the floor. It will help restore a partial glow in the rubber floors when done on a regular basis.

Urine stains on a rubber floor

In some instances, urine usually presents particular problems for rubber flooring that mere conventional means cannot eliminate. But to get rid of this, use toothpaste and apply to the stained area and leave to dry for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with clean, warm water. If the stain persists, repeat the process until the stain is completely gone.

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