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Altro resilient flooring cleaning guide

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Recommended cleaning methods

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Last edited: September 2017

 

 Manual  Mechanical – Heavy Soiling

(The dilution rate may depend on how dirty the floor is and the concentrate used).

  1. Sweep up dust and dirt, remove large debris.
  2. Apply solution of neutral detergent to the floor in the correct dilution and leave for several minutes. An alkaline cleaner such as Altroclean™ 44 may be required for very heavily soiled areas.
  3. Pick up residue with a clean microfibre mop. Replace mop head as required.
  4. Rinse the floor with clean water, removing the dirty water from the floor with a mop and allow to dry. Use a double bucket to ensure that the floor is rinsed well with clean water.

(The dilution rate may depend on how dirty the floor is and the concentrate used).

  1. Vacuum up dust and dirt, remove large debris.
  2. Apply solution of neutral detergent to the floor in the correct dilution and leave for several minutes. An alkaline cleaner such as Altroclean™ 44 may be required for very heavily soiled areas.
  3. Mechanically scrub using a rotary cleaning machine fitted with an Altro UniPad™ cleaning pad or similar cleaning pad of the correct size.
  4. Wet vacuum the residue and then rinse the floor with warm clean water and vacuum dry.


Applying a polish or seal to the surface of Altro resilient flooring will reduce the slip resistance of the product.

Failure to maintain Altro flooring in accordance with recommended procedure can affect the performance of the product. Further information is available from Altro. Please ensure you have the Health and Safety data sheet for any cleaner you intend to use. In the event of any queries our technical services department will be pleased to advise you.

Tips for successful maintenance of Altro flooring

Before using any cleaning chemical, users should refer to the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for correct safety advice and to determine the level of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and RPE (Respiratory Protective Equipment) that is required. A COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) assessment and risk assessment should be carried out before using the cleaning chemical. In the case of contact with eyes or skin, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.

  1. Develop a regular cleaning programme suited to the usage and traffic of the area – heavily trafficked or highly visible areas need to be cleaned more often than areas which are seldom used, or where appearance is less important. Remember that dirty equipment, particularly mops, does not clean but merely redistribute the dirt.
  2. Use recommended cleaning chemicals – use only recommended cleaning liquids or their equivalent in the correct concentration. Do not mix cleaning liquids, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Always check the suitability of cleaners for use on vinyl floors. Do not use cleaner containing pine oil.
  3. Remove scuff marks regularly – to remove any rubber heel marks by abrasion use the correct machine pad, or scrub by hand, using scouring powder. For areas requiring renovation due to neglect or heavy soiling consult Altro technical services.
  4. Protect newly laid floors – all newly laid floor surfaces should be covered and protected from all other trades during the contract with a suitable non staining protective covering.
  5. Dust control; 80% of the dust in a building is carried in on people’s shoes – a suitable dirt excluder outside all entrances and a mat inside will protect the flooring. Mats should be regularly cleaned to maintain their effectiveness. Dust control mops are also useful.

General notes concerning staining

Some materials are known to cause staining on vinyl floors. Typical examples include:

  • Asphalt and bitumen materials
  • Cardboard / Hardboard (wet)
  • Transfer of some fire treatments and maintenance materials used on carpets
  • Dyes from printed literature or packaging
  • Rubber-backed carpets and rubber mats
  • Rubber furniture rests and trolley wheels
  • Shoe soles not made from non-staining materials
  • Heat degradation
  • Some chemicals used in cleaners e.g. pine oil
  • Poster paints and powder paints

High quality cleaning chemicals and equipment ensure efficient maintenance and represent only a small proportion of maintenance costs.

For companies who recommend their own products and equipment for cleaning Altro floors, please refer to the individual Altro approved cleaning and maintenance product and equipment guides for further details.

For further information or technical advice
call our Customer Care Centre on 03 9764 7000
or email: info@asf.com.au

NOTE: “Altro APAC Pty Ltd” (“Altro”) endeavours to ensure that advice and information given in Product Data Sheets, Method Statements and Material Safety Data Sheets (all known as Product Literature) is accurate and correct. However, where Altro has no control over the selection of its products for particular applications, it is important that any prospective customer, user or specifier, satisfies him / herself that the product is suitable for the intended application. In this process, due regard should be taken of the nature and composition of the background / base and the ambient conditions both at the time of laying / applying / installing / curing of the material and when the completed work is to be brought into use.

However, as site conditions and the execution of the work are beyond our control, we accept no resultant liability.

Altro’s policy is one of continuous research and development and we reserve the right to update our products and information at any time without prior notice.

Published 01/01/0001