Title of Question:
Kitchen Floors
Name:Robin City: N Haven
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| Question: I have old black and white linoleum tile floors in the house I rent. I love the look but nothing I do cleans them. The one thing that worked a little was the MagicEraser sponges but they took forever and disintegrated fast. Is this a lost cause? Thanks. |
Post Your Answer To The Question Above:
| Answer: I have heard many people say you have to strip all the stuff off of the floor in order to get rid of all the ground in dirt and cleaner residue. You can try ammonia, but be careful as the fumes are very strong. Keep windows open and kids out of the way for this type of home improvement project! Also be careful not to mix cleaners together, such as ammonia and bleach and this is very dangerous. Here's a link to a site with some idea that are worth a try. If all else fails, you could always paint a fun design on the floor. Talk with a good paint store for ideas. Good luck!
http://www.stretc-her.com/stories/990104b.cf-m- |
| Answer: Hi Robin! Do you know for sure whether your floor is linoleum rather than vinyl? The reason I ask is that the two flooring types should be cleaned and maintained differently. If you are not sure, you can check by finding an unobtrusive spot on the floor and scraping off a small piece of it. If the color of the tile is just on the surface, the floor is actually vinyl. If the color goes down deeper, though, it is linoleum. If you have a linoleum floor, you should actually avoid using an alkaline cleaning product. It can discolor the floor and make it brittle. Instead, mix together a 1:1 solution of warm water and white vinegar, and mop your floor with it for routine cleaning jobs. If your floor is vinyl, though, ammonia and other alkaline cleaners and floor strippers are safe to use. It sounds as if your floor has a heavy layer of buildup and needs to be stripped. If your floor is linoleum, you should look for a stripping product that is safe for linoleum. Apply it according to the directions on the bottle. Once your floor is stripped, it will be dull. Use a linoleum-compatible floor sealer to bring back the shine. |
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