How do you guys clean vinyl tile floors?

groucho · Nov 10, 2010

I have 12" square vinyl tile throughout my shop and this machine. Before I bought this shop, it was not used for automotive, so this machine, with a scotch pad type pad did a good job of cleaning the floor before I waxed it a few yrs ago. Now, it's quite a bit dirtier and I want to clean it. The machine has a black pad that's like those Scotch Brite pads. Is there a more abarasive/aggressive pad to put on my machine? The pad holder looks like a bristle broom. Will I need a different one for the pad you suggest? Thanks guys

JimA · Nov 10, 2010

Use a new black pad, the pad driver with the bristles you have should work fine. Use a commercial grade floor finish stripper, mix according to directions, mop on the floor in a 10' x 10' area. Let sit for 5 minutes then hit it with the machine. Squeegie into a puddle and wet vac it up, rinse with fresh water. Do this to the whole floor, let dry, then apply new floor finish if desired. 3-5 coats, let dry thoroughly (30-45 minutes) between coats. Let dry overnight before foot traffic.

Hubb · Nov 12, 2010

Have you tried bleach?

groucho · Nov 12, 2010

Hubb said:
Have you tried bleach?

No. My floor needs a mechanical cleaning. Like sanding the top coat of a paint job to get rid of the muck before polishing. I have lots of ground in dirt/grease stains, brownish rubber tire stains(see behind the tires on the Vette), and black skid marks

Alkivar · Nov 14, 2010

even with a buffer there is only so much you are going to be able to get out...

a black stripper pad and floor stripper will get a good portion out, but it really doesnt get everything.

it'll work... just dont expect miracles :thumbup:

groucho · Nov 14, 2010

Alkivar said:
even with a buffer there is only so much you are going to be able to get out...

a black stripper pad and floor stripper will get a good portion out, but it really doesnt get everything.

it'll work... just dont expect miracles

I figured as much. But, once all that's done, is there a sanding type disc that goes on those machines to actually remove a few thousandths off the tile along with the stains before waxing?

JimA · Nov 27, 2010

You'll ruin VCT if you sand it.

groucho · Nov 27, 2010

JimA said:
You'll ruin VCT if you sand it.

Isn't there anything a bit more aggresive than the black pad? Something that'll remove just a touch of vinyl tile, and the embedded dirt/rubber tire stains after it's been stripped? Kinda like 2000 grit on a clear coat paint to remove the **** before polish? has to be something

ScaldedDog · Nov 27, 2010

Check out some of the VCT/clear epoxy threads. I think the guys that do that sand them pretty good before putting the epocy down. Of course, they look terrible until epoxied.

Mark

AndrewBigA · Nov 28, 2010

groucho said:
Isn't there anything a bit more aggresive than the black pad? Something that'll remove just a touch of vinyl tile, and the embedded dirt/rubber tire stains after it's been stripped? Kinda like 2000 grit on a clear coat paint to remove the **** before polish? has to be something

check out this thread:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77506

2000 grit is def not agressive enough.

wash your floor first with straight simple green, then get into sanding the tiles down.

read the thread, im sure everything you need to know is in there. if you have any more questions, dont ask me, ask the OP lol.

:thumbup:

groucho · Nov 28, 2010

AndrewBigA said:
check out this thread:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77506

2000 grit is def not agressive enough.

wash your floor first with straight simple green, then get into sanding the tiles down.

read the thread, im sure everything you need to know is in there. if you have any more questions, dont ask me, ask the OP lol.

The 2000 grit was to use on a car's paint job that I used as an example. Thanks, I'll check that thread

groucho · May 3, 2012

Mercy · May 3, 2012

Have you tried a Mr Clean Magic Eraser? I wouldn't use it on the whole floor but it should work on some of the tough stuff.

groucho · May 3, 2012

Mercy said:
Have you tried a Mr Clean Magic Eraser? I wouldn't use it on the whole floor but it should work on some of the tough stuff.

I need to clean around 800 square feet before re-coating. So I need something more aggressive than the black Scotch pad for the machine in my 1st picture or I'll end up making a career fooling with that floor

JimVonBaden · May 3, 2012

You have 1/8" thick solid color tile. You can sand it with a sanding pad, but I would go green first.

Google military floor tile care. I remember stripping tile that took off a few microns of similar tile, and in the end it looked great!

I have the same tile, but it is only a few months old. Eventually I will be doing the same.

Jim

charliejackson167 · Jul 28, 2013

Bleach works great...

How do you guys clean vinyl tile floors?

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