The resilient floor coverings manufactured by Forbo are designed to give you outstanding value in service and maintenance. The actual type and frequency of maintenance, however, will vary according to your particular application, maintenance equipment, and desired appearance of the product.

Forbo Industries, Inc. has received cooperation from major maintenance products manufacturers to provide maintenance products known to perform well with our floor coverings. If you prefer to use another manufacturer's maintenance product, use their corresponding cross-referenced product.

IMPORTANT:

The procedures described in this manual have been carefully developed to promote the lasting beauty and useful life of your new Forbo floor covering. To receive full value from the warranty, the floor covering must be maintained as instructed in this manual. Any deviation from these instructions may result in damage to the floor covering which will not be covered by the manufacturer's five year warranty.

This manual provides easy-to-read maintenance instructions that describe most applications of Forbo products. If you need additional technical assistance or have questions regarding a specific procedure, the following toll-free numbers have been established for your convenience.

Taski U.S. 800-827-5427
The Butcher Company 800-225-9475
S.C.Johnson 800-558-2332

Thank you for choosing Forbo Industries, Inc. for your floor covering needs.

Forbo Industries, Inc. does not warrant or guarantee the herein described maintenance products or their performance. FOR FORBO'S OWN LIMITED FIVE YEAR WARRANTY ON ITS PRODUCTS, PLEASE REFER TO THE SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED BY FORBO, OR CONTACT FORBO INDUSTRIES, INC. FOR DETAILS.

 

Special Incidents Maintenance

FORBO INDUSTRIES, INC. REMEDIES FOR SPECIAL FLOOR CARE INCIDENTS
General Considerations

SAFETY FIRST

Floors are normally slippery when wet. When cleaning proceed with caution. Always keep traffic off floors until they are thoroughly dry.
  1. Disinfectants, Sanitizers, Sterilants
    bulletQuaternary ammonium compounds are the primary products used in hospital disinfection procedures. For the most part, when these products are mixed at their proper dilution ratio they will have little or no effect on the physical properties of most floor coverings.
    bulletPhenolics, which are used as a disinfectant against the TB microbe, are very caustic and will have adverse effects on the physical properties of any floor covering or other surfaces in which they come in contact with.
    bulletOnce the phenolic has been on the surface for the required length of time, it should be rinsed with clean water and wet vac'd.
  2. Use of High pH Cleaners & Strippers
    bulletThe use of high pH strippers, cleaners and abrasive powders will damage any flooring. The effect of strong alkaline cleaners is particularly marked with linoleum. Frequent treatment without rinsing may cause cracking, shrinking, and/or discoloration.
  3. Staining
    bulletNo flooring product is impervious to every type of chemical, acid, solvent, etc. Check the stain resistance chart for common substances.
  4. Petroleum and Anti-Oxidant Discoloration
    bulletRubber products, particularly dark colored ones like tires, casters, floor mats and asphalt sealers, contain chemicals that can permanently stain floor coverings, although the effect is less marked with linoleum than with vinyls. Precautions should be taken in places where the problem is likely to arise, such as car showrooms, hospitals and supermarkets.
  5. Spills
    bulletRemove as soon as possible, mop with clean warm water. Prolonged contact may cause staining.
  6. Heel Marks
    bulletBlack heel marks can be removed from linoleum using a fine nylon pad moistened with the selected polish. On vinyls, use a clean white cloth with mineral spirits.
  7. Cigarette Burns
    bulletCigarette butts stubbed out on a linoleum floor only char the surface, rather than melt it, and marks made in this way can normally be removed by using fine steel wool. Then apply floor finish. On a vinyl floor covering, however, the heat of the cigarette butt wi I I often melt the material and this may leave a permanent mark on the floor.
  8. Equipment Care
    bulletKeep all equipment clean. Wash out pads, applicators and brushes after use. The mop or applicator used for polish should be reserved for this purpose only. Cleaning equipment contaminated with bleach may cause color fading.
  9. Walk off mats
    bulletStop dirt at the door, abrasion is the main cause of wear. Use floor mats, grills or gratings at all entrances to limit dirt and water from tracking in.
  10. Cleaning Machine Pads
    bulletThe Color Codes indicating grades of pads vary according to the manufacturer, and also according to the type of machine that is used, e.g. standard, high speed or ultra high speed.
For example: 3M Taski
Fine grade, for dry burnishing, non-buffable polishes White Mint 
For medium grade, spray cleaning Red  Mint 
For heavy duty cleaning Blue  Purple
Course grade, for stripping Black Black

MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS FOR:
 MARMOLEUM REAL, FRESCO, DUAL, AND WALTON LINOLEUM

linoleum sheet & tile

Initial Cleanup/Maintenance

1. Remove all surface soil, debris, sand and grit by sweeping or dust mopping.

2. Scrub the floor with a neutral pH (7-8.5) detergent such as Butcher Sundance, Taski R-50, Johnson Stride, or equivalent.

bulletapply cleaning solution with mop and bucket, scrub with rotary scrubber with nylon pad or automatic scrubber with nylon pad.
bullettake caution not to saturate the floor, use as little water as possible. 
bulletpick up solution with a wet vac.
bulletrinse with clean water and allow floor to thoroughly dry.

3. Apply floor finish.
(For residential installations use an acrylic floor finish available from most flooring dealers.)

bulletOption 1-for matte-satin shine:
bulletapply 2-3 thin coats of floor finish such as Taski Ombra, or equivalent.
bullet use a clean finish mop or finish applicator.
bullet allow 30 minutes dry time between each coat.
bulletdry buff between coats for better adhesion.
bulletOption 2-for high gloss shine:
bulletapply 3-4 thin coats of floor finish such as Butcher Mainstay, Taski Brilliant, Johnson Vectra, or equivalent.
bullet use a clean finish mop or finish applicator.
bullet allow 30 minutes dry time between each coat.
bullet dry buff between coats for better adhesion.

Daily/Regular Maintenance

1. Remove all surface soil, debris, sand and grit by sweeping or dust mopping.

bulletOption 1-dry maintenance method:
(preferred method)
bullet spray and buff using a rotary buffing machine (175-1500 rpm) with a nylon buffing pad and a spray buff solution such as Butcher Over Drive, Taski P-44, Johnson Trailblazer, or equivalent.
bulletOption 2-wet maintenance method:
bulletuse neutral pH (7-8.5) cleaner such as Butcher Sundance, Taski R-50, Johnson Stride, or equivalent.
bullet if floor is exposed to grease or oil, use a degreasing detergent such as Taski Profi, or equivalent.
bullet when using automatic scrubber, use scrubbing pad.
bullet when using mop and bucket, use clean mop and change solution regularly.
bullet take caution not to saturate the floor, use as little water as possible.
bullet it gloss needs to be restored, or for severe scuff marks, buff a fine mist of a buffing solution such as Butcher Over Drive, Taski P-44, Johnson Trailblazer, or equivalent.
bulletIf using high speed buffing machines, check with maintenance products manufacturer's for their product recommendations.
bulletScrub and Recoat
bulletdust mop to remove loose soil.
bullet heavy scrub using rotary scrubber, or automatic scrubber with scrubbing pad and double strength of neutral pH (7-8.5) detergent such as Butcher Sundance, Taski R-50, Johnson Reveal, or equivalent.
bulletpick up solution with a wet vac.
bullet rinse with clean water and allow floor to thoroughly dry.
bullet apply 1-2 thin coats of floor finish following initial application procedure.
bulletRestorative Maintenance
Strip and re-coat: use only if scrub and recoat is not effective.
bullet dust mop to remove loose soil.
bullet use rotary scrubber or automatic scrubber with scrubbing pad and stripper solution such as Taski Linostrip, Butcher Clean Break or equivalent, following instructions on the container carefully.
bullet pick up solution with wet vac. 
bullet rinse with clean water and wet vac.
bullet apply 2-3 coats of floor finish following initial application procedures.

NOTE: If the dry maintenance method is used the Scrub and Recoat and Restorative Maintenance steps will not be needed
For further info or your  local distributor call:
Taski U.S. 800-827-5427
The Butcher Company 800-225-9475
S.C.Johnson 800-558-2332

Forbo Industries does not warrant or guarantee the herein described maintenance products or their performance.

  FOR FORBO'S OWN LIMITED FIVE YEAR WARRANTY ON ITS PRODUCTS, PLEASE REFER TO THE SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED BY FORBO, OR CONTACT FORBO INDUSTRIES, INC. FOR DETAILS.

Forbo Industries, Inc., Humboldt Industrial Park, Maplewood Drive, P.O. Box 667, Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18201 
1-800-842-7839 
(717) 459-0771 
FAX (717) 450-0258

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