A floor machine is a primary piece of equipment for anyone needing to maintain floors that are highly trafficked.
Floors will get dirty, scuffed and lose the shine that you've worked hard to create.
Maintaining that shine often times means simply stripping the floor down completely, removing all of the wax and layers that provide the shine, then building it back up.
The process may seem a bit overwhelming, and the repercussions of a bad job could be significant, the actual process of stripping a floor is rather simple.
To strip a floor simply follow these steps...
First remove all items and debris from the area you will be working.
This means take away all furniture and clean it thoroughly with a vacuum or mop.
With a clean surface we can then start the process by adding your stripping chemical to water in your mop bucket.
This chemical will remove the finish that is currently on the floor.
After adding the water and chemical submerge a mop in the solution and then spread that across the floor area.
Work the mop to make sure there is significant solution on the floor.
If you need to go back for more solution then do so.
Remember here that you want the solution to do the work not the mop.
After the mop has worked the entire area of the floor allow the solution to sit for 15 minutes.
While you are waiting for the solution you can prepare your floor machine.
Place the pad driver and floor pad on the machine.
With a number floor pads available on the market you want to be sure yours will properly work with the floor type as well as the amount of dirt and finish you are working with.
After the 15 minute period is over you should be ready to use your floor machine.
Move your floor machine in a back and forth motion moving it fluidly left to right.
It is important to make smooth movements since the floor machine can be hard to wield, especially to inexperienced users.
Move the machine across the area with solution, which will remove the finish that the solution softened.
After you are done with the machine take a scraping tool to finish out the corners and edges that may not have been completely affected.
Next take a mop and clean up the excess water and solution until you have a dry, stripped floor that will be your canvas for shine once the finish is added.
While the floor dries from any excess water prep your floor finish solution by first lining a liner in your mop bucket and then adding the finish and water.
The line will allow for a speedier cleanup afterwards.
Next take a fresh mop and insert it into the mop solution.
Pull it out and let some excess drip into the bucket.
Next move the mop along the perimeter of your floor area applying finish to the edges but being mindful of baseboards and walls.
Then move through the interior area applying the floor finish in a figure eight movement with the mop for coverage.
The goal is to apply a healthy amount of finish over the whole floor.
If you need to add more finish solution to the mop then do so.
When the floor has been covered allow the finish to dry for at least 15 minutes.
This may be in tandem with a fan for additional air movement.
After the initial dry-time, work through the application process again moving around the parameter and through the middle to give another application, again allowing for drying afterwards.
Do this up to three more times depending on the floor traffic to complete your finish.