Oscillating Machines Remove Floor Finish

Best Practices in Green Cleaning must include the option to remove finish via an oscillating square pad moving at 1750-3200 RPM’s, which mechanically abrades the finish from the floor surface with only the aid of tap water. If any chemical at all is utilized, it would be that of a 7- 8pH. This method reduces the risk management issues of strippers and additional processes, thus improving performance and increasing time savings in one of the most argues tasks in our industry. 

Wet Finish Removal Tips: 

• Fill no touch unit with clear water.  Spray floor with small amount of water.

• Set oscillating unit on the red cushion pad, then on an eco-prep pad. Move across floor until finish has been turned into grey/white slurry.

• Spray more water on the floor from time to time, to keep the floor wet and this grey/white slurry from drying.

• With the vacuum from the no touch machine, remove the now liquefied finish using long strokes going from side to side of room or area.

• Using the spray gun from the no-touch machine, adjust the nozzle to a pressure point stream and spray edges and baseboards, removing remaining finish, buildup and soils. This will replace the need for conventional edging tools.

• After the baseboards and edges are sprayed clean, vacuum up the water, grit and loose finish that was removed.

• Adjust the nozzle on the gun to a spray and apply rinse water to the complete floor area. Vacuum floor dry using no touch cleaning unit.

• Test floor with pH paper for neutrality. Pour water on the floor the size of a dinner plate and after 2 minutes, put pH paper in the water. The pH should be no more than 7.5.

• The floor is now ready for Green floor finish.

David Thompson is a 40-year veteran of the cleaning industry and author of “The New Generation of Cleaning”, a best Practices Guide for Environmental Health Services. Thompson is also president of the Green Clean Institute. His book can be found at www.Janitorkatt.com while the GCI coursework and certification courses have a home at www.GCICertified.com.