CM/Spotlight: hard floor care case study Core Products Company Inc. Effective Hard Floor Care Solutions Formulating for a clean future™. T There are many types of hard surface floors, including manmade materials and others from natural sources such as natural stone, hardwood and laminate flooring. It is good to be familiar with the com-position of the flooring, to sweep and/or vacuum daily and to begin weekly routine jobs with a neutral-pH cleaner. Neutral, concentrated cleaners work well for general maintenance, promote efficiency and can save money in the long run. The composition as well as condition of a floor should be evaluated prior to using any product for cleaning. Entryways and hallways are high-traffic areas and may need more attention than other areas. Popular hard surface floors include, but are not limited to: Natural wood Laminate Natural stone Asphalt tile Metal cross-linked polymer Conductive. Each type of flooring requires special-ized attention, and a quick look at the pH of common cleaning products will help you assess whether or not the product is viable for cleaning a particular type of floor. pH of 1-4: Bowl cleaners, citric acids, hydrochloric acids and anti-static treatments pH of 5: Fabric cleaners pH of 6: Sanitizing soaps pH of 7-8: Neutral cleaners, includ-ing floor finishes, defoamers, floor refreshers and spray buffs pH of 9: Glass cleaners pH of 10-14: Degreasers, disinfec-tants, floor strippers and grill cleaners. A low pH indicates acidic properties and high pH indicates alkaline. Acids can etch or emulsify floor finishes. Acidic products should never be used on marble, ceram-ic tile or other stone floors because it can etch the surface or the grout. Alkaline properties can be gritty and damage finishes. For example, vinyl composition flooring is perhaps the longest lasting and easiest to clean, but asphalt or linoleum flooring may be emulsified by a cleaning product with a pH of 10 or above. Products with a neutral pH that are low moisture and have little or no volatile organic compounds (VOC) are the best choices, especially as state and federal guidelines become more stringent. Products such as Core’s Hydroxi Pro ® Concentrate or the specially formulat-ed StoneLogix, Grout Smart and Green Logic™ Hardwood & Laminate Cleaner are certified by third parties recognizing safer chemistry. Hydroxi Pro Concentrate can be used on any surface, while the labels on other products provide explicit instructions for application. Keys for success in hard surface floor cleaning include: Minimize moisture Use neutral pH products for general cleaning Use microfiber mop heads and cloths Follow instructions for product use. CM Circle Product Information no. 151 This content was provided by Core Products as part of a paid advertisement. For more information, please contact Core at 1-800-825-2673 or www.coreproductsco.com. www.cmmonline.com 25
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