Floor Care Checklist
How do we clean and restore floors in NYC
SHINE & SEAL (Maintenance Polish)
Best For:VCT floors with existing wax/finish (just needs shine restored)
Regular maintenance between deep services
Light traffic areas that need refresh
Result: Restored shine, light soil removal, no stripping required
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Sweep/Vacuum | Remove loose dirt and debris |
| 2. Damp Mop | Clean surface dirt with floor cleaner |
| 3. Spray Buff | Apply polish/restorer and buff with white pad |
| 4. Shine | Brings back gloss to worn areas |
DRY POLISH (BURNISHING)
Best For:VCT floors with multiple coats of finish already applied
Commercial spaces needing mirror shine (lobbies, retail)
Floors that don't need stripping, just high gloss
Result: Deep mirror shine, no wet chemicals, fast turnaround
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Sweep/Vacuum | Remove loose dirt and debris |
| 2. Dust Mop | Dry cleaning to remove fine particles |
| 3. High-Speed Burnishing | Ultra-high-speed buffer (1500-3000 RPM) with polishing pad |
| 4. Deep Shine | Mirror-like gloss finish |
HEAVY DUTY SCRUB (Deep Clean, No Strip)
Best For:Extremely dirty floors that don't need finish removed
Grease, grime, heavy soil buildup
Preparing floor for new finish coats (without stripping old finish)
Result: Deep cleaned floor, existing finish intact, ready for recoat or use
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Sweep/Vacuum | Remove loose dirt and debris |
| 2. Apply Heavy-Duty Cleaner | High-alkaline or degreaser application |
| 3. Scrub with Machine | Auto-scrubber or buffer with black/green pad |
| 4. Extract/Mop | Remove dirty water and cleaning solution |
| 5. Rinse | Neutralize floor with clean water |
| 6. Dry | Allow floor to dry completely |
SCREEN & RECOAT (Hardwood Floors)
Best For:Hardwood or engineered wood floors with worn finish (but no deep scratches)
Restoring shine without full sanding
Floors with 70-80% finish remaining
Result: Refreshed protective coating, restored shine, extended floor life
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Deep Clean | Remove all dirt, dust, and residue with I.F.T. Cleaner |
| 2. Screening | Lightly abrade existing finish with 150-180 grit screen |
| 3. Tack/Vacuum | Remove all dust with tack cloth or microfiber mop |
| 4. Apply Finish | 1-3 coats of polyurethane (water-based or oil-based) |
| 5. Cure Time | Allow finish to dry and cure (24 hours light traffic, 7 days full cure) |
STRIP & REFINISH (Finish Restoration)
Best For:Floorings with heavy wax buildup, yellowing, or damaged finish
Complete floor restoration
Floors that haven't been stripped in years
Result: Like-new appearance, fresh protective coating, uniform shine
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Sweep/Vacuum | Remove loose dirt and debris |
| 2. Apply Stripper | Heavy-duty wax/finish stripper (15-20 min dwell) |
| 3. Scrub with orbital machine | Aggressive scrubbing to remove all old finish |
| 4. Extract Slurry | Wet vac dirty stripper solution |
| 5. Rinse (2-3 times) | Neutralize floor until water runs clear |
| 6. Dry Completely | Allow 2-3 hours drying time |
| 7. Apply Finish (3-5 coats) | High-solids floor finish (Ecolab Wet Look, Betco Rescue Gloss) |
| 8. Dry Between Coats | 30-60 min dry time per coat |
| 9. Final Cure | 24 hours before light traffic, 72 hours before heavy traffic |
