Cleaning linoleum after renovation

Renovation can be compared to a natural disaster. It leaves behind a lot of traces: dust, stains, sweat. It is especially difficult to get rid of them on linoleum. In order not to have to change the coating, spend extra money, mask pollution with carpet, you need to familiarize yourself with the methods and techniques of removing dirt and stains.

In general, cleaning after repair is associated with a lot of labor-intensive processes and a lot of time. After all, it is not so difficult to damage, stain or scratch something during cleaning – which is a shame, because the repair is just finished, and you can already prepare for the next one.

If you are not confident in your abilities or you don’t have time for a thorough and meticulous cleaning, a cleaning company in Calgary is exactly what you need.

Lime and cement: how to clean properly

After whitewashing ceilings, leveling and plastering walls, hard-to-clean white stains can remain on the floor. You can minimize the risk of their formation by using newspapers and film. If this preparatory step is missed, you will have to do a little work when the repair is completed.

Do not resort to the use of aggressive chemicals. They can damage the top decorative and protective layer of the floor covering. Linoleum will fade, become prone to scratches and scuffs. It will have to be replaced in the near future.

Suitable compositions for the elimination of lime and cement solutions will be:

• warm water with soap;
• manganese solution;
• water-milk mixture.

To prepare a soap solution, you will need warm water, crushed laundry soap, a few tablespoons of sea salt. All ingredients should be mixed in a bucket. Soaked in this liquid with a rag, you need to wash the floor several times. Then the procedure will have to be repeated with clean water. See the effectiveness of washing is possible after drying.

A weak solution of manganese copes well with the tasks at hand. But it should not be used on light-colored surfaces. Incorrectly calculating the proportions, you can face the darkening of the coating.

Water with milk washes away construction contaminants on linoleum. The optimal ratio of the mixture is 1:1. After its use, an improvement in shine is observed. But if a large area needs care, this method will require significant costs.

Important: Before cleaning the floor, you should remove dried plaster pieces, sweep up dust or vacuum the floor with a construction vacuum cleaner.

Primer on linoleum: how to get rid of it

Similar to lime and mortars, the primer mixture leaves traces. It is desirable to remove it immediately after getting on the linoleum. In this case, you will not need additional means. If the composition has dried up, you can try to wash it off:

• nail polish remover;
• a solution of water and acetone (the ratio should be 3 to 1);
• diluted alcohol or vodka.

Any of the above means is applied to the sponge. It can be left for a few minutes on the problem areas. After cleaning, the floor should be washed with water.

How to remove paint marks correctly

It is only possible to remove the paint completely at once by rubbing off the drops with a sponge. Once dry, they can be carefully scraped off with a knife. If the paint has penetrated into the coating, you will have to resort to serious measures. Need at the stage of cleaning white spirit, kerosene, solvents. They should moisten a small piece of coarse cloth.

It is impossible to predict how the aggressive liquid will affect the linoleum. In order not to spoil the entire coating, it is necessary to conduct a test on a small inconspicuous area (under the carpeting, at the wall, behind the furniture).

Important! Do not use soda and alkaline means. They make linoleum fragile and brittle. The coating will crack, be damaged from the slightest mechanical impact.

Soften fresh drops of paint can be softened with sunflower or linseed oil. Such means not only remove contaminants, but also perfectly polish surfaces, returning them to an attractive shine.

How to clean linoleum from assembly foam?

Foam is widely used in the installation of interior doors and windows. Getting on the surface of the linoleum, it quickly hardens, firmly adheres. It can be removed in a soft and dried state. In the first case, it is possible to avoid adhesion. To eliminate flakes, a wooden or rubber trowel will be required. It is important to move from the edges to the center. If there are traces left on the site of the foam, solvents will help to get rid of them. The most accessible means is acetone. After its use, the floor should be rubbed with linseed oil using a flannel.

Elimination of dried foam involves the use of a different algorithm. At the first stage, it is necessary to very carefully cut the lump, holding the knife as close to the coating as possible, but not touching it. Next, the method of scraping should be used to get rid of the residue.

Professional means for cleaning linoleum effectively eliminate even the oldest traces. The most convenient in application are aerosol ones. They are applied for 15-25 minutes. After softening the building material is easily wiped off with a napkin or rag.

Fans of folk remedies can recommend the use of ice, vegetable oil, vinegar. Their effectiveness is questionable. To clean it is necessary to treat the problem areas, leave it for 20-30 minutes, remove the residue.

Other stains on linoleum

The floor covering gets dirty not only during repairs, but also in everyday life. Most often with difficult contaminations are faced by parents of small children. Flomasters, inks and paints are almost impossible to completely eliminate. The only way is mechanical stripping with the removal of a small part of the top coating.

Coffee, wine, food dyes can be tried to eliminate with gasoline, kerosene or turpentine. But all of the above means reduce the resistance to wear and tear and the service life of the floor covering. The most sensitive to such influences synthetic cheap materials.

Sometimes apartment owners accidentally spill on the linoleum iodine, green. Even a small amount of these liquids quickly “spreads”, forming huge stains. Proceed to their cleaning should be immediately. Iodine comes off if it is covered with soda. It is not necessary to rub the contaminated area. Repeat the procedure several times, constantly moistening the napkin.

The listed instructions and tips do not guarantee a hundred percent cleaning of linoleum after repair and other contaminants. But thanks to them, the coating can be given a more presentable appearance. Any means should be applied first on an inconspicuous area. At the final stage, it is desirable to resort to polishing, refreshing and returning the shine.