Victor

Task

Problem

Reason

Remedy

Stripping

Change of colour / Loss of colour after stripping a rubber or linoleum floor.

Seen as blue and greens turning to yellow and colours bleeding into each other on patterned surfaces.

Stripping solution is too strong

Immediately stop stripping the floor and neutralise with an acidic neutralising product or mop with a table spoonful of white vinegar in water. Following this resume the stripping procedure with a weaker stripping solution mix.

Seal / Wax / Emulsion polish difficult to remove

Too much Seal / Wax / Emulsion polish has been applied to the floor creating a heavy build up

If the seal / wax or polish is oleo resinous (oil based) use a solvent based stripping product. Alternatively, mix your regular stripping product with very hot water to increase the rate of reaction. Use a fresh black pad.

Dirt burnished into the floor during routine maintenance.

Seal / Wax / Polish applied with a dirty applicator.

Polish Application

Uneven or generally poor result.

Floor not stripped and neutralised properly

Re-strip, rinse and neutralise floor then re-apply polish / seal. Ensure that a pH test is carried out before re-application of seal / polish.

Dirty mop or applicator used with the stripper or during the polish application process.

Re-strip, rinse and neutralise floor then re-apply polish / seal. Ensure that a pH test is carried out before re-application of seal / polish using clean apparatus.

The floor is porous and may need more coats or a coat of seal first.

Either strip and re-apply a coat of floor seal before applying polish or apply another thin coat of floor polish. Where a floor is worn apply a seal first. Ensure that the polish or seal is applied in thin coats to gauge the porosity of the floor.

Polish or seal coats have been applied too thickly or before the previous coat has dried.

If it doesn’t look too bad use the dry stripping method described in the Victor hard floor care manual to take off one layer of polish. Otherwise strip and re seal or re-apply floor polish.

Slow drying floor

(A coat of polish or seal should take about 30-40 minutes to dry, CAUTION: it will take significantly longer than this to cure)

Floor seal or polish has been applied in too thick coats.

Wait for it to dry and if necessary apply thinner coats. Refer to the floor manufacturers guide or chemical manufacturers recommendations.

Lack of ventilation, air movement or other atmospheric conditions.

Floor polishes generally dry through evaporation of water. If conditions are too humid or cool or if there is not enough air circulation then they may dry very slowly. Adjust the temperature control and the room humidity where possible. Open all doors and windows for ventilation using a wind blower only in very extreme circumstances.

Task

Problem

Reason

Remedy

After Polish Application

Polish wears quickly, lack of durability resulting in the need for frequent re-coating.

Floor not neutralised properly prior to polish application.

Strip the floor, neutralise and test the pH before re-applying the floor finish.

Abrasive dirt or grit being walked into the area.

Ensure there is suitable barrier matting at each entrance. Barrier matting should cover 3 paces. Re-coat the floor if it is worn. Maintain correctly, ensuring it is dust mopped or vacuumed regularly.

Wrong pads are being used during spray cleaning or burnishing maintenance. The pads are too abrasive or too dry.

Use a less abrasive pad or brush. Red pads are generally designed for spray cleaning, white or natural fibre are best for burnishing.

Floor is being maintained with too stronger alkaline chemical or the maintenance chemical is mixed at the wrong dilution. Alternatively the water used in the solution is too hot weakening the polish on the floor.

We recommend to use a burnishable neutral detergent for floor cleaning and only use alkaline products as part of a periodic deep clean.

Polish powders following application or during burnishing.

Stripper not neutralised prior to polish application.

Strip, rinse neutralise, test the pH of the floor prior to polish application. Re-apply seal or polish.

Floor is being maintained with too stronger alkaline chemical or the maintenance chemical is mixed at the wrong dilution. Alternatively the water used in the solution is too hot weakening the polish on the floor.

We recommend to use a burnishable neutral detergent for floor cleaning and only use alkaline products as part of a periodic deep clean.

A poor quality finish has been used or the floor finish has been applied in too thicker coats.

Strip and re-apply or carry out dry stripping, to remove one coat and re-apply a quality floor finish.

General Maintenance

Too much foam generated in the scrubber drier or wet pick-up.

The wrong detergent has been specified. The floor contains residues of previously used high foaming detergents. The detergent has not been diluted correctly.

Ensure that the detergent is low foaming and has been diluted correctly. If there is a problem with excessive foam in the recovery tank, use a defoamer.

Slippery floor

Substances walked in to a specific area from another, e.g. oil from a garage or grease from a kitchen.

Deep clean the floor using a blue pad, a standard speed rotary or scrubber drier and a degreasing cleaning product. Place barrier matting at entrances.

Excessive spray burnishing with a polymerised product.

Spray clean with only water for several days. Alternatively use a blue pad and water or dry strip to remove the excess polymer.

Residue left from incorrect detergent used on floor.

Clean with an alkaline degreaser or strip the floor and re-apply the finish.