Floor Maintenance

The new vinyl floors are extremely durable and long lasting, but like any floorcovering they still need regular maintain to stay looking like new. Follow these general guideline for vinyl flooring. For more detailed information always refer to the manufacturer's written floor care procedures.

Care After Installation

	For the first 24 hours after your new floor is installed protect all the seamed areas and don't walk on the seam sealer.
	Keep the room at 68* F or greater for at least a 2 days after installation to allow the adhesives to setup properly.
	Do not roll heavy objects directly on to a newly installed vinyl floor for at least 5 days. This can cause the vinyl and adhesive to become compressed, once the adhesive sets up any compressed marks will become permanent. Always lay plywood or underlayment to disperse the weight of a heavy objects being moved across your vinyl floor.
	Allow 5 days before thoroughly washing your floor. This will give time for the adhesive to cure.
	Before placing chairs or furniture on your new vinyl floor check the condition of all casters or rollers before setting them on your floor. Replace any worn casters or rollers.

General Floor Care

	Vacuum regularly to remove grit and sand. Wash your floor occasionally with the manufacturer's recommended floor cleaner, such as Armstrong's Once 'n Done No Rinse Cleaner, or Mannington's Award Cleaner.
	Wipe up spills immediately. If needed clean with the manufacturer's recommended cleaner. You can also clean with luke warm water and clear ammonia.
	If you floor becomes dull looking you may need to add the manufacturer's recommended floor polish to restore the orginal gloss level. First, try cleaning with luke warm water and clear ammonia to see if there is a film on your floor causing the dullness.
	Never use abrasive cleaners, soaps, paste waxes, or solvents on your vinyl floor.
	Place non-staining, walk-off mats at every outside entry to your room. This will help keep sand and grit from being tracked on to your floor.

Floor Care Tips

If your floor gets a cut or gouge in it, cover the area immediately and call your professional floorcovering store. A professional installer can repair the area, but if the cut is filled with dirt it may be difficult to repair correctly.

If you purchase an inexpensive PVC vinyl floor you should consider placing 2-3 coats of the recommended floor polish on the floor immediately. Any vinyl floor with a PVC wearlayer will show scuffs, scratches, and other marks very easily, by adding the coats of floor polish you will make the floor easier to maintain.

If you have a seam open, cover it immediately, do not wash that area, and call a floor covering professional to come and repair the seam.

When moving heavy objects across your floor place plywood, or underlayment sheets down first and move the object over the plywood sheets.

CARING FOR YOUR FLOOR
To keep the lasting shine and fresh feel of your investment for as long as possible, we recommend that you...

	Wipe up spills as soon as possible. Remove dried spills with New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner on a white cloth.
	Wash your floor occasionally with Armstrong Once 'n Done® Floor Cleaner or an equivalent no-rinse floor cleaner.
	Use Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner for heavy duty cleaning.
	Use Armstrong Shinekeeper® Polish to return your floor's original shine if it begins to dull over time.

DON'T

	Use detergents, abrasive cleaners or "mop and shine" products - they may leave a dull film on your floor.
	Use paste wax or solvent-based polishes.
	Use a beater bar when vacuuming because it can visibly damage the floor surface.
	Use highly abrasive scrubbing tools.

ARMSTRONG RESIDENTIAL FLOOR CARE PRODUCTS

The Armstrong family of floor care products is designed to keep your Armstrong floor looking as beautiful as the day it was installed. Wouldn't you expect the inventor of the first no-wax floor to also create the first no-rinse floor cleaner?

Once 'n Done® Floor Cleaner

	No rinsing
	For no-wax vinyl floors
	Leaves no dulling film
	Keeps Armstrong floors looking their best

New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner

	Solves tough cleaning problems
	Dissolves wax buildup
	Removes tough ground-in dirt

Shinekeeper® Floor Polish

	Restores shine to older floors
	Keeps on shining een after repeated washings

Felt Floor Protectors

	For all residential floors
	Distribute the weight of furniture evenly to reduce indentations
	Prevent abrasions with unique replaceable felt pads
	General rule of thumb -- the heavier the item, the wider the floor protector should be
	Install and remove easily with screw attachment
	Available in three finishes -- Brass, Maple and Light Oak

PROACTIVE PROTECTION FOR YOUR FLOOR

	When moving appliances or heavy furniture, lay a plywood panel on your floor and "walk" the item across it. This protects your floor from scuffing and tears.
	Use floor protectors, such a Armstrong Floor Protectors, on furniture to reduce indentation. As a general rule of thumb, the heavier the item, the wider the floor protector needed.
	Be careful with rolling casters. They can damage the floor. Therefore, we do not recommend them. If you choose to use them, the double wheel type are the best option.
	Place a walk-off mat at outside entrances to reduce the amount of dirt brought into your home. We do not recommend the use of rubber- or latex-backed mats because the chemical (antioxidant) used to keep the backing from becoming brittle can permanently stain your floor. We suggest a nonstaining vinyl-backed mat or a woven rug that is colorfast. Most of these products are identifled "colorfast" by the manufacturer. All Armstrong floor care products have been specifically developed to care for Armstrong floors. You may purchase Armstrong floor care products at your local flooring retailer.
	To avoid many of the issues listed above, try a new Armstrong ToughGuard™ vinyl floor.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLATION

	For 8 hours after seam application, protect the sealed seams on your flooring. This will ensure the proper seam bond. If your seams are disturbed before they're dry, permanent damage may result.
	Maintain room temperature at 65 degrees Fahrenheit for 48 hours after installation is completed. This assures proper curing, setting and bonding of products.
	Use a damp sponge, cloth, or mop to wipe off the Armstrong logo and 800 number printed on the face of the floor. Be careful not to wipe across any seams.
	The adhesive under your floor needs time to thoroughly dry after installation. Therefore we recommend that you do not scrub or wash your floor for five days.

REMOVING STAINS

Crayon

	Rub the stain with mineral spirits* or turpentine* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Lipstick

	Rub the stain with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	If stain is still visible, rub the stain with mineral spirits* or turpentine* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Grape Juice/Wine

Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Mercurochrome/Merthiolate

Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Mustard**

	** These stains may not be entirely removable from vinyl no-wax floors.
	Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Pen Ink**

	** These stains may not be entirely removable from vinyl no-wax floors.
	Rub the stain with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	If stain is still visible, rub the stain with mineral spirits* or turpentine* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a non-abrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Permanent Marker**

	** These stains may not be entirely removable from vinyl no-wax floors.
	Rub the stain with mineral spirits* or turpentine* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	If stain still shows, very carefully wipe with fingernail polish remover containing acetone (follow use instructions on label) on a clean white cloth.
	If stain still shows, rub the area with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Asphalt Driveway Sealer/Shoe Polish**

	** These stains may not be entirely removable from vinyl no-wax floors.
	Rub the stain with mineral spirits* or turpentine* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	If stain still shows, rub the area with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Hair Dye

	Rub the stain with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	If stain still shows, use mineral spirits* or turpentine* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	If stain still shows, very carefully wipe with fingernail polish remover containing acetone (follow use instructions on label) on a clean white cloth.
	Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a non-abrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Paint/Varnish

	If paint stain is wet, wipe up the stain with water on a clean white cloth.
	If paint stain is dry, carefully scrape residue with a thin spatula.
	If stain still shows, rub the area with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	If stain still shows, use mineral spirits* or turpentine* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable please follow instructions on label.)
	If stain still shows, very carefully wipe with fingernail polish remover containing acetone (follow use instructions on label) on a clean white cloth.
	Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.

Nail Polish

Very carefully wipe with fingernail polish remover containing acetone (follow use instructions on label) on a clean white cloth.

Rust

	Apply Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner to the stain and let it stand for five minutes. Scrub vigorously with a stiff-bristle brush or nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, wipe, rinse, and let dry.
	If traces remain, rub with a soft cloth dipped in a solution of oxalic acid and water (1 part acid to 10 parts water).
	NOTE: Please follow instructions and cautions on label, as oxalic acid is poisonous.

Cigarette Burns

The procedure depends on the exact construction of your floor. Consult your retailer.

Black Heel Marks

	Scrub the area with Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper and Cleaner and a nonabrasive white scrubbing pad, following instructions on the label.
	If stain still shows, rub the area with a non abrasive cleaner.
	If stain still shows, rub the area with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)* on a clean white cloth. (*May be combustible/flammable; please follow instructions on label).

Vinyl - Vinyl Construction - Resilient Wearlayers - Backings - Floor Maintenance