I used a bleach solution on my beat-up kitchen floor and now the linoleum doesn't shine and feels weird. Help
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It sounds like you have "bruised" the finish. This is a reaction between a chemical( bleach) and the surface. I would mop with plain clear warm water to remove any residue. If this does not give any results , go to a flooring store and explain your situation.
You may want to shop for a new floor at the same time. It does not sound good. Good Luck.
Linoleum floors generally require only warm water for cleaning. Most detergents won't rinse clean leaving behind a sticky residue. That residue becomes a magnet, attracting dirt off the bottom of your shoes. It builds up, deteriorating the sealant and leaving you with the hard job of stripping and waxing.
If you find your floor requires a cleanser, use Ivory Liquid dish soap. Fill your sink with suds, mop away then rinse with a clean towel. Ivory rinses clean so the sticky buildup never causes problems. Other detergents can be too harsh for the floor so stick to Ivory. Mix Ivory in a spray bottle of water as a floor prespray or all-purpose cleaner. It's inexpensive and quite a good cleaner.
Some linoleum floors have grooves so deep you can sink a submarine. Grab a nylon bristle brush other brushes might scratch fill your sink with warm water add a good squirt or two of Ivory dish soap and scrub the floor. Rinse with a clean towel. Your floor needs this deep cleaning only twice a year.
Black heel marks? Not a pretty sight. Spray a little WD40 on a towel, lightly rub and they disappear without scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly with sudsy water or the floor might be slick.
If your floors still don't pass the white glove test, it may be time to strip and wax. Open the windows, turn on the fan, put on some marimba music and prepare for a good workout.
Use straight ammonia and a towel. Pour the ammonia in one area and spread around with a dishtowel. Let that set 15 to 30 minutes. After 15 minutes treat the next area. Go back to the first spot and scrub with a nylon brush. Repeat until you finish the floor. Mop up the ammonia with a clean, damp terry towel. Then rinse with 1/2 cup of vinegar per gallon of water. The vinegar removes any lingering ammonia.
Good floor wax can be found at janitorial supply stores. You pay more, but the finish lasts a long time without yellowing. Apply the wax with a clean dishtowel. Let the first coat dry several hours, then apply a second coat. Do not machine wash a towel you have used to apply wax. The wax sticks to the side of the washer and can damage future loads of clothing.
Unfortunately bleach is something our mother used and her mother and so on.. this product should be banned unless washing nappies. Good rule of thumb for cleaning agents - If you put your nose to the bottle and your short of breath dont use it - bleach not only whitens but also stains, etches, and has a devastating effect on grout in your shower. For some reason people still say clean with bleach.
For lino all thats required is a slightly higher than neutral pH
cleaner then a silicone based product buffed in
kind regards Sunshine Coast Tile & Grout Cleaning.
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