[Thackley Cleaning Services]

Hi Lads,

what is the best method for tile and other hard floor cleaning ?

Is it best to use a scrubber / rotary with a stiff brush and then you extract all of the excess water using a wet and dry pick up or do you go for something like a rotovac or a hydra force which work at very high pressures.

My machine is ok for about 400psi and im not certain its enough for a rotovac 360i.
thanks,

daniel

[Billy Russell]

you can run a rotovac at quite low psi i think!

[Steve. Taylor]

All of your above methods will be fine the rotovac will be fine on a porty at 400psi

All comes down to budget v time really

[jim mca]

A very heavy slow speed rotory and a 3 vac wet vac and a couple of days with kev martin to learn about stone cleaning sealing and polishing

[Jamie Pearson]

Dwell time is the most important thing.

Any system will work well so long as you have enough contact time with your chosen cleaner.

A good rotary and a wet vac is all you should ever need. Spinners etc are nice to have but over 90% of the time aren't essential.

[steve poole]

We use a turbo hybrid spinner connected to a truck mount which is great.However we often clean at night or in areas which we can't access with this equipment.

On these occasions we go portably or use a scrubber in conjunction with a good vacuum - dwell time is essential with alkalis.They are often  mixed too strong.

A grout brush is excellent for the grout lines and any stubbourn stains in the grout can be removed with an acidic solution once the floor has had the alkali rinsed off.

In summary.

Allply alkali cleaner with a softy broom having swept floor first.
Allow to dwell for 10-15minutes without allowing the floor to dry out.
Scrub the grout lines manually with a grout brush.
Use the truck mount with turbo or machine scrub and then vacuum.
Results are pretty similar.
Spot treat with acidic based cleaner -Do not go near any natural stone with an acidic cleaner
We clean very little natural stone with the turbo and generally leave natural stone to the experts.
Hope this helps

Steve

[Kev Martin]

We use a turbo hybrid spinner connected to a truck mount which is great.However we often clean at night or in areas which we can't access with this equipment.

On these occasions we go portably or use a scrubber in conjunction with a good vacuum - dwell time is essential with alkalis.They are often  mixed too strong.

A grout brush is excellent for the grout lines and any stubbourn stains in the grout can be removed with an acidic solution once the floor has had the alkali rinsed off.

In summary.

Allply alkali cleaner with a softy broom having swept floor first.
Allow to dwell for 10-15minutes without allowing the floor to dry out.
Scrub the grout lines manually with a grout brush.
Use the truck mount with turbo or machine scrub and then vacuum.
Results are pretty similar.
Spot treat with acidic based cleaner -Do not go near any natural stone with an acidic cleaner
We clean very little natural stone with the turbo and generally leave natural stone to the experts.
Hope this helps

Steve

Steve

It is important to mention that the floor requires to be pre wetted before the application of the high alkaline as we want the alkaline to work on the surface and not get absorbed.

Kev Martin
Marble Life Ltd

[mathewl]

Hi Lads,

what is the best method for tile and other hard floor cleaning ?

Is it best to use a scrubber / rotary with a stiff brush and then you extract all of the excess water using a wet and dry pick up or do you go for something like a rotovac or a hydra force which work at very high pressures.

My machine is ok for about 400psi and im not certain its enough for a rotovac 360i.
thanks,

daniel

I prefer hydra force wash. It saves time and cleans thoroughly.

[Kev Martin]

Nothing is as thorough as a slow speed rotary fitted with the correct brush and a good quality high alkaline in the tank and a medium grit honing powder if required with a decent wet vac.

Kev Martin
Marble Life Ltd