Maintenance Recommendations for Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) Installed in Your Home

Residential Maintenance For AHF Products Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) without Diamond 10 Technology Coating

For VCT with Diamond 10 Technology Coating refer to Maintenance Recommendations – All Armstrong Residential and Light Commercial Vinyl Floors

Recommended Floor Care Products:

Armstrong Flooring S-338 Once N Done Resilient & Ceramic Floor Cleaner Concentrate Armstrong Flooring S-330 Once ‘n Done Floor Cleaner Recommended for no-wax vinyl, ceramic, terrazzo, and all stone floors; do not use on linoleum No rinsing required Regular use keeps floors looking their best

Armstrong Flooring S-385 Satinkeeper Resilient Low Gloss Floor Finish Recommended for semi to extra low gloss vinyl and linoleum floors Protects floor from scuffs, scratches and embedded dirt Restores gloss to dulled or worn floors

Armstrong Flooring S-391 Armstrong Shinekeeper Floor Finish Armstrong Flooring S-390 Armstrong Shinekeeper Floor Finish Recommended for semi to high gloss vinyl and linoleum floors Protects floor from scuffs, scratches and embedded dirt Restores gloss to dulled or worn floors Use after floor stripping

Armstrong Flooring S-326 New Beginning Resilient Deep Cleaning Floor Stripper Recommended for vinyl floors; do not use on linoleum or grouted vinyl tiles Cleans very dirty floors and tough spots Removes built-up polish

For Best Results:

• When moving appliances or heavy furniture, lay a plywood panel on your floor and “walk” the item across the panel. This protects your floor from scuffing and tears. Never slide furniture or appliances directly over your floor.
• Place a walk-off mat at outside entrances to reduce the amount of dirt brought into your home. We strongly recommend mats without a latex or rubber backing since these backings may cause permanent discoloration.
• When using a vacuum cleaner, disengage the beater bar or use the “bare floor” setting to avoid damaging your floor.
• Highly abrasive scrubbing tools are not recommended as they can damage your floor.
• Use Armstrong maintenance products. Do not use detergents, abrasive cleaners or “mop and shine” products. These may leave a dull film on your floor.
• Paste wax or solvent-based polishes are not recommended.
• Use floor protectors on furniture to reduce indentation. The heavier the item, the wider the floor protector needed.
• Rolling casters may damage the floor. Therefore, we do not recommend them. If you choose to use them, the double wheel types are the best option.

Initial Floor Care:

• Remove any dried adhesive residue with a clean white cloth dampened with low odor mineral spirits, carefully following warnings on container.
• Sweep, dust mop or vacuum thoroughly to remove all loose dust, dirt, grit and debris.
• Floors should not be washed for the first five days after installation. This prevents excessive moisture from interfering with the adhesive bond. After this time, wash the floor with properly diluted Once ‘n Done Resilient & Ceramic Floor Cleaner concentrate. Vinyl flooring like other types of smooth floors may become slippery when wet. Allow time for floor to dry after washing.
• VCT floors do not have a no-wax finish and must be polished. Polish protects your floor and is the key to keeping it looking beautiful.
• After the floor is dry, apply 3 to 5 coats of Armstrong Shinekeeper Floor Finish or Satinkeeper Low Gloss Floor Finish with a clean dampened sponge or sponge mop used only for polish application. Pour some polish into a clean bucket. NEVER POUR POLISH DIRECTLY ONTO THE FLOOR. Dip your sponge into the polish and wring it out so it does not drip. Spread the polish evenly over a 3 or 4 square foot area at a time, going over each area only once to avoid streaking. The polished segment should appear wet, not puddled.
• Allow a minimum of 30 minutes for drying time between coats. (On humid days, drying may take much longer.)

Daily/Regular Floor Care:

• Sweep, dust mop or vacuum thoroughly to remove all loose dust, dirt, grit and debris. Clean walk off mats frequently.
• Wash your floor regularly with properly diluted Once ‘n Done Resilient and Ceramic Floor Cleaner concentrate.
• Vinyl flooring like other types of smooth floors may become slippery when wet. Allow time for floor to dry after washing.
• Immediately wipe up wet areas from spills, foreign substances, or wet feet.

Periodic Floor Care:

• When your floor shows wear, it is time for another layer of polish. Wash your floor thoroughly with Once ‘n Done Resilient & Ceramic Floor Cleaner before applying polish. Only polish the worn areas to reduce polish build-up.
• Apply Shinekeeper Floor Finish or Satinkeeper Low Gloss Floor Finish with a clean dampened sponge or sponge mop used only for polish application. Pour some polish into a clean bucket. NEVER POUR POLISH DIRECTLY ONTO THE FLOOR. Dip your sponge into the polish and wring it out so it does not drip. Spread the polish evenly over 3 or 4 square feet at a time, going over each area only once to avoid streaking. The polished segment should appear wet, not puddled.
• Most of the time you will only need one coat (after the initial 3 to 5 coats). However, if you do need another coat, allow a minimum of 30 minutes drying time between each coat.

Restorative Maintenance – Removal of Polish

• Removing or “stripping” old polish should be done only when absolutely necessary. One way to tell if your floor needs to be stripped if the brightness and colors of the floor appear dull.
• Use Armstrong Flooring New Beginning Floor Stripper. Spread New Beginning over a 3′ x 3′ area and allow it to set for 2 to 3 minutes. (Doing a larger area or allowing a longer soaking time will allow the solution to begin to dry.) After 2 to 3 minutes of soaking, scrub the area vigorously with a scrubbing pad or stiff-bristled scrub brush. Immediately soak up the milky solution with a sponge and rinse thoroughly with clean warm water, using a separate sponge. After the rinse water has been mopped up, move on to the next area.
• After each area is dry it should look dull and faded. If a spot seems shiny or bright, it has not been completely stripped and must be stripped again or the new polish will have an uneven appearance.
• After stripping, allow your floor time to dry thoroughly before repolishing with 3 to 5 coats of Shinekeeper Resilient Floor Finish or Satinkeeper Resilient Low Gloss Floor Finish.

Helpful Hints

• If you have a dark colored floor, you may notice light spots from liquids which were spilled and not quickly wiped up. Don’t rub or walk on these spots. The absorbed water will evaporate and the appearance will return to normal in about 24 hours.
• High humidity can cause the polish to soften slightly. Heavy objects like tables and chairs may become stuck in the polish (this can also occur if a new coat of polish is not allowed to dry thoroughly). To release stuck furniture, tap the legs near to the floor, hitting firmly in a horizontal direction. Be sure to protect legs to avoid scratching or marring. Do not attempt to lift furniture straight up before loosening. Floor protectors can minimize this problem if you live in a humid area.
• Most stains can be removed by stripping the polish. After stripping, repolish the area. If you have stripped the polish and the stain remains, please call the AHF Products Customer Service at 866-243-2726.