Maintaining the appearance of your floors is essential to the overall look and feel of your space. There are various methods available for cleaning your floors, including scrubbing and recoating and stripping and waxing. However, it’s crucial to understand the differences between these methods, and to choose a reputable commercial cleaning company that can provide the service you require.
Scrubbing and recoating is a process that involves using a machine to scrub the top layer of wax off of your floors and applying a new coat of wax. This process is useful for maintaining the appearance of your floors but will not remove any stains or build-up that has accumulated over time. In contrast, stripping and waxing involves using a more aggressive process to remove all of the wax and any dirt or stains present on your floors before applying a new coat of wax to protect and shine the floor.
To determine if your floors have been properly stripped and waxed, there are a few things you can do. First, check for any spots or stains that were present before the cleaning process. If these spots are still visible after cleaning, it could indicate that the company simply applied a new coat of wax over the stains without properly stripping the floors. It’s also a good idea to ask the cleaning company about their process to ensure they understand the difference between scrubbing and recoating and stripping and waxing. A reputable company should be able to provide evidence, such as before and after photos or videos, that they have indeed stripped your floors. Unfortunately, there have been cases where some companies have attempted to cut corners by blending instead of properly stripping floors. In fact, there was a company I heard about a few years ago that even went as far as grabbing dirt from outside and mixing it with the wax to make it match the rest of the floor.
The proper frequency of floor maintenance depends on factors such as foot traffic and flooring material. To maintain your floors correctly, it’s important to consult with experts who can recommend a maintenance schedule that will keep your floors looking their best without unnecessary or excessive stripping. An effective maintenance routine involves scrubbing the floors using a side by side scrubber or an “AFM” Automatic Floor Machine, followed by a high-speed burnisher to harden the wax and give your floors a high-gloss finish. It’s also essential to ensure that you’re using the correct floor pads to achieve the desired appearance. For example, I remember looking at a company’s floor machine and pads to investigate why their floors were not getting as clean as they should have been, and discovered that the employees were using a burnish pad for daily cleaning instead of a cleaning pad. This mistake can result in subpar cleaning results, so it’s crucial to use the appropriate pads for each task.
Unfortunately, some companies may falsely advertise their services and claim to provide stripping and waxing services when they are only scrubbing and recoating your floors. This can lead to spots that look like dirt, even though you paid to have your floors cleaned. In some cases, this may lead to a situation where a professional company is required to strip the floors several times to remove the accumulated build-up and stains, leading to a higher cost and longer cleaning time.
For example, we recently had to strip a floor that was supposedly stripped every year. However, it was apparent that it hadn’t been stripped in several years. We had to strip the floor seven times and scrape layers of wax off the floor with a 3” blade between each stripping process, removing over 20lbs of wax. What should have been completed in roughly 16 man hours ended up taking 64 man hours. This is the difference between a reputable commercial cleaning company and someone who claims to have the experience.
In conclusion, knowing the distinction between scrubbing and recoating versus stripping and waxing is critical in maintaining the appearance of your floors. Choosing a trustworthy commercial cleaning company is essential to ensure you receive the service you’re paying for. With Triumph Professional Cleaning Services, you can be confident that you’re getting the experience and ethical practices you deserve. Trusting the experts to recommend a maintenance schedule tailored to your floors’ needs is the best way to keep them looking their best without unnecessary or excessive stripping. By doing so, you can ensure that your floors remain in excellent condition and retain their beautiful appearance for years to come.
