Floor treatment is a separate discipline: removal of old coating, application of polish in thin layers, drying time, buffing to shine and ongoing maintenance. Here are the steps in order, machine choice (scrubbing/rotary and high-speed machine), the principle of pad colours and the typical pitfalls.
Introduction
Where the entry on floor types covers what forces a floor can withstand, this one is about the work itself: building and maintaining a protective care film on the floor. Floor care is one of the trade's most technical and machine-intensive jobs, and it is carried out in a set sequence — skip a step and the result will not hold. Always follow the floor supplier's and care product's instructions; some floors (for example certain linoleum and rubber floors) advise against polish altogether.
Why treat the floor?
A polish or wax film has several purposes: it protects the actual flooring against wear and dirt, it makes daily cleaning easier (dirt sticks to the film, not to the floor), and it gives a uniform, often glossy appearance. In return, the film must be maintained and over time scraped off and reapplied — otherwise old, yellowish layers build up. Floor treatment is therefore a cycle, not a one-off task.
The steps in order
| Step | What happens | Maskine/redskab |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Preparation | Clear the floor, sweep/vacuum loose debris, cordon off the area and put up signs (wet floor). | Broom/vacuum, barrier. |
| 2) Cleaning / scrubbing | Old polish and ingrained dirt are removed with an alkaline stripping agent so the floor is bare. | Scrubber/orbital machine (low speed) with coarse/dark pad; collection of dirty water. |
| 3) Neutralisation and drying | Rinse off the cleaning agent, neutralise if necessary, and let the floor dry completely. | Floor washing machine/mop, clean water. |
| 4) Polish application | The film is applied in several THIN layers with drying time between — thin layers give better adhesion and gloss than few thick ones. | Clean mop/applicator dedicated to polish. |
| 5) Drying time | Each layer must dry before the next is laid; don't walk on the floor too early. | — (follow the product's drying time). |
| 6) Honing / polishing | The film is polished to a gloss and becomes more wear-resistant (only where the product is suitable for burnishing). | High-speed machine (polisher) with fine/light pad. |
Deep cleaning vs. daily maintenance
Floor treatment is linked to two levels of cleaning. Daily maintenance (dry/wet mop or floor washing machine with neutral detergent) keeps the film clean from day to day. Deep cleaning — the big, rare scrub — is carried out when maintenance can no longer keep the floor nice, in preparation for new treatment. You deep-clean as needed and with wear, not on a fixed calendar.
Crystallization of stones
Calcareous stone floors (marble, terrazzo with lime) are not treated with polish but can be crystallized: a chemical-mechanical process where the surface with an acidic crystallizing agent and a pad under machine is hardened and becomes shiny. It is used ONLY on suitable stone types — never use it on acid-sensitive floors without first ensuring that the specific stone can tolerate it, according to the supplier's guidance.
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