As there are many types of floors constructed, maintenance of some of the important floors are dealt below.
Terrazzo Floors
Cleaning of terrazzo floors with water may be taken up after 3 months of laying. After this period, it should be swabbed daily using clean water and a clean rough swab (floor cloth) which should be rinsed in water frequently so as to avoid dirt being back on to the floor. The floor is then allowed to dry in air. After this initial cleaning, ordinary swabbing shall keep the floor shining.
Sometimes acid polishing of terrazzo floors is resorted to after machine polishing during the first laying of the floor. If need be, this can be repeated. Oxalic acid is used for acid cleaning. After acid polishing, the following day the floor is wiped with a moist rag and washed clean with water.
Marble Floors
For marble floors daily maintenance is to be made. This is carried out by mopping with mild detergent in water. Marble gets easily stained and scarred. If there is a spill on the floor, it should be cleaned immediately.
Stubborn stains should be removed based on the type. If the stain is from grease, a paste of chalk dust or whiting with acetone. This mixture is applied on the stain and allowed to stand overnight. The mixture is sponged off and the treated area is buffed. If the stain is from any organic source like tea, fruit juice, etc., chalk powder with hydrogen peroxide mixture is used. This paste can also remove stains due to rust. Such stains can also be removed by dry borax and damp cloth followed by warm water rinsing.
Linoleum Floors
For this floor mopping with kerosene oil can pick up all the dirt. After the removal of dirt, the floor may be wiped with water and mopped well to set a polished surface.
Concrete Floors
A properly constructed concrete floor should be dust free under normal use. Dusts in floors can be reduced by the application of a hardener, or by waxing, or by painting it with a solution of oil spirit. For such application, raw or boiled linseed oil mixed with an equal amount of turpentine has been found to be effective. Painting with epoxy, acrylic or chlorinated rubber base is also used.
Wax polishing with proprietary polish is also popularly used. This polish may be made at site by mixing a 25% solution of melted bees wax in turpentine together with pigment at the rate of 60% by weight of bees wax. The wax is applied on the floor which hardens after 12 hours and the surface is sprinkled with French chalk and polished with dry cloth. About 200 gm of bees wax shall cover an area of 10 m2.
If the floor has to be roughened, it is usually done by washing the floor with dilute hydrochloric acid. The dilute acid is applied at the rate of 0.3 l/m2 of floor area. The acid is left for 15 minutes and then brushed. Then the floor is thoroughly cleaned with water. If need be three successive applications may be given.
Other Floors
All stone floors may be maintained by mopping with mild detergent and water at regular intervals.
Ceramic tile floors are easy to maintain. Soap and water can be used to clean the floors and special care has to be taken to clean the joints. Stains, if any, may be removed as explained in marble floors.
Wooden floor is to be cleaned and kept bright by polishing with bees wax or ready-made wax polish.
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