Spartan News © Spartan Chemical Company, Inc 1999

Spartan Chemical Company, Inc.
1110 Spartan Drive, Maumee OH 43537
Phone: (800) 537-8990
www.spartanchemical.com

Training Information

HOW TO STRIP FLOORS

Tools & Materials Needed:
A. Three mop heads with handles
B. Three buckets with wringers
C. Broom and dust pan
D. 175 single disk floor machine
E. Black or brown stripping pads
F. Wet/dry vacuum
G. Floor squeegee
H. Stand up scrapper
I. Doodle bug and pad
J. "Wet Floor" signs
K. Gloves and goggles
L. Protective footwear

Products:
1. Stripper
2. Neutralizer, if necessary
3. Baseboard stripper
4. Clear water

Procedures:

I. Purpose of Stripping Floors

II. Put on personal protective equipment

A. Thorough stripping and rinsing is the basis for:

1. Sealer to penetrate the surface of the tile.

2. Rejuvenating the tile colors.

3. Building a strong foundation and maximum adhesion for subsequent finish layers.

B. When is it time to strip?

i. The finish begins to build up.

ii. The floor begins to change color.

iii. Mopping, spray buffing and rewaxing no longer give desired results.

III. Procedure for Stripping

A. Remove as much furniture as possible from the area to be stripped.

1. If heavy, seek help.

B. Dust mop the floor thoroughly before beginning stripping.

1. This will remove all loose material that could cut or scratch the floor during the stripping operation.

C. Remove gum, tar and other foreign material from the floor with a stand up scraper.

D. Move all equipment and tools to area to be stripped prior to beginning work.

E. Place "Wet Floor" signs at every entrance.

F. Put on gloves and personal protection equipment. Apply baseboard stripper.

1. Apply product to baseboards and 3" of floor edge.

2. Be careful not to spray walls and painted surfaces.

3. Let set 2-3 minutes.

4. Reapply if drying out.

5. Agitate with doodle bug.

6. Rinse area with rinse mop using clear water.

G. Mix the stripper solution.

1. Always wear gloves.

2. Pour the stripper into hot water, following manufacturer's directions.

H. Put on protective footwear.

1. Protect your feet and shoes.

2. Gives a better grip on slippery floor.

I. Apply stripper solution liberally to the floor.

1. Start along the edge of the area.

2. Fill in the rest of the area in a figure eight motion.

3. Cover an area 100 - 150 square feet at a time.

4. Let solution stand 3-5 minutes.

5. Do not let stripping solution dry out. Reapply solution prior to scrubbing, if necessary.

J. Machine scrub the wetted area thoroughly.

1. Use the 175 machine and stripping pad of your choice.

2. Move from where your feet are on dry floor into the stripping solution.

K. Pick up the stripping solution.

1. Squeegee to a central location.

2. Pick up with wet/dry vacuum.

L. Rinse the stripped area thoroughly.

Rinse two or three times with clear water.

2. If a high alkaline stripper was used:

a. A neutralizer is recommended in the first rinse

only

b. Follow with one clear water rinse.

c. Only two rinses saves time and labor.

3. After final rinse, wipe down baseboards again to clean up splashes from stripping operation.

M. Allow the floor to dry thoroughly before applying seal.

N. Wipe your hand across the floor and if a white powder is visible on the palm of your hand, rinse and allow to dry again.

O. Clean all equipment, wipe cords dry, and store for future use.

P. Floor is now free of all sealer, finishes, dust, grime, gum and other foreign matter. It is ready for the first sealer coat.