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Cleaning Rigid Core
How to Clean Rigid Core
Your step-by-step guide to great looking rigid core floors — from the very first cleaning to everyday care.
Caring for your floor is an important part of keeping it looking its best for the lifetime of the floor. Follow our guidelines and you will love the look of your floor from the day of installation until the day you move.
Floor Care Guide
Initial Residential Mainenance
- Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt.
- If needed, after installation use lighter fluid applied with a clean cloth to remove scuff marks and adhesive residue. Keep traffic off treated area for 30 minutes.
- CAUTION: Lighter fluid is a flammable solvent. Carefully read and follow cautionary information on label.
- Wash the floor with Bright ’N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner or other suitable resilient floor cleaner. Wash the floor with Bright ’N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner or other suitable resilient floor cleaner.
Preventative Care
- Make sure furniture legs have large surface, non-staining floor protectors. Replace small, narrow metal or dome-shaped glides with smooth, flat glides, that are flat on the floor. Glides should be equipped with self-adhesive felt pads to avoid scratching the surface of the floor. The pads should be checked periodically for grit and wear and replaced when necessary.
- Heavy furniture or appliances should be equipped with flat, non-staining composition furniture casters or cups of appropriate size - available square from 1 1/2" to 2 5/8" and round from 1 3/8" to 1 5/8".
- Moveable appliances and furniture should be equipped with easily swiveling casters. They should be at least 2" in diameter with non-staining hard rubber treads with a minimum 3/4" flat surface width. Do not use ball-shaped casters. Place mats at outside entrances to prevent dirt, grit and soil from being tracked onto your floor. Use 100% latex-backed mats (labeled non-staining), because some rubber-backed mats or carpets may permanently discolor your floor.
- To help prevent staining from asphalt tracking, we recommend the use of a latex-based driveway sealer.
- Draw drapes and blinds during peak periods of strong sunlight. Flooring, like other home furnishing products, may discolor or fade when over-exposed to the sun.
- Heat-producing appliances such as a refrigerator or range, or hot air registers emitting a direct flow of heat in excess of 120° F, even intermittently, can scorch, burn, discolor or fade your floor. Cigarettes, matches and other very hot objects can also damage your floor.
- Avoid wearing stiletto or spiked heels on your floor. These types of heels can indent or damage many types of floors.
- DO NOT USE STEAM CLEANERS on Congoleum Floors, they can permanently damage the floor.
Regular Care
- Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove dirt and grit that can abrade, dull or scratch your floor. Do not use a vacuum with a beater brush, because it may damage the floor’s surface.
- Wipe up spills promptly with a damp cloth or mop.
- For a more thorough cleaning, wash your floor with Bright ’N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner or other suitable, non-detergent based resilient floor cleaner.
- CAUTION: Avoid one-step “mop and polish” products, dishwashing liquids and oil-based cleaners. These may leave a residue which can attract dirt and dull your floor’s finish. Avoid cleaners that contain abrasives or solvents which may permanently damage your floor.
- Remove excess water after washing the floor.