Congoleum
Residential Floor Care & Maintenance
IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLATION
- Protect and do not disturb
the sealed seams on your Congoleum resilient sheet vinyl flooring for at least
16 hours after seam sealer application to ensure a proper seam bond.
- For ungrouted Congoleum
DuraCeramic, Congoleum DuraStone, Congoleum DuraStone Classic, Congoleum resilient
sheet and Congoleum resilient tile floors, keep traffic to a minimum during
the first 48 hours to allow the adhesive to harden. For grouted Congoleum
DuraCeramic, keep all traffic off the floor for 24 hours, then open to light
foot traffic only for the next 24 hours. Resume normal traffic after 48 hours.
- Furniture should not
be placed on the Congoleum floor until the adhesive and grout, if applicable,
has had adequate time to dry (48 hours for grouted Congoleum DuraCeramic and
at least 24 hours for all other products).
- Always move heavy furniture
and appliances with care to avoid gouging or tearing the Congoleum floor.
First, lay strips of plywood or hardboard panels on the floor. Then roll,
"walk" or slide these items on the strips. Do not push or pull appliances
and heavy furniture without taking these precautions.
- Wash your floor using
Congoleum Bright 'N Easy
No-Rinse Cleaner 48 hours after installation.
- Caution: Congoleum Resilient
flooring, like other types of smooth floors, can become slippery when wet.
Allow time for the floor to dry after washing. Immediately wipe up wet areas
from spills or wet feet. Place mats at outside entrances to prevent water,
snow or ice from being tracked onto your floor. Improper polishes or finishes
can also cause slipperiness.
PREVENTATIVE CARE
- Make sure furniture legs
have large surface, nonstaining
floor protectors. Replace small, narrow metal or dome-shaped glides with
smooth, flat glides that are in flat contact with 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
that are not moved often should be equipped with flat, nonstaining composition
furniture casters or cups of appropriate size - available square from 1 ½”
to 2 5/8” and round from 1 3/8” to 1 5/8”.
- Mobile appliances and
furniture should be equipped with easily swiveling casters. They should be
at least 2” in diameter with nonstaining hard rubber treads at least 3/4”
wide. 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, because some rubber-backed mats or carpets may
permanently stain 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. Resilient floors, like other home
furnishing products, may discolor or fade when overexposed 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.
CONGOLEUM REGULAR CARE
(All Products)
- Sweep or vacuum regularly
to remove dirt and grit that can abrade, dull or scratch your new Congoleum
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.
- Wash your floor with
Congoleum Bright 'N Easy
No-Rinse 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.
- A copolymer or acrylic
grout sealer compatible with acrylic grouts may be used on DuraCeramic grout.
Do not use a penetrating silicone sealer on the grout.
- The following does not
apply to Xclusive: the gloss level may change over time depending on the amount
of traffic, care, and maintenance the floor receives. To restore the appearance,
first use Congoleum Bright
'N Easy Polish Remover to remove any ground-in dirt and excess polish
buildup. Rinse thoroughly. Then apply Congoleum
Bright 'N Easy Floor Polish to obtain a high-gloss finish or Congoleum
Bright 'N Easy Satin-Gloss Floor Polish to obtain a satin-gloss or natural-gloss
finish.
CARE FOR CONGOLEUM FORUM
SOLIDS® TILE FLOORS
- Congoleum Forum Solids
have been designed with a natural satin finish. Follow the recommended maintenance
procedures to keep your new floor looking beautiful.
- Follow the regular maintenance
tips.
- To maintain the luster
or remove scuffs or scratches, periodic wet buffing is recommended using a
mechanical buffer (175 rpm) fitted with a red pad. Rinse thoroughly. Then,
dry-buff with a white pad to polish the floor and restore the finish. As an
option, you may apply two coats of Congoleum
Commercial Polish to reduce the frequency of buffing.
CARE FOR CONGOLEUM FOUNDATIONS®,
CONGOLEUM SPECIFICATIONS™, CONGOLEUM ALTERNATIVES®, CONGOLEUM SPECIAL EFFECTS®,
CONGOLEUM SELECTIONS®, CONGOLEUM CHOICES® AND CONGOLEUM CX SERIES™ FLOORS
These Congoleum products require a polish to seal and protect the color and
design. A minimum of two coats of Congoleum polish for residential use and three
to five coats for commercial use is required.
Initial Congoleum Flooring
Residential Maintenance
- After the floor has been
installed and the adhesive has dried (48 hours), initial maintenance MUST
BE performed on your Congoleum Foundations, Congoleum Specifications, Congoleum
Alternatives, Congoleum Special Effects, Congoleum Selections, Congoleum Choices
or Congoleum CX Series floor. If these instructions are not followed, permanent
staining may occur.
- Sweep or vacuum the Congoleum
floor regularly 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 your floor with
Congoleum Bright 'N Easy
No-Rinse Cleaner. Be sure it is thoroughly dry before applying polish.
- Apply a minimum of two
coats of Congoleum Bright
'N Easy Floor Polish to seal and protect your floor.
Congoleum Regular Maintenance
- Follow the general maintenance
tips.
- Apply additional coats
of polish as needed.
Congoleum Periodic Maintenance
CONGOLEUM FLOOR CARE
PRODUCTS
Congoleum
Bright 'N Easy No Rinse Floor Cleaner
Sizes: 32oz. (1qt.), 12
bottles/ctn.; 4oz.
Congoleum
Bright 'N Easy Floor Polish
Sizes: 32oz. (1qt.), 12
bottles/ctn.
Congoleum
Bright 'N Easy Satin Gloss Floor Polish
Sizes: 32oz. (1qt.), 12
bottles/ctn.; 4oz.
Congoleum
Bright 'N Easy Polish Remover
Sizes: 32oz. (1qt.), 12
bottles/ctn.; 4oz.
HOW TO TREAT STAINS,
SPILLS AND SCUFFS
Follow the remedies in order.
Unless instructed otherwise, use a clean, white cloth or towel with the recommended
liquids. Always rinse the affected area with clean water after treatment.
Stains and Spills
- Acids, Alkalis
- Blood
- Catsup, Mustard
- Cleaners, Strong Soaps
- Dye, Dye Markings
- Food, Candy
- Fruit and Fruit Juices
- Grass
- Iodine, Mercurochrome
- Rust
- Urine, Excrement
Remedy
- Scrub area with Congoleum
Bright ’N Easy No-Rinse Floor Cleaner full strength.
- Rub the area with a 10
to 1 dilution of water to liquid bleach.
- Rub the area with isopropyl
alcohol*. If rust stain does not respond, use lemon juice or a cream of tartar
solution.
Paint and Solvent Spills
- Dry Cleaning Fluids
- Lacquer
- Latex Paints
- Nail Polish
- Solvents
- Oil-Based Paints
- Wood Stains
- Varnish
Remedy
- If substance is dry,
gently peel it from the floor. (Avoid sharp instruments that could scratch
the floor.)
- Scrub area with Congoleum
Bright 'N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner.
- Rub lightly with mineral
spirits or paint thinner*.
Substances That Won’t
Wipe Up
- Adhesives
- Asphalt
- Chewing Gum
- Oil
- Grease
- Candle Wax
- Tar
Remedy
Scuffs and Smudges
- Rubber Heel Marks
- Shoe Polish
- Scuffs
- Smudges
Remedy
* Caution:
Isopropyl alcohol, Lighter
fluid, mineral spirits and paint thinner are flammable solvents. Carefully read
and follow cautionary information on label. Keep traffic off treated area for
30 minutes.
