Heated floors are a new thing for me since back in Los Angeles there was no need for them. The floors in our apartment are of some sort of plastic/rubber (?) that my partner says he was told it is an 'industrial' floor. When I moved here he told me that the ONLY way to clean these floors is with very hot and absolutely NO solution because it would ruin the floors. I found that a little hard to believe. So, since then I have cleaned the floors with the hot water. Fine. But there are areas that are still spotted and he says it's from his old housekeeper who by accident spilled some Cill it Bang in the kitchen.
Not that I doubt the man, but I am wondering if anyone here has floors like these and knows of a solution made specifically for them. I don't want to ruin the floors but I find it a bit hard to believe that special floors are made and no detergent (even a mild one) was created for them.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
Bit difficult to say with the vague decription of "some sort of plastic/rubber". But I would have thought that a dilute solution of a general purpose cleaning liquid would do the job. It's entirely possible that undiluted application of bleach-based or similar cleaners could damage it, but unlikely that a gentle detergent would do so.
Tough enough to survive the industrial environment but not a drop or two of multi purpose cleaner in a mop bucket
Can you ask the landlord for more precise details? In the meantime, do a test patch in a not too visible corner and see what happens.
Steam clean is a good idea but to work well over big areas you'll need a good one (for which read pricey ..)
What you might have is something like what this company provides.
http://www.semco.ch/en/home.html
As someone has suggested, contact the manufacturer about the right cleaning product.
If you are buying a steam cleaner, get one with a big tank. You cannot refill them when hot.
This one sucks like Tracey, http://www.fust.ch/de/nav/shop/onlin...FQ1L3godykUAAw
For industrial flooring is usually used epoxy, because, it is very resistant to most chemical damage, abrasions and heavy impact. But this is of course in usual industrial environment where some changes in finish are not problematic.
For home use some recommend the usual dish washing liquid for it (100 ml on 4 l), because strong acid or alkali (in usual cleaning liquid) can change the colouring. Also try first in a less visible part, and don't use anything abrasive (soft brush is still ok) and dont use concentrated cleaning liquid directly on flouring.
You can use clear polymer glaze coats or wax polishes to finish or renew the shininess. I think there is a thread going on now about waxing in Switzerland and you can check there for details
Thanks so much for all the replays. After I sat down with Peter (my man) and told him about all these replies and advice from you guys, he then says 'well yeah, that all makes sense'. After a year of telling me 'no, only hot water, only hot water'. Oh the Swiss!!!! Thanks again everyone.
Maybe if he's so worried about his chic but sensitive industrial flooring he should get down on his hands and knees and have a go at it himself.