Rubber flooring is a resilient product that is designed to take use and abuse. Which is why it’s the floor of choice for gyms and athletic facilities. However, the material is not indestructible and should be cleaned and maintained in order to avoid problems. In this article we’ll dive into the proper cleaning of rubber floors and how you can keep them looking their best for years to come.
The Advantages of Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring can come in interlocking tiles, area mats, or as rolled, permanent installations. All types are heavy-duty, durable and are most often made of recycled tires. Take a moment to picture your own gym, and you may recall the clanging and banging of dumbbells being dropped or giant tires being dragged and flipped. Commercial rubber flooring helps reduce acoustic vibrations and absorb shock. It’s also water-resistant, which helps avoid slip hazards. This same resistance to moisture also helps protect against the growth of molds and bacteria. So, all you perspiring Pilates people, your sweat drips simply evaporate from rubber just like that!
Neglected Rubber Floors
Dirt and debris such as small rocks can get tracked onto rubber floors and be abrasive. Overtime this will scratch and mar the flooring’s surface, effecting it’s finish and color. Dirt can also get ground into the rubber itself (not good!)
Routine Cleaning
The good news: rubber is surprisingly easy to clean. The frequency depends upon how much traffic and the type of activity that a facility receives. A simple dry vacuuming on a nightly basis will go a long way toward keeping it looking good. On a weekly basis, damp mopping is recommended. In most cases you’ll only need warm water and a microfiber mop to get the job done. When cleaning rubber floors it’s not necessary to use aggressive chemicals. In fact, water alone will suffice in most cases. If choosing a cleaning agent for tougher jobs, make sure it has a PH of neutral.
The good news: rubber is surprisingly easy to clean. The frequency depends upon how much traffic and the type of activity that a facility receives. A simple dry vacuuming on a nightly basis will go a long way toward keeping it looking good. On a weekly basis, damp mopping is recommended. In most cases you’ll only need warm water and a microfiber mop to get the job done. When cleaning rubber floors it’s not necessary to use aggressive chemicals. In fact, water alone will suffice in most cases. If choosing a cleaning agent for tougher jobs, make sure it has a PH of neutral.
For athletic facilities, you’ll get sweat angels, drinks splashes, and chalk residue. Nightly mopping is important. Also, it’s a good idea to spot mop spills as they occur.
Deep Cleaning
For excessively dirty floors, such as after a new installation or construction to neighboring areas you’ll want to use an auto-scrubber to help remove substantial amounts of dust, dirt and debris. The use of an auto-scrubber machine on a low-speed setting is a significant time saver and is more thorough than what can be achieved with mopping alone. An auto-scrubber or buffer with a soft bristle brush attached will give the floor a good rotary scrubbing.
After the auto-scrubbing, allow the water and solution to dwell on the floor for a couple of minutes before wet vacuuming it all up. Finally, give the floor a finishing rinse by mopping once more with clean water.
Things to Avoid
- When deep cleaning rubber be aware that you should never leave standing water to sit for too long. Traveling moisture can seep between the tiles or sheets. If it gets underneath it can eventually affect the subflooring. Damp wood can lead to rot and a host of other issues.
- Do not use aggressive pads, wool, scouring pads, or hard bristle on rubber as these can scratch, scar and mar the surface.
- Do not use solvents, strippers, or other acidic chemicals as they too can ruin the floor’s finish and cause staining.
We hope this article can help you game plan the proper cleaning of your rubber floors. For more information, you can always contact one of our cleaning consultants.