Terrazzo Cleaning & Polishing

Mop terrazzo floors to keep them clean

Terrazzo is a composite floor material composed of bits of marble, quartz, granite or glass bound together with cement or resin. Common in office buildings, airports and other places, terrazzo can create an elegant floor or a mural. Terrazzo is low maintenance, but does require special cleaning products and periodic upkeep.

Sweeping

Terrazzo floors should be swept daily to remove dirt, dust and debris. Use a straw or soft-bristled broom to sweep your floor. Regular sweeping cuts down on the amount of cleaning and polishing you need to do.

Types of Cleanser

The National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association recommends using only neutral cleaners for terrazzo floors, noting that any cleaner with a pH between 7 and 10 is neutral. Avoid generic cleaning products, or any cleaners that contain oil, sand, crystallizing salts, alkali or acids. Neutral cleaners will be marked as such, and will display a pH value on the packaging. If in doubt about what to use, contact the company that installed your terrazzo for recommendations.

Cleaning Process

Mix your neutral cleaner and water in a mop bucket, following the manufacturer's instructions. Sweep the floor immediately before cleaning. Dunk your mop in the bucket, then wring it out lightly. Work the mop across the floor, allowing the liquid to get onto the terrazzo so it can act. Then wait several minutes; neutral cleaners require time to dissolve grime, but not so much time that they dry in place. Dry mop the neutral cleaner to remove it; wring out the mop thoroughly, then mop over the floor. Wring it out again when it absorbs liquid. Work in this manner across the whole terrazzo.

Polish

You don't need a special polisher to polish terrazzo, since the residue of the neutral cleaner provides natural gloss. Over time a slight residue builds up after cleaning; buff the residue to naturally polish your floors. After you've cleaned the floor, run a firm brush back and forth over the tile work. This brings out the luster in your tile work.

Sealing

After installation, seal epoxy or polyester terrazzo floors with a surface sealer to keep them glossy and protect them from chipping. Seal terrazzo floors that contain portland cement with a penetrating sealer, since the cement can absorb water and stains. Over time, the sealers fade away, so you will need to reseal the floor periodically. Talk to your terrazzo installer about the frequency of sealing based on the type of floor you have and the amount of foot traffic it receives.

References

• National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association: Custodian's Guide
• National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association: Owner's Guide