How to Polish Terrazzo
Terrazzo floors are easily kept clean by sweeping, but regular traffic will dull the bright colors. To return the bright shine to terrazzo, polish the floor with a buffer and a neutral cleaner. Terrazzo floors are porous and can be damaged by acidic cleaners. Use of waxy cleaners will result in a slippery surface. The National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association recommends weekly polishing of terrazzo floors in areas of heavy traffic. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Sweep the terrazzo floor with a broom. Dispose of any dirt and dust removed by sweeping.
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Mix neutral cleaner and water in a mop bucket. Wet-mop the terrazzo floor, rinsing the mop as often as necessary. If you need to change the mop water because your floor is heavily soiled, do so, then continue mopping with fresh cleaning solution.
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Allow the neutral cleaner to remain on the floor for several minutes, but do not allow the cleaner to dry. According to the National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association, neutral cleaners will loosen foreign material from the floor's surface, but they need a few minutes to work.
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Rinse and dry the mop. Run the mop over the floor to remove any excess cleaner. Do not polish the terrazzo while it is wet or leave the cleaner on the floor.
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Plug in the mechanical buffer, and turn it on. Run the buffer back and forth over the terrazzo, working in long, lateral strokes. Overlap your work slightly to avoid leaving any gaps. Work in this manner until the entire floor has been buffed.
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Run a clean dust mop along the floor to remove any dust left by the buffing. The terrazzo should look brighter and glossier as a result of your polishing job with the mechanical buffer.
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References
- Photo Credit water and tile background image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
