Removing deep scuffs from a linoleum tile floor
My kitchen floor has some very old linoleum tile that has seen better days.
When I first bought the house the floor was covered in a layer of filthy wax. The little old lady who lived there was in no shape to strip the floors, and probably could not see that well either.
I had managed to strip the floor wax off - but I never replaced it. Which was probably a dumb move because it made it more vulnerable to scuffs and scratches.
Well when my kitchen ceiling was replaced, the guys were rather rough moving stuff around (appliances, etc) and really scuffed up the floor bad.
Even after cleaning, those black streaks were there and I could not get them out. the scuffs were actual gouges where dirt was going to collect regardless unless I smoothed it back out. It occurred to me that if I can sand wood, why can't I sand Linoleum tile. It's the same material all the way through, so it should be no problem. But instead of sandpaper, why not use steel wool - a very fine grit, so as to discourage grit from collecting.
I realized I probably needed to wax the floor after I did this so things would slide over it easier and not scuff it up again.
So I did an experiment. I took an especially bad area (by the stove who was the major scuff culprit) and selected 4 squares to clean and wax.
Here are the results:
HERE BE THE DIRTY FLOOR.... Or is it dirty? Well let's clean it to be sure.
OK This is what is looks like after Cleaning. DEPRESSING, ISN'T IT?
1 out of 4 tiles cleaned with steel wool.
2 out of 4 tiles cleaned with steel wool.
3 out of 4 tiles cleaned with steel wool.
4 out of 4 tiles cleaned with steel wool. SOOO MUCH BETTER.
OK now to slap on some wax:
OK: Here we have applied one coat of Johnson's Paste Wax. I am waiting for it to dry before buffing.
This is after buffing out one coat of wax. I think it needs a second coat... it was VERY thirsty - I had to apply a lot and it sucked it right up.
And BOY is is slippery! I'll have to be careful when I'm in my socks!
And now to do the rest of the floor.. UGH I may have to do this in sections...
Eventually, I'll peel off the myriad of layers of flooring and hopefully restore the heart pine floors that I suspect are underneath, that or put down an encaustic tile floor. The kitchen looks very "30's" now, but I want to do something more Victorian.
When I first bought the house the floor was covered in a layer of filthy wax. The little old lady who lived there was in no shape to strip the floors, and probably could not see that well either.
I had managed to strip the floor wax off - but I never replaced it. Which was probably a dumb move because it made it more vulnerable to scuffs and scratches.
Well when my kitchen ceiling was replaced, the guys were rather rough moving stuff around (appliances, etc) and really scuffed up the floor bad.
Even after cleaning, those black streaks were there and I could not get them out. the scuffs were actual gouges where dirt was going to collect regardless unless I smoothed it back out. It occurred to me that if I can sand wood, why can't I sand Linoleum tile. It's the same material all the way through, so it should be no problem. But instead of sandpaper, why not use steel wool - a very fine grit, so as to discourage grit from collecting.
I realized I probably needed to wax the floor after I did this so things would slide over it easier and not scuff it up again.
So I did an experiment. I took an especially bad area (by the stove who was the major scuff culprit) and selected 4 squares to clean and wax.
Here are the results:
HERE BE THE DIRTY FLOOR.... Or is it dirty? Well let's clean it to be sure.
OK This is what is looks like after Cleaning. DEPRESSING, ISN'T IT?
1 out of 4 tiles cleaned with steel wool.
2 out of 4 tiles cleaned with steel wool.
3 out of 4 tiles cleaned with steel wool.
4 out of 4 tiles cleaned with steel wool. SOOO MUCH BETTER.
OK now to slap on some wax:
OK: Here we have applied one coat of Johnson's Paste Wax. I am waiting for it to dry before buffing.
This is after buffing out one coat of wax. I think it needs a second coat... it was VERY thirsty - I had to apply a lot and it sucked it right up.
And BOY is is slippery! I'll have to be careful when I'm in my socks!
And now to do the rest of the floor.. UGH I may have to do this in sections...
Eventually, I'll peel off the myriad of layers of flooring and hopefully restore the heart pine floors that I suspect are underneath, that or put down an encaustic tile floor. The kitchen looks very "30's" now, but I want to do something more Victorian.