Cleaning Old Asphalt Tile Floors

This concern stems from two of the tile s characteristics.

Cleaning old asphalt tile floors.

Asphalt tile floor won t retain the footprints when you replace your favorite old tv chair in the family room with a new one. Softened by grease so wipe up spills promptly. Although asphalt is resilient grease oil solvents such as kerosene gasoline naphtha and turpentine harsh cleaning preparations strong soaps and scouring can damage the surface consider these suggestions for cleaning this type of floor. Stripping asphalt tile has engendered concern among floor care professionals for many years.

To clean tile floors with vinegar start by filling a bucket with about 2 gallons of hot water. Then add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and stir it to make sure it s incorporated. Next dampen a mop in the bucket and spread the vinegar mixture over the floor tiles. For best results wash bathroom tiles once a week and kitchen tiles biweekly.

Sponge mops may push dirty water into grout lines so instead use a cleaning cloth or a flat mop to apply the mixture. Also softened dissolved by solvents so do not use solvents or solvent based polishing waxes on it. Asphalt is a rather porous floor that benefits from sealing. Never use oil or solvents such as naphtha gasoline turpentine or carbon tetrachloride for cleaning asphalt tile.

Asphalt tile is not damaged by alkali so can you use alkaline cleaners on it. Any chemical that is used on the floor should be tested on a small out of the way patch of flooring first. Very hard brittle tile installed mostly in older buildings. A couple of times while working in older school buildings we encountered asphalt tile floors.