Maintenance: : Marmoleum: : Sheet & Tile

Your Marmoleum floor is designed to last for many years. With a little care and attention, it will stay looking good throughout its life. Marmoleum has a strong, durable protective layer- Topshield. This innovation from Forbo ensures a highly effective shield against dirt and scuff marks.

The floor takes more punishment than almost any other furnishing in your home, Forbo has designed a finish and a cleaner especially for your Marmoleum floor. These will make care easier and enhance the richness of the colors.

You can use the floor at once. If you wish, sweep or dry vacuum the floor, but wait at least 5 days after installation before performing any “wet” cleaning procedures or moving heavy furniture on the floor. This gives the adhesive time to “cure” and become more resistant to moisture and indentation.

Cleaning – Sweep/dust mop the floor or better, vacuum the floor. Damp mop the floor with Marmoleum Concentrated Floor Cleaner at the correct dilution. Do NOT flood the floor. Marmoleum is made from natural raw materials and harsh alkalis or cleansers with high pH (such as Ammonia or similar products) should be avoided. Rinse the floor with a clean mop . Allow to dry.

The vast majority of spills can be cleaned off your Marmoleum satisfactorily. With spills or “accidents” with pets:
1. Act quickly.
2. Scrape or blot as much as possible
3. Mop with diluted Marmoleum Concentrated Floor Cleaner.
4. Damp mop with clean water.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 if necessary.

If the stain persists, as it may with glue, varnish, paint, ink, tar, cosmetics, or shoe polish, some wines and coffee and some other substances, the solution is to remove the surface finish and the stain with it. For guidelines on this procedure, please contact us here at Underfoot Floors or Forbo Technical Services.

Ambering – Marmoleum is made from natural raw materials. An occurrence during the manufacturing process is that while it is maturing in the drying stoves, a yellow cast, termed “drying room film” may appear on its surface. This film, caused by oxidation of linseed oil, occurs intermittently and with varying intensity. It is most noticeable on the blue and grey shades. However, the discoloration is only TEMPORARY.

When exposed to light, the drying room film disappears. The process may take only a few hours in bright sunlight but longer with artificial light. Finishing over the drying room film makes NO difference – it will still disappear with exposure to light.

Marmoleum Click has a strong, durable protective top layer – Topshield. This innovation from Forbo ensures a highly effective shield against dirt and scuff marks. Marmoleum Click with Topshield is ready for use immediately following installation and does not require the application of additional protective coats of finish. With Topshield, your Marmoleum floor will maintain its beautiful appearance with simple cleaning. Dry dusting is a fast and easy way to keep your floor free from loose dirt. Remove spots with a mop or cloth dampened with diluted Marmoleum Floor Cleaner. Avoid excessive use of water on the floor, and make sure chair and furniture legs are covered with felt protectors. An entrance mat will protect the floor from dirt.

Cleaning – Same as the sheet goods, stated above.

Regular Care – Sweep, dust mop, damp mop and/or vacuum as needed. For ingrained dirt, a scrubbing sponge (non-abrasive) or nylon brush is ideal. When damp mopping,
always follow with a clean water rinse and allow the floor to thoroughly dry before allowing traffic. When light cleaning no longer produces the desired results, repeat the recommendations for Initial Care.

Restorative Care – In case of accidental damage to the Topshield top layer, excessive wear or a desire for additional gloss, the following steps can be taken:
1. Remove loose soil and grit by sweeping, dust mopping or, preferably,
vacuuming the floor. Micro-fiber dusters are also recommended.
2. Apply a neutral pH stripper to the floor per manufacturer’s guidelines.
Note: Marmoleum is made from natural raw materials. The use of harsh alkalis or high pH cleaners (such as Ammonia or similar products) may damage Marmoleum and should be avoided.
3. Pick up any soil and excess stripper with a clean mop or cloth. Rinse the mop or cloth frequently and change the water as needed.
4. A non-abrasive nylon scrubbing pad can be used for cleaning small stubborn spots. For larger areas of stubborn soil, a long handled, soft bristled nylon scrub brush is ideal.
5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 if necessary.
6. Rinse the floor with a clean damp mop.
7. Allow the floor to dry thoroughly.
8. Evenly apply two thin coats of Marmoleum Floor Finish using a clean, lint-free cloth, or a micro-fiber mop applicator. If using the same mop that was used for cleaning, it must be thoroughly rinsed and clean. The finish should be applied liberally enough to avoid creating “dry spots” or streaks, but no more. Evenly applied thin coats will produce better results than one thick coat.
9. Allow a minimum of 45 minutes drying time between coats.
10. Additional coats may be applied if a higher gloss level is desired. Do not apply more than 4 coats in one day. Please note that following regular cleaning recommendations on an as needed basis will significantly reduce, and in most cases eliminate, the need for more aggressive floor care procedures.