Cleaning Old Terrazzo Flooring

Gently scrub over the adhesive to remove the residue from the terrazzo flooring.

Cleaning old terrazzo flooring.

Sweep the floor to remove loose dirt crumbs and other debris. Mop up all residue with clean water before the floor dries. Deep clean your terrazzo tile floor with natural stone cleaner or commercial terrazzo cleaner to prevent etching from alkaline or acidic cleaners. Use a high quality floor stripper and thoroughly strip the floor.

Use a dry dust mop or clean towels across the flooring to pick up loose debris and dust. The cleaning is followed by a scrubdown with dilute muriatic acid to kill algae which can weaken the bond between the concrete and the terrazzo. Lift the cleaning rag dip it back in the bucket and wring it out once more. If needed use a dull knife to scrape.

Step 2 wash it down once the floor has been lifted of dust take a soft sponge mop and immerse it into a bucket with warm water. Many people turn to using vinegar as a cleaner because it is all natural and non toxic. Sweep the floor at least once per day or as needed when general household dust or dirt begin to build up. Vinegar is great on most floors but should never be used on terrazzo floors.

Terrazzo floors are much softer than granite which means that they stain and wear more often and cannot be cleaned in the same way. Terrazzo floors are easy to clean with a few simple steps. Regular cleaning just like any flooring material your terrazzo floor needs regular cleaning to keep it free of dust and debris that can dull or scratch the surface. A dry mop can also be useful if the floor is dusty.

The first order of business when cleaning a terrazzo floor is to use a soft dust mop to clean the floor before washing. Allow the solution to sit on the terrazzo floor for at least 10 15 minutes in order to dissolve the dirt. Wet mop or scrub the floor thoroughly using even strokes or a circular pattern to prevent streaking or scratching. Very often a dull terrazzo floor is the result of several coats of sealant or floor finish applied over the years thoroughly rinse the floor.

Terrazzo tile is porous and hot water can easily seep into the tile for a deep clean. This may need to be repeated two or more times. Heavily soiled floors should be scrubbed with a mechanical buffing machine and a neutral cleaner. Deep clean your terrazzo floors twice a year.

Weekly damp mop a lightly soiled terrazzo floor with a neutral cleaner.