1st round of IICRC App "cheat sheets, please leave suggestions/edits

Mikey P

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Consumer Floor and Furnishings Care Information


Stained grout


Standard cement based grout is not much different than your concrete driveway, garage floor or sidewalks around your home. These can all be easily stained if not kept sealed and properly maintained.
Soil in your grout lines that has not saturated too deeply, can usually be removed or visually improved with the IICRC certified cleaning process.
More deeply set stains will require regrouting or a topical “Color Seal’ to hide the stained areas
The use of a “No Rinse Neutral pH” solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended as acidic or alkaline cleaners can, over time degrade both the grout and and leave soil attracting residues.

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Topical sealer/coating failure or wear

Stone and grout sealers fall into two categories, “Penetrative” and ”Topical”. Think of the Penetrative type as a “Scotchgard” that can’t be seen or felt and think of the Topical type as a clear coat of paint. Topical sealers will eventually get scratched, worn and possibly separate or just wear off from the floor over time.Topical type sealers are not usually the best choice and are often applied by mistake.
In many cases it can be hard to impossible to detect the presence of a topical sealer until after the cleaning process has begun.
In some cases topically coated floors can be gently cleaned and additional sealer can be re-applied. The increase in renewed gloss will hide many minor flaws in wood or porous tile floors.
Removing topical sealers can be a very expensive, messy and time consuming project. Not all IICRC certified cleaning companies are trained to or wish to perform this service.

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MDF baseboard swelling
Medium Density Fiberboard baseboard has become the number one choice for most homes in the last ten years. While very affordable compared to hardwood, it’s inherent ability to absorb water makes it a poor choice.
If the bottom edge is not painted or sealed and has a gap where water and cleaning solutions can come in contact with the fiberboard, the baseboard will swell considerably, permanently. Ideally the gap should be filled with silicone or caulk prior to having your floors professionally cleaned. In cases where time or finances do not allow for precautionary measure, your cleaning technician will do their best to keep moisture away from the areas where a gap is present.


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Sealers or protectors not beading

The water beading attributed to a sealer is based on the surface tension created by the sealer residue. The first time that the sealed stone surface or grout is cleaned, the surface tension is relaxed, resulting in the water no longer holding a strong bead on the surface. Remember, it is stain resistance that is the desired result, not temporary water beading. A decrease in surface tension does not relate to a reduction in stain resistance.

Sealing grout and stone after professional cleaning is always recommended to restore stain and soil absorption resistanancy.
The use of a “No Rinse Neutral pH” solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended as acidic or alkaline cleaners degrade grout sealer over time and can leave soil attracting residues.

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Acid etching on stone
Etching is surface damage in the form of a dull mark on natural stone that contains calcium carbonate. It happens when acidic substances come into contact with countertops, floors, walls, or anywhere you may have a calcareous stone (natural stone composed of calcium carbonate). Some common household items are notorious for causing etching, including lemons, soft drinks, ketchup, and many familiar household cleaning products. These substances corrode marble/limestone/travertine upon contact and eat away the shiny surface layer, leaving behind a dull spot that is often lighter in color, white, and even misdiagnosed as a stain.
Resurfacing services of etched areas are offered by many IICRC certified companies and individuals.
The use of a “No Rinse Neutral pH” solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended to prevent dulling on natural stone.
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Travertine/Marble/Limestone dulling

Calcium based stone is easily dulled from foot traffic, aggressive cleaning from vacuum cleaners or other stiff brushes, acidic liquids, sand, dust, pets etc. Keeping the polished look may require frequent maintenance to maintain the shine. Many home and business owners find that a honed (dull) surface is much easier and more cost effective to live with.
Your IICRC certified technician may offer resurfaces services for floors, counters and shower stalls.
The use of a “No Rinse Neutral pH” solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended to prevent dulling on natural stone.

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Cracked/damaged grout

Grout failure in the form of cracks, is usually caused by the movement between two surfaces. Houses and buildings are constantly moving in tiny increments as a result of foundation settling, humidity, temperature, and other factors. If the grout in a bathroom is an inflexible material, as most grout is, cracks can develop when a bathtub moves one way while a tile wall moves another way. Another common reason is if the grout is improperly mixed with too much or not enough water, which can lead to air pockets or powdery, weak grout.
There are many ways to repair damaged grout, ask your IICRC certified technician if they provide this service or have a referral for an experienced tile setting/repairman.

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Lippage
“Lippage” is the term to describe when two or more tiles are not level against one another. This can be caused by poor installation or irregular shaped tiles. Many plank type tiles have a slight bow to them so the lippage can appear along the center edge. With ceramic or porcelain tiles there is no practical fix to the problem. With natural stone tiles your IICRC certified company may offer this resurfacing service or can refer to a company that does.
Irregular soiling and wear will occur over time when Lippage is present. Polishing of stone can be very difficult to perform with lippage present and the areas in proximity to the higher tile can not be reached by the polishing disc.

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Brian H

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Brian H
Topical sealer/coating failure or wear

Stone and grout sealers
fall into two categories, “Penetrative” and ”Topical”...
...
In some cases topically coated floors can be gently cleaned and additional sealer can be re-applied. The increase in renewed gloss will hide many minor flaws in wood or porous tile floors.
Removing topical sealers can be a very expensive, messy and time consuming project. Not all IICRC certified cleaning companies are trained to or wish to perform this service.


Why are you throwing wood floors in here? This is the only place in the description that is appears. If you want to add wood, it needs to also appear in the opening sentence.

Acid etching on stone
Etching is surface damage in the form of a dull mark on natural stone that contains calcium carbonate. It happens when acidic substances come into contact with counter tops, floors, walls, or anywhere you may have a calcareous stone (natural stone composed of calcium carbonate). Some common household items are notorious for causing etching, including lemons, soft drinks, ketchup, and many familiar household cleaning products. These substances corrode marble/limestone/travertine upon contact and eat away the shiny surface layer, leaving behind a dull spot that is often lighter in color, white, and even misdiagnosed as a stain.
Resurfacing services of etched areas are offered by many IICRC certified companies and individuals.
The use of a “No Rinse Neutral pH” solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended to prevent dulling on natural stone.


Shouldn't you also include porcelain and ceramic tile in this? Believe me, I have seen what acid (rust remover bottle) can do to ceramic tile.

Cracked/damaged grout

Another common reason is if when the grout is improperly mixed with too much or not enough water. This can lead to air pockets or powdery, weak grout.
There are many ways to repair damaged grout. Ask your IICRC certified technician if they provide this service or have a referral for an experienced tile setting/repairman.


There are a couple of things here. Just compare what is written above to the original.

Lippage
“Lippage” is the term to describe when two or more tiles are not level against one another one tile is higher or lower than the adjacent tile. . This can be caused by poor installation or irregular shaped tiles. Many plank type tiles have a slight bow to them so the lippage can appear along the center edge. With ceramic or porcelain tiles there is no practical fix to the problem. With natural stone tiles your IICRC certified company may offer this resurfacing service or can refer to a company that does.
Irregular soiling and wear will occur over time when Llippage is present. Polishing of stone can be very difficult to perform with lippage present and the areas in proximity next to the higher tile can not be reached by the polishing disc.
 
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Mikey P

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Here you go @Brian H your alley.

and @The Great Oz .

These were written by a Shareholder, I have not touched them yet but feel they need "dumbing down" a bit for the average homeowner....



On Location Rug Cleaning



Shrinkage: Area rugs may shrink if all materials used in the rug do not shrink uniformly or the materials used were not pre-shrunk to start with (warp & weft material). Some rugs are more prone than others to shrinkage. Cleaning method caution should be used to try to minimize, but some shrinkage may not be avoidable.

Edge Curl: The sides of hand made rugs can curl because of excessive weft tension or lack of dimensional stability. This is a weaving defect and can happen from humidity in the house. This condition can happen with machine made rugs made out of plastic materials from moisture also. If its not a defect in the rug construction, the curling or ripples should be reduced when the rug is dry.

On-location Cleaning: It is recommended by the IICRC S100 Standard that the preferred system to clean area rugs is to remove them from a customer's house or business to be cleaned. It is understood that sometimes conditions dictate cleaning a rug on-location (size, price of cleaning, customer not wanting rug to leave) and can be performed with caution. This should only be done by a specially trained technician using the proper method. Special attention to possible damage to the rug or floor needs to be followed and quick drying methods should be done.

Fringe: On hand made or hand loom rugs the fringe is part of the construction of the rug (warp). Machine made rugs can have a shown-on fringe. Over time the fringe will become worn, rotten, and bloomed. Fringe can be damaged from using bleaching products to clean, animal urine damage and from vacuum damage. Some fringes are tea washed and the color can become uneven and come off over time. Properly cleaning of the fringe on-location is difficult to do.

Tufted Rug Off Gassing: On hand tufted rugs a latex glue is used to hold the face yarns to the fountain of the rug. These rugs are primarily from India and China. There is sometimes an unpleasant chemical odor coming from these rugs, This smell is from the lates glue and is NOT removal from cleaning. The consumer should contact the retailer and ask to return the rug.

Browning; The condition happens in plant based fibers. This is a yellow, brown, or red discoloration due to degradation of cellulose in the presence of moisture or improper cleaning methods. Age of the rug, sun oxidation exposure, humility in the house or consumer products used to clean are others reason for this condition.

Color Bleeding: Most wool rugs are dye with acid dyes. When the dye bond is broken with an alkaline cleaning solution, color bleeding or migration can occur. Consumer products bought are usually an alkaline based product, only Wool Safe products should be used. Urine can also break the dye bond and cause bleeding. The urine will change from an acid stain to an alkaline stain from the bacteria growth. Sometimes the wool is not rinsed property in some counties when dyed and because of that will bleed no matter what cleaning method is used.
Some bleeding can be corrected, but only done by a trained technician.
 

Cleanworks

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Location
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Here you go @Brian H your alley.

and @The Great Oz .

These were written by a Shareholder, I have not touched them yet but feel they need "dumbing down" a bit for the average homeowner....



On Location Rug Cleaning



Shrinkage: Area rugs may shrink if all materials used in the rug do not shrink uniformly or the materials used were not pre-shrunk to start with (warp & weft material). Some rugs are more prone than others to shrinkage. Cleaning method caution should be used to try to minimize, but some shrinkage may not be avoidable.

Edge Curl: The sides of hand made rugs can curl because of excessive weft tension or lack of dimensional stability. This is a weaving defect and can happen from humidity in the house. This condition can happen with machine made rugs made out of plastic materials from moisture also. If its not a defect in the rug construction, the curling or ripples should be reduced when the rug is dry.

On-location Cleaning: It is recommended by the IICRC S100 Standard that the preferred system to clean area rugs is to remove them from a customer's house or business to be cleaned. It is understood that sometimes conditions dictate cleaning a rug on-location (size, price of cleaning, customer not wanting rug to leave) and can be performed with caution. This should only be done by a specially trained technician using the proper method. Special attention to possible damage to the rug or floor needs to be followed and quick drying methods should be done.

Fringe: On hand made or hand loom rugs the fringe is part of the construction of the rug (warp). Machine made rugs can have a shown-on fringe. Over time the fringe will become worn, rotten, and bloomed. Fringe can be damaged from using bleaching products to clean, animal urine damage and from vacuum damage. Some fringes are tea washed and the color can become uneven and come off over time. Properly cleaning of the fringe on-location is difficult to do.

Tufted Rug Off Gassing: On hand tufted rugs a latex glue is used to hold the face yarns to the fountain of the rug. These rugs are primarily from India and China. There is sometimes an unpleasant chemical odor coming from these rugs, This smell is from the lates glue and is NOT removal from cleaning. The consumer should contact the retailer and ask to return the rug.

Browning; The condition happens in plant based fibers. This is a yellow, brown, or red discoloration due to degradation of cellulose in the presence of moisture or improper cleaning methods. Age of the rug, sun oxidation exposure, humility in the house or consumer products used to clean are others reason for this condition.

Color Bleeding: Most wool rugs are dye with acid dyes. When the dye bond is broken with an alkaline cleaning solution, color bleeding or migration can occur. Consumer products bought are usually an alkaline based product, only Wool Safe products should be used. Urine can also break the dye bond and cause bleeding. The urine will change from an acid stain to an alkaline stain from the bacteria growth. Sometimes the wool is not rinsed property in some counties when dyed and because of that will bleed no matter what cleaning method is used.
Some bleeding can be corrected, but only done by a trained technician.
some spelling errors, sewn on, not shown on. Foundation, not fountain. Latex, not lates otherwise, looking good.
 

Cleanworks

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Messages
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Ron Marriott
Here you go @Brian H your alley.

and @The Great Oz .

These were written by a Shareholder, I have not touched them yet but feel they need "dumbing down" a bit for the average homeowner....



On Location Rug Cleaning



Shrinkage: Area rugs may shrink if all materials used in the rug do not shrink uniformly or the materials used were not pre-shrunk to start with (warp & weft material). Some rugs are more prone than others to shrinkage. Cleaning method caution should be used to try to minimize, but some shrinkage may not be avoidable.

Edge Curl: The sides of hand made rugs can curl because of excessive weft tension or lack of dimensional stability. This is a weaving defect and can happen from humidity in the house. This condition can happen with machine made rugs made out of plastic materials from moisture also. If its not a defect in the rug construction, the curling or ripples should be reduced when the rug is dry.

On-location Cleaning: It is recommended by the IICRC S100 Standard that the preferred system to clean area rugs is to remove them from a customer's house or business to be cleaned in a specialized rug cleaning facility. It is understood that sometimes conditions dictate cleaning a rug on-location (size, price of cleaning, customer not wanting rug to leave) and can be performed with caution. This should only be done by a specially trained technician using the proper method. Special attention to possible damage to the rug or floor needs to be followed and quick drying methods should be done.

Fringe: On hand made or hand loom rugs the fringe is part of the construction of the rug (warp). Machine made rugs can have a sewn on fringe. Over time the fringe will become worn, rotten, and bloomed. Fringe can be damaged from using bleaching products to clean, animal urine damage and from vacuum damage. Some fringes are tea washed and the color can become uneven and come off over time. Properly cleaning of the fringe on-location is difficult to do.

Tufted Rug Off Gassing: On hand tufted rugs a latex glue is used to hold the face yarns to the foundation of the rug. These rugs are primarily from India and China. There is sometimes an unpleasant chemical odor coming from these rugs, This smell is from the latex glue and is NOT removal from cleaning. The consumer should contact the retailer and ask to return the rug.

Browning; The condition happens in plant based fibers. This is a yellow, brown, or red discoloration due to degradation of cellulose in the presence of moisture or improper cleaning methods. Age of the rug, sun oxidation exposure, humility in the house or consumer products used to clean are others reason for this condition.

Color Bleeding: Most wool rugs are dye with acid dyes. When the dye bond is broken with an alkaline cleaning solution, color bleeding or migration can occur. Consumer products bought are usually an alkaline based product, only Wool Safe products should be used. Urine can also break the dye bond and cause bleeding. The urine will change from an acid stain to an alkaline stain from the bacteria growth. Sometimes the wool is not rinsed property in some countries when dyed and because of that will bleed no matter what cleaning method is used.
Some bleeding can be corrected, but only done by a trained technician.
corrected in here
 

Brian H

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YIKES, this is going to be some work... Just the first sentence alone reads like nonsense. Area rugs may shrink if all the materials don't shrink uniformly. What happens when all the materials do shrink uniformly, it doesn't shrink? Do they mean to say buckling or rippling?

Shrinkage: Area rugs may shrink if all materials used in the rug do not shrink uniformly or the materials used were not pre-shrunk to start with (warp & weft material). Some rugs are more prone than others to shrinkage. Cleaning method caution should be used to try to minimize, but some shrinkage may not be avoidable
 
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Mikey P

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Natural fiber area rugs may noticeably shrink or buckle after cleaning if certain materials used in the rug’s construction do not shrink uniformly. Some rugs are more prone than others to shrinkage and some rugs may shrink uniformly so you’ll most likely never notice. Cleaning method caution should be used to try to minimize over wetting, with a “Low Moisture” process being preferred, but some shrinkage may not be avoidable.
If cleaning your rug in your home is not worth the risk, ask your IICRC certified cleaner if they offer “In Plant” cleaning or can refer to a company that does.



tough one...
 

Mikey P

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Edge Curl:
The sides of hand made rugs can curl because of excessive weft tension in the structure or lack of dimensional stability during the cleaning process. This is a weaving defect and can also happen from humidity in the house. Rugs that are prone to this should be cleaned in a controlled setting at a rug washing facility.
This condition is also very likely to happen with synthetic machine made rugs with cotton cord binding . On average, about 50% of the time the curling or ripples should be reduced or completely gone when the rug is dry.
If your synthetic rug did not dry flat, be patient, most take a few days to flatten out. If not you can try these tricks to help.
  • Roll the rug up, starting face down, as tight as you can and hold it secure with rope or tape for a few days
Use a clothes steamer (not an iron, too hot and can melt synthetic fibers real quick) to relax the edges and place a large heavy object on the raised areas for 24 hours. Make sure the object won't bleed or rust by using a plastic garbage bag as a barrier
 

The Great Oz

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If you're looking for consumer flyers, this should all be more wordy/flowery. If aimed at a technician, is it supposed to be a quick explanation they can show a customer or "how-to" training?

I wan't sure where this is going so default to concision.
(In the words of Principal Jindraike "It's a word. Look it up.)

On Location Rug Cleaning

The construction of most area rugs is different than that of installed carpet. Density and lack of airflow through an area rug means that using on-location cleaning methods will provide only “top cleaning” and will not remove the deep down grit that will shorten the life of a rug.

IICRC S-100 standards recommend cleaning area rugs off-site. Before choosing to clean a rug on-location, observation of the rug construction is critical, and steps must be taken to protect the rug from damage during the cleaning and drying process. Also, protecting the floor from damage from long exposure to humidity during the drying process is vital.

Shrinkage: Due to plant fibers used in the foundation, area rugs may shrink or buckle, so observation of the type of construction used is critical. The risk of shrinkage may be reduced by using a low moisture cleaning method.

Edge Curl: The sides of hand-made and some machine woven rugs can curl under due to higher side-to-side (weft) tension in the foundation of the rug. The sides of many area rugs can curl upward from foot traffic. These pre-existing conditions can’t be corrected on-site, may get worse when the rug is wet, and may relax as the rug dries.

Fringe: The ends of many rugs may be finished with cotton, synthetic or even silk fringe. This is part of the foundation of a hand-knotted rug and can be machine woven or sewn on to other rugs. Fringe is vulnerable to traffic wear, pet damage and aggressive vacuuming, and may have been weakened by bleach treatments in the manufacturing process or by improper cleaning. Always gently tug on a fringe to see if it comes off easily. If so, much of that fringe may be removed even with gentle cleaning.

Hand-Tufted Rug Off Gassing: Hand-tufted rugs are held together using a latex adhesive. Many will develop an odor over time due to impurities in the latex used. This is a manufacturing flaw and can’t be corrected by cleaning.

Browning: Cellulosic browning occurs when plant-based rug fibers dry slowly. Sugars in the plant cells rise to the surface and leave a yellow to brown discoloration. The process is similar to an apple slice or wilted salad greens turning brown, and is easily corrected with the proper cleaning methods. Sometimes confused with soil wicking.

Color Bleeding: Rug dyes may move (bleed) during the cleaning and dyeing process due to long-term exposure to moisture, animal urine, and high pH or pH buffered cleaning products.

In addition, some rug fibers are overdyed or the dyes are poorly set during the initial dye process. Pre-existing dye-bleed is often more pronounced on the back of a rug and should be a warning of potential problems for the cleaner. Pre-testing suspicious colors and rapid drying is critical to avoid permanent rug damage.
 
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PrimaDonna

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You are now officially the 2nd highest contributor to this project.....
I’m sorry!!!

Work has been crazy busy. I know you sent these to me days ago and called me about it. I just haven’t had a chance to get to it. Guess I’m fired! Maybe if you put me on payroll I would prioritize you. 🤣
 

Mikey P

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updated..

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Consumer Floor and Furnishings Care Information


Stained grout

Standard cement based grout is not much different than your concrete driveway, garage floor or sidewalks around your home. These can all be easily stained if not kept sealed and properly maintained.
Soil in your grout lines that has not saturated too deeply, can usually be removed or visually improved with the IICRC certified cleaning process.
More deeply set stains will require regrouting or a topical “Color Seal’ to hide the stained areas
The use of a “No Rinse Neutral pH” solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended as acidic or alkaline cleaners can, over time degrade both the grout and and leave soil attracting residues.

Care Tip- Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.
e8j2v3EQAJx2-Sv7E0kwUw2bWXWvFkRh9Cj3cDNVC-KoFlty5j9Fp-xTmXvPJnfQz6VOMCm4o860ahklMEZoWuKFqV4B3D6NIQzNML_15Y4UVZnZw6qIxns1A9AM4y41Awulz0Gg





Topical sealer/coating failure or wear

Floor sealers fall into two categories, “Penetrative” and ”Topical”. Think of the Penetrative type as a “Scotchgard” that can’t be seen or felt and think of the Topical type as a clear coat of paint. Topical sealers will eventually get scratched, worn and possibly separate or just wear off from the floor over time.Topical type sealers are not usually the best choice and are often applied by mistake.
In many cases it can be hard to impossible to detect the presence of a topical sealer until after the cleaning process has begun.
In some cases topically coated floors can be gently cleaned and additional sealer can be re-applied. The increase in renewed gloss will hide many minor flaws in wood or porous tile floors.
Removing topical sealers can be a very expensive, messy and time consuming project. Not all IICRC certified cleaning companies are trained to or wish to perform this service.

Care Tip- Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.

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MDF baseboard swelling

Medium Density Fiberboard baseboard has become the number one choice for most homes in the last ten years. While very affordable compared to hardwood, it’s inherent ability to absorb water makes it a poor choice.
If the bottom edge is not painted or sealed and has a gap where water and cleaning solutions can come in contact with the fiberboard, the baseboard will swell considerably, permanently. Ideally the gap should be filled with silicone or caulk prior to having your floors professionally cleaned. In cases where time or finances do not allow for precautionary measure, your cleaning technician will do their best to keep moisture away from the areas where a gap is present.

Care Tip- Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. A Flat Mop is much easier to control along baseboards as well. Search You Tube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.


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Sealers or protectors not beeding
The water beading attributed to a sealer is based on the surface tension created by the sealer residue. The first time that the sealed stone surface or grout is cleaned, the surface tension is relaxed, resulting in the water no longer holding a strong bead on the surface. Remember, it is stain resistance that is the desired result, not temporary water beading. A decrease in surface tension does not relate to a reduction in stain resistance.

Sealing grout and stone after professional cleaning is always recommended to restore stain and soil absorption resistanancy.

Care Tip;The use of a “No Rinse Neutral pH” solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended as acidic or alkaline cleaners degrade grout sealer over time and can leave soil attracting residues.
Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.

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Acid etching on stone

“Etching” is surface damage in the form of a dull mark on natural stone that contains calcium carbonate. It happens when acidic substances come into contact with countertops, floors, walls, or anywhere you may have a calcareous stone (natural stone composed of calcium carbonate). Some common household items are notorious for causing etching, including lemons, soft drinks, ketchup, and many familiar household cleaning products. These substances corrode man made tilles as well as marble/limestone/travertine upon contact and eat away the shiny surface layer, leaving behind a dull spot that is often lighter in color, white, and even misdiagnosed as a stain.
Resurfacing services of etched areas are offered by many IICRC certified companies and individuals.

Care Tip:Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers or natural stone of any kind.
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Travertine/Marble/Limestone dulling

Calcium based stone is easily dulled from foot traffic, aggressive cleaning from vacuum cleaners or other stiff brushes, acidic liquids, sand, dust, pets etc. Keeping the polished look may require frequent maintenance to maintain the shine. Many home and business owners find that a honed (dull) surface is much easier and more cost effective to live with.
Your IICRC certified technician may offer resurfaces services for floors, counters and shower stalls.

Care Tip:
Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers or natural stone of any kind.

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Cracked/damaged grout

Grout failure in the form of cracks, is usually caused by the movement between two surfaces. Houses and buildings are constantly moving in tiny increments as a result of foundation settling, humidity, temperature, and other factors. If the grout in a bathroom is an inflexible material, as most grout is, cracks can develop when a bathtub moves one way while a tile wall moves another way. Another common reason is when the grout is improperly mixed with too much or not enough water. This can lead to air pockets or powdery, weak grout.
There are many ways to repair damaged grout. Ask your IICRC certified technician if they provide this service or have a referral for an experienced tile setting/repairman.


There are many ways to repair damaged grout, ask your IICRC certified technician if they provide this service or have a referral for an experienced tile setting/repairman.

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Lippage

“Lippage” is the term to describe when one tile is higher or lower than the adjacent tile. This can be caused by poor installation or irregular shaped tiles. Many plank type tiles have a slight bow to them so the lippage can appear along the center edge. With ceramic or porcelain tiles there is no practical fix to the problem. With natural stone tiles your IICRC certified company may offer this resurfacing service or can refer to a company that does.
Irregular soiling and wear will occur over time when lippage is present. Polishing of stone can be very difficult to perform with lippage present and the area next to the higher tile can not be reached by the polishing disc.

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