As you know, Stained Concrete Floors are growing in popularity.  While once reserved for restaurants and stores, stained concrete is becoming more popular in the home.  People like the beauty of the surface and the benefits of a surface that doesn’t hold dust.

   However, there is one problem with transforming your dull Gray Concrete into an Acid Stained Floor.........Once you make something pretty; you notice when it is dirty.  Stained Concrete floors should be considered a Low Maintenance floor Not a No Maintenance floor.  The information below will give you the knowledge needed to keep your surface looking its best.
 
 
Interior Floor Care:
 
   Your Custom Interior Floor can last a lifetime if properly maintained.  Plastic glides, Felt Pads or Magic Movers should be affixed to heavy furnishings or those which will move frequently.  Use the same precautions you would use for a Hard Wood Floor.  A Door Mat at the outside (Hemp or Rope style) and inside entrance (one with a solid backing that can be shook off outside) of a home will pick up over 85% of the dirt that would otherwise be tracked inside. 

   One important thing to mention about your walk-off mat is how to choose one.  For the first month, an open-back mat such as a carpet remnant should be used while the sealer/finish cures.  Plastic-backed products should NOT be used for your mats.  An acrylic or plastic backed mat can cause discoloration under and around the mat.  This phenomenon is called Plasticizer Migration.  This is caused when a plasticizer in a floor mat or floor material transfers itself (migrates) into the floor finish or sealer.  A Plasticizer is an ingredient of a floor finish (or flooring/mat product) that makes it more flexible and less brittle. This is accomplished with an additive which reduces intermolecular forces in the polymers. Since the intermolecular forces are reduced, the molecules in the Plastic mat surface next to your floor will actually want to bond with the molecules in the sealer MORE than the sealer bonds to the concrete. Then when you pull up the mat, you may be tearing up part of your sealer.  If a solid backed mat is used, it should be a mat with a backing of 100% Rubber material.

Here is how to care for your stained concrete floor:
 
Daily dust mopping -  Daily dust mopping removes the fine dust and grit which can grind away floor finish. It will help prevent major floor finish deterioration caused by normal foot traffic.  The best results are obtained by using a Micro-Fiber Dust Mop.  The following procedures should be followed:
 
1.      Dust mop the floor in one continuous movement without lifting the mop off the floor. Overlap your stroke on each pass (you can also vacuum but without the brush turning).
 
2.      Clean the dust mop after each use by shaking it outdoors; clean it with a brush over a garbage can, or vacuuming it.  
 
3.      NEVER use a "Swiffer Wet-Jet" type of cleaning tool.  The liquid in these devices contain trace amounts of Solvent material.  The Solvent will not harm the sealer but will cause the wax to egg-shell.  Also, you should not use Ammonia, Bleach or Pine Sol.
 
 
Damp mopping - use cool water
 
            1.  Damp mopping with cool water and a neutral ph cleaner extends the floor
                 Finish life. It will not dull the finish and will enhance the gloss retention.
 
            2.  Follow the recommended dilution rates on label directions.
 
            3. The mop should be wrung out tightly so that it is just damp.  Do not allow the
                Cleaning solution to puddle.
 
            4.  NEVER use a "Swiffer" type of cleaning tool.  I know this is a repeat from above but I must state this again.  The liquid in these devices contain trace amounts of Solvent material.  The Solvent will not harm the sealer but will cause the wax to egg-shell or streak.  Also, no Ammonia, Bleach or Pine Sol.
 
 
Waxing - Wax is the sacrificial coating to protect the sealer and bear the brunt of the scuff and scratches.  No one wants to think about waxing a floor, but it is a necessary evil - like waxing your car.  Your floor should be finished with 4 coats of wax on top of the sealer for additional  protection.  When this is done, the wax coats bear the brunt of the traffic load and preserve the concrete and sealer.  It is much easier to apply a refresher coat of wax than it is to reseal a floor.   Use a Commercial Quality Floor Finish of at least 20% solids material as the final coatings.  Never use  Mop-n-Glo or similar wax products.  These quickie products do not have the durability to last for very long.
 
 1.      How often you need to re-wax depends on the abuse you, your children or pets put on the floor.  It varies by owner and may be anywhere from every 6 months to every year.
 
2.      Use a looped-end Rayon mop -- synthetics release material cotton absorbs.
 
3.      Pour a dinner-plate sized puddle on the floor and spread it evenly and thinly.  Spread the material across the surface and let it dry for 1 hour.  You are now ready for foot traffic again.
 
   The use of a Floor Mat on the Outside and Inside of entry doors will pick up about 85% of dirt that would enter a home.  The use of mats is especially good if you are living in a new housing development.
 
           
Troubleshooting:

 The following section covers the most common mistakes made in maintaining a stained floor and the steps to take to correct the problem:

Symptom	Probable Cause	Solution
Floor is Streaky	The floor was still dirty before mopping or the mop water was too dirty during use.	Allow floor to dry, dust mop or vacuum and use a clean mop and water.
Dusty Footprints at entrance(s)	Dirty or No Walk-Off mat.	Shake/Clean walk-off mat. Or, get one if you don’t have it.
Floor is Spotty (Milky White spots).	Too much mop water remained on the floor.	Your cleaning water shouldn’t puddle.  Wring out the mop so that it is just damp and doesn’t leave excess liquid on the floor.  Note:  The Spots will clear after the water has evaporated.
Floor is Sticky.	Too much PH neutral cleaner in mop water.	Re-Mop the floor with only clean cool water to remove excess cleaner.  A good cleaner ratio is 1 ounce of cleaner to 1 gallon of cool water.

NOTE:  You should rinse your mop after each cleaning and let it air dry.  After using your mop for wax, rinse and wring out the mop several times.  Then, fill the bucket with water, add a palm-full of hair conditioner to the mop water and let sit overnight.  Rinse and wring out the mop several times and let it air dry.  This will ensure you have a clean mop for the next time you mop.  Dust mops need to be cleaned and can also be washed and air dried.


Visit Stained By Design's website to see pictures of Acid Stained Concrete floors and to learn more about Acid Stained Floor Care.