a preview of how The Cleaning Standard will work..

[Mikey P]

Here is the foundation for a How To/Standard for dealing with REsiliant and Laminate flooring.

It was created with the help of CHATGPT based on content I wrote for various applications over the last 5 years.

I asked AI to scourer the WWW to find anything it felt was missing, which it did


I'm hoping that you MB vets will want to read and comment on it

We plan to cover other topics prior to the launch of The Cleaning Standard




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The Cleaning Standard​

Identification & Safe Cleaning of Resilient and Laminate Floors​

(Technician step-by-step procedures; coating-aware; moisture-controlled; brand-neutral)

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Chapter 1 — Introduction & History​

Why resilient floors exploded in popularity

• Availability & cost: Easy to source, far cheaper than stone/hardwood.
• Ease of installation: Sheet, plank, and tile formats; click-lock or glue-down.
• Looks: High-res images and embossing mimic wood/stone convincingly.
• Surface durability: Wear layers resist abrasion (thicker = tougher).
• Comfort: Cushion/rigid cores reduce sound and feel better underfoot.

A short history that still affects cleaning today

• Laminate came first. It’s a photo layer on an HDF/MDF core. Marketing promised “waterproof/ spill-proof,” but the reality is: laminate swells fast at seams when moisture is introduced; edges chip; delam happens; repairs are costly. These claims persist, so treat laminate as high-risk and non-waterproof.
• Resilient (LVP/LVT/sheet) followed. Its surface is water-resistant, but seams, adhesives, and cushions can still be damaged by over-wetting, heat, or pressure.
• Wear layers on LVP/LVT commonly range ~6–30 mil; higher mils = better abrasion resistance. Plank thickness ranges ~2–9 mm (comfort/stability, not a cleaning green-light). blog.manningtoncommercial.com+1

Takeaway:

• Laminate = fragile and moisture-intolerant.
• Resilient = more forgiving at the surface, not at seams/edges/adhesives.
• Verify construction and clean by what it is, not by what marketing promised.

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Chapter 2 — Identification & Assessment (ID first—clean second)​

Know the families
Solid wood; engineered wood; laminate (MDF/HDF core); LVP/LVT (glue-down or click-lock; WPC/SPC cores); sheet vinyl; cork; bamboo; parquet; woven vinyl; rubber; porcelain lookalikes.


How to ID quickly & safely

1. Visual/tactile clues
   • Laminate: repeating photo patterns, sharp bevels, hollow “clack.”
   • LVP/LVT: flexible plank; can emit vinyl odor when warmed; labeled wear layer (ask to see docs).
   • Engineered/hand-scraped: thin real-wood veneer; stain is fragile on the ridged “peaks.”
   • Porcelain lookalike: cool, rigid, grout present, no “give.”
2. Inspection aids
   • Look for spare planks/tiles in closets/garages.
   • Lift an HVAC register to view cross-section.
   • Use raking light to find aftermarket topical coatings (pooling/peeling/trapped lint).
   • Scratch test (inconspicuous): is there a film sitting on top?
   • Coating-response test: tiny patch of coating remover (VCT-type) on vinyl only (never laminate).
3. Ask & verify
   • Ask who installed it; whether paperwork exists.
   • Request receipts/warranty docs: confirms exact line, wear layer (e.g., 6/12/20/30 mil), and install method. These details influence moisture tolerance and method choice. blog.manningtoncommercial.com

Document pre-existing issues (show and get signatures)

• Wear, scratches, fading, delamination.
• Crowning, cupping, contraction/expansion (often acclimation issues).
• Baseboards (MDF), gaps at caulk/paint.
• Aftermarket finishes or consumer products present.
• Put it in writing: cleaning will not fix structural/install/wear damage.

Limitations of testing (protect yourself)
Clients often don’t know what was applied. Coatings/residues react unpredictably—especially under heat, alkalinity, or mechanical action. Tests are indicators, not guarantees. Document this and get acknowledgment.

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Chapter 3 — Pre-Cleaning Safety & Baseboards​

MDF baseboards = hidden liability

• MDF is compressed sawdust & resin—it swells with tiny amounts of water.
• Inspect for gaps in caulk, chipped paint, raw edges, prior swelling.
• Explain clearly: “We’ll work low-moisture and stay inches off edges, but no one can control every drop and gravity.”

Give the client three options (choose one in writing):

1. Client assumes responsibility for moisture-related base damage.
2. Remove/reinstall baseboards after cleaning.
3. Reseal with 100% RTV silicone, color-matched (e.g., ColorSil) ≥48 hours prior to service.

Commercial note: Rubber cove bases are lower risk, but still inspect seams/paint lines.

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Chapter 4 — Client Communication that Builds Trust (and Repeat Work)​

• Show legitimate concern for ongoing maintenance.
• Gently point out issues (chair scratches, dirty grout, residue from old mops) without shaming.
• Teach why cotton/sponge mops just spread soil; introduce flat-mop systems.
• Offer to email your blog article on proper hard-floor care and spot-cleaning.
• This tone sets you apart and ethically introduces other services without selling hard.

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Chapter 5 — Troubleshooting & Red Flags (when to modify scope or walk)​

• Price shoppers: clarify that cleaning ≠ resurfacing. Request photos ahead of estimates.
• Aftermarket topical coatings: unpredictable under heat/alkali/agitation.
  • Keep coating remover in your estimate kit and on the truck for testing.
  • Some coatings can be worked with using cold water, mild chemistry, gentle agitation.
• Raw/worn areas: do not wet clean. Use CRB + dry compound instead.
• Laminate swelling: Pergo-type floors often have some seam lift already—stick to lowest moisture.
• LVP with attached cushion: risk of swelling/delam if you over-pressure; rely on chemistry/dwell vs pressure.
• Thin wear layers: budget LVP can have ~6 mil; commercial lines ~20–30 mil (abrasion-resistant). Pad/brush aggressiveness must be dialed down. blog.manningtoncommercial.com+1
• Hand-scraped engineered: stain at “peaks” is fragile—lightest agitation only.
• Heat: keep low or off—adhesives/coatings can deform.
• Turbo spinners: require ~700 PSI to activate and trap heat; the plastic glide can scratch—avoid on resilient/laminate.
• Shop chemistry residue: Consumer “miracle” cleaners often leave films that need neutralization or coating-remover steps.

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Chapter 6 — Tools & Equipment (fit for the task)​

Dry soil removal

• HEPA vacuums (brush-roll shutoff; “sweep blade” helps prevent scattering).
• Microfiber dust mops with 360° fringe (natural static attracts dust).

Agitation systems

• CRB with soft/med/stiff brush sets.
• 175 rotary or oscillating pad machines.
• Hand tools: doodle bugs; flagged nylon brushes.
• Melamine pads: effective but can abrade vinyl/coatings—use with max caution.

Pad guide (3M-type colors)

• White = buff/light.
• Hog’s hair = gentle agitation.
• Red = general scrubbing.
• Blue/Tan = aggressive scrubbing.
• Green = strip sensitive surfaces.
• Black = extreme strip (only on safe surfaces).

Absorbent pads/bonnets

• Microfiber foam-core (with/without scrub strips): one-pass or finish passes.
• Cotton / cotton-poly bonnets: big absorbency; swap often—they load quickly.

Wand & hand tools (extraction)

• Hard-surface wand with brush ring or bristled adapter (prevents locking/scratching).
• Fit the wand to the tech (upright posture).
• Interchangeable heads (edges/corners/widths), swivel heads, interchangeable squeegee rings.
• Hand tools for walls/counters/detail.

Low-moisture options

• Dry absorbent compound + CRB.
• Microfiber flat-mop systems.

Hose & site safety

• Corner guards, hose run planning, trip-and-heat hazard control.
• PPE (gloves/eye protection), signage, cord management. (General safety and PPE use are also recommended in manufacturer resources. AHF Contract)

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Chapter 7 — Chemistry (by category; test first)​

Use categories, not brands

• Neutral cleaner — routine cleaning, final rinse after stripping.
• Low-alkaline cleaner — light/mod soil.
• Alkaline degreaser — kitchens/heavy build-up (rinse thoroughly to avoid haze/residue). Tarkett+1
• Coating remover (emulsion) — to remove film-forming finishes on safe resilient/engineered (never laminate).
• Spot aids: adhesive removers; mineral deposit removers (vinyl only).

Avoid
Abrasives; strong solvents; steam mops; high-alkali household cleaners; vinegar/ammonia; extremely aggressive pads on LVP/LVT. (These cautions are echoed across manufacturer care guides.) Floorexpert+3Shawfloors+3QMS View+3


TACT

• Time (dwell) beats pressure.
• Agitation: start gentle; escalate only if safe.
• Chemistry: match pH/target soils to floor tolerance.
• Temperature: keep cool/tepid on resilient & laminate.

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Chapter 8 — Cleaning Methods (dry → wetter).​

Pick the lowest-risk method that will meet the cleaning goal.

A) Dry Compound + CRB (lowest moisture / safest for laminate & MDF risk)​

5 steps

1. Dry soil removal (vac/dust mop).
2. Broadcast dry compound per instructions.
3. Agitate with CRB (correct brush).
4. Optional dwell (only if specified).
5. Post-vacuum thoroughly (immediately or after the recommended drying period).

B) Rotary or Oscillating-Pad (OP) Bonnet (low moisture absorption)​

6 steps

1. Assess the surface and any topical coating.
2. Dry soil removal.
3. Precondition with neutral or low-alkaline cleaner; mop-apply if you need lower moisture.
4. Pre-wet pads/bonnets lightly with the same solution; keep damp, never dripping (prevents wear-layer or finish damage).
5. Agitate using rotary/OP; swap/wash pads before saturated; fiber pads can be rinsed and reused.
6. Finish: post-vac or microfiber mop to remove lint/debris; optional buff with white/hog’s hair or dry microfiber for a uniform appearance.

C) Walk-Behind / Auto-Scrubber (moderate moisture; control the feed)​

6 steps

1. Dry soil removal.
2. Precondition with low-foam neutral/alkaline (soil-dependent); allow dwell.
3. Pre-agitate traffic lanes with pole brush/175 as needed.
4. Run the machine with minimal solution flow.
5. Add extra dry passes.
6. Accelerate drying with air movers and HVAC.

D) Truckmount or Portable Extractor Rinse (highest effectiveness / highest risk)​

6+ steps

1. Dry soil removal.
2. Apply cleaning solution (neutral → low-alkaline → alkaline degreaser for heavy grease).
3. Agitate with CRB/175/OP (safe pad/brush).
4. Rinse/extract using a hard-surface wand:
   • Heat low or off.
   • PSI as low as possible to rinse without driving water under seams (often well under 300 PSI).
   • Use a ball valve at hose end for fine-control.
5. Multiple dry passes; towel edges; stay inches off MDF bases.
6. Force-dry (air movers/HVAC).
7. Check glide/brush often; remove lodged grit/screws that could scratch.

Never use turbo spinners on resilient or laminate. They require ~700+ PSI, trap heat, and the ring can scratch. Risk to adhesives, cores, coatings is unacceptable.

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Chapter 9 — Topical Coatings & Stripping (film-forming finishes)​

Laminate: Do not strip.

Before you strip anything, ask:

• Is the floor safe to strip (no raw wood, no open plank gaps, no known water damage)?
• Any MDF baseboards at risk?
• Why was the topical coating applied (shinier look, hide scratches)? Will the client be happy if the underlying floor is revealed?
• Will the floor tolerate the agitation required?
• Do we need to re-apply a coating afterward? (If the site expects that look.)
• Furniture plan in place?

Stripping workflow (small-area discipline)

1. Estimate test: Strip a 3’×3’ patch during quoting to learn chemistry/time/price.
2. Mask/protect vulnerable edges/baseboards.
3. Work tiny zones ≤ 75 sq ft (smaller if solo). Do not let the slurry dry.
4. Apply coating remover; manage dwell.
5. Agitate with 175 using the gentlest effective pad (start green; black only where truly safe). Edges/corners: doodle bug/3M punch-outs; wear knee pads.
6. Recover slurry:
   • Ideally a separate wet vac for wood projects.
   • If using an extractor: fit an inline filter with two 5-gallon paint strainers over the basket; stretch pantyhose over the blower protection filter; dump often so you don’t overflow the waste tank.
7. Final rinse with a neutral cleaner to remove all traces of remover/residue.
8. Dry & inspect in raking light; repeat localized as needed.
9. If re-coating is in scope, respect cure times per product category.

Additional safety & practicality notes

• Using a sink-conversion kit with a hard-surface wand can simulate truckmount supply when extracting on site plumbing.
• Keep PSI low; avoid injecting water through seams or worn zones.
• Be reasonable with scope. Don’t lose tomorrow’s work on a bad bet today.
• Multiple coating types or many layers may require more than one removal pass and potentially different removers.

When to walk away

• Unclear coating history; weak bond to substrate; open seams; MDF everywhere; client budget misaligned with labor.
• Keep a wood resurfacing pro in your referral list (many are great craftspeople but poor marketers—they’ll gladly pay for referrals).

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Chapter 10 — Pre-Inspection Mega-Checklist (quote-time reality check)​

• Baseboards: MDF? Gaps? Paint? Can they be protected or must they be removed?
• Seams/gaps: Will liquids reach cushion/underlayment/bonder pads?
• Heat control: Can your machine heat be turned down/off? Any warranty concerns?
• Aftermarket finish: Who applied and why? Is soil under the coating? Can you safely remove/replace it? More than one finish type?
• Existing permanent damage: scratches, crowning/cupping, worn factory wear layer, shrinkage—document & sign-off.
• Edge completeness: Can your tools fully reach edges? If not, what’s your plan for built-up residues there?
• Composition certainty: Is that “wood” actually laminate or vinyl? Many lookalikes have MDF cores—moisture and aggressive agitation will damage them.
• Spinners: Avoid on resilient (need ~700 PSI; heat & scratch risk).
• Delicates: Thin-wear LVP (~6 mil), woven vinyl, cork, rubber—will they tolerate the TACT required?
• Residue risk: Consumer cleaners and polymer-additives can create extreme residues. Are you fully equipped with heavy-duty tools & chemistry today, or do you need to reschedule?

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Chapter 11 — Post-Install Protection & Environmental Considerations​

• Adhesive cure & first clean: Allow proper cure time before wet cleaning (often ≥24 hours for adhesive set; deeper cleans deferred several days). Many guidance docs recommend delaying full maintenance for several days and using neutral pH when you do. Protect during construction with breathable coverings (reinforced fiberboard or heavy kraft—not plastic that traps moisture). AHF Contract
• Humidity: In humid environments, avoid over-saturating mop heads; ensure fast drying to reduce moisture issues. (Environmental practices are commonly advised in resilient maintenance resources.)
• Warranty reality: Many “no-finish/no-buff” resilient lines are not designed to be coated; they specify neutral cleaner, no solvent/abrasive, and no aggressive pads. Respect these limits to avoid warranty conflicts. AHF Contract

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Chapter 12 — Aftercare the Client Can Actually Do (give this to them)​

“Simple, Effective, Inexpensive, EASY” flat-mop method

1. Dry dust: sweep or microfiber dust mop.
2. Mix: 1 gallon warm (soft if available) water + 1 oz neutral no-rinse hard-floor cleaner.
3. Soak heads: one 18" microfiber head per ~100 sq ft to be cleaned; wring to no drips.
4. Mop pattern: work ~10’×10’ sections (smaller for heavy soil) in a figure-8 with the leading edge forward so debris doesn’t trail off the back.
5. Swap heads each section; used heads go to laundry.
6. Spot care: keep a spray bottle with the same neutral cleaner for touch-ups.

Plus, teach these habits (without shaming):

• No cotton/sponge mops (they redeposit soil).
• Entry mats with breathable backings; felt pads under furniture.
• Wipe spills immediately; routine dusting prevents grit scratches. Manufacturer guides echo neutral pH and avoiding abrasive/acidic/alkaline household concoctions. Tarkett+2Shawfloors+2

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Chapter 13 — Quick Reference (decision tree)​

1. ID it → laminate? LVP? engineered? coating? MDF base?
2. Risk scan → seams, heat sensitivity, residues, pre-damage.
3. Choose method → Dry compound → OP/bonnet → Auto-scrubber → Truckmount/Portable rinse.
4. Tune TACT → lowest effective Time/Agitation/Chem/Temp.
5. Edges/baseboards → standoff + hand detail; no flooding.
6. Dry fast → air movers & HVAC; towel edges.
7. Walk-through → care plan; set realistic expectations and re-service schedule.

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Appendix — Extra Pointers You Can Borrow​

• Sprayers: keep labels matched to contents; don’t pour different products into a labeled bottle; comply with local regs.
• Microfiber technique: keep the leading edge forward or debris will fall off the trailing edge.
• Wand posture: select length/angle so techs stay upright.
• Sink-feed conversion: a handy trick when truckmount water supply isn’t practical.
• Don’t use metal brushes on resilient/laminate; flagged nylon only for sensitive detail work.
• Manufacturer cautions commonly include: neutral pH for routine care, no abrasive cleaners, no vinegar/ammonia, no steam mops, avoid brown/black pads on LVP/LVT, and rinse thoroughly after stronger chemistry to prevent haze/film. Tarkett Hospitality+3Shawfloors+3QMS View+3

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Sources that align with the above (non-redundant highlights)​

• Mannington Commercial on wear layer measured in mils and role of urethane layers. blog.manningtoncommercial.com
• RFCI (Resilient Floor Covering Institute) technical info hub for resilient. RFCI+1
• AHF/Armstrong/Shaw/Tarkett care guidance emphasizing neutral pH, avoid abrasives/steam, and pad caution; many “no finish/no buff” systems. Tarkett Hospitality+7AHF Contract+7Floorexpert+7
• Wear layer ranges (6–30 mil) reiterated by multiple sources. ReallyCheapFloors

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Final Reminders for Techs​

• ID before you clean.
• Start with the lowest-moisture method.
• Heat low/off; PSI low (dwell beats pressure).
• Protect MDF baseboards and document everything (photos + signatures).
• Avoid turbo spinners on resilient/laminate.
• Some coatings can be cleaned gently, others must be removed—or the job declined.
• Over-communicate and confirm expectations in writing.

 

[Victoria H]

I’m so excited for the changes!

 

[JeffCross]

Nicely done, AI when used properly and with a reign on it, is a great tool.