Nov 4

Nov 4 Problems with Waxing and Stripping Traditional Acrylic Wax Floors?

Floor Care, Stop waxing, floor wax, Maintenance free floor, LVT, VCT

Floor strippers are widely recognized as some of the most powerful and dangerous chemicals used in commercial cleaning. Floor strippers pose a potential health risk to cleaning staff, can affect building occupants, have environmental consequences and create disruption to the business. With all these problems why do we continue to use them and what can be done to eliminate their use?

Floors need to be protected. Without any protection the floor tile will sustain damage quickly. Traditional wax finishes used to protect floors are not durable. They get softer over time and dirt becomes embedded in the finish. The floor appearance degrades just weeks after application and before long it becomes necessary to remove the wax entirely. Typically, wax should be completely removed and refinished once per year. In between this yearly stripping, there is a constant maintenance struggle to keep the floors looking good. Burnishing and re-coating are required frequently. There is a better option, but first let’s discuss some environmental concerns related to traditional floor waxing and stripping practices that I think are important for us to consider.

Staff Safety - The ingredients in most floor strippers are hazardous and can be a health concern to the cleaning staff. And the danger increases if the chemicals are improperly handled, or safety precautions are not followed.

o Glycol ethers: These solvents are commonly used in wax strippers and can have negative impacts on human health and the environment. They can cause skin irritation and respiratory problems when inhaled and can also contaminate soil and water sources when disposed of improperly.

o Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs): APEs are commonly used as surfactants in wax strippers and other cleaning products. They are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in the tissues of aquatic organisms, causing negative impacts on the food chain.

o Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is a common preservative used in some acrylic floor waxes. It is a known carcinogen and can also cause respiratory problems when inhaled.

o Ammonia: Ammonia is often added to wax strippers as a cleaning agent. It is highly toxic to aquatic life and can contribute to eutrophication, which is the process of water bodies becoming over-enriched with nutrients and leading to harmful algal blooms.

o Petroleum distillates: These solvents are commonly used in both acrylic floor wax and wax strippers. They are derived from crude oil and are not renewable or sustainable. They can also contribute to air pollution and climate change.

Environmental Waste - With approximately 2.4 billion square feet of resilient flooring installed in the US in 2015 alone, it is estimated that approximately 5 million gallons of floor stripper are used annually. This is a large quantity of chemicals that in many cases is simply discarded down the drain. And some states are prohibiting this type of disposal which is good for the environment but could skyrocket your costs.

Volatile Organic Chemicals - Waxing, stripping, and burnishing release VOC’s into the atmosphere. Contamination of the atmosphere with airborne pollutants can adversely affect the buildings’ occupants.

Disruption of Business - Stripping is a labor-intensive practice and must be followed by an equally time-consuming re-application of wax. This often involves disruption in the workplace space and creates a big inconvenience for your customer. And for businesses that are open 24 hours per day these disruptions can impact their business.

Damage to Flooring - Stripping shortens the life span of the floor. Stripping is intended to remove only the wax but over time the corrosive nature of these chemicals also tends to wear away the floor tile itself. Harsh and aggressive strippers can cause detrimental damage to floors from continuous use.

There is a better way! EPIC® High-Performance Floor Finish is superior to traditional floor wax because it is eco-friendly and sustainable, containing no VOCs or harmful chemicals. EPIC® High-Performance Floor Finish is a water-based floor finish that offers the ultimate rejuvenation and protection for several floor types. Unique to the market, it is an excellent alternative to wax that eliminates the need for stripping and buffing. Plus, EPIC does not need to be recoated for 3-5 YEARS or more after the initial application, even in high-traffic areas! Watch this brief commercial for an overview and see for yourself how EPIC® High-Performance Floor Finish can transform your floorcare program. Floor Finish Solutions Home - EPIC (ultradt.com)