The coronavirus pandemic and
the current spread of the Delta variant have put a major emphasis on the importance of routine cleaning and disinfecting of all surfaces, especially those with high traffic. Information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in April 2021 says, “The relative risk of fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is considered low compared with direct contact, droplet transmission, or airborne transmission.”
Even with a low risk of virus transmission via surfaces, the CDC still recommends “cleaning once a day is usually enough to sufficiently remove virus that may be on the surfaces and help maintain a healthy facility.”
Floors, including hardwood, are considered one of the highest traffic hard surfaces where germs and bacteria can be tracked in from shoes, pets, and other outside substances. Disinfecting a wood floor may be harmful to the finish and shorten the overall
lifespan of the floor. It is recommended to clean the floor with proper products and application methods to keep a wood floor free of unwanted contaminants and germs.
Always check with the hardwood floor or finish manufacturer for recommendations on the type of cleaner to use on hardwood flooring. It should be specifically approved for hardwood floor surfaces to avoid damaging the floors.
Avoid using cleaning products with bleach or aerosols because it can leave discoloration, haziness, or permanent damage to hardwood floors. Antimicrobial products with ingredients like ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, peroxyacetic, and sodium hypochlorite
should not be used on hardwood floors. For more information about what to use and what to avoid on your hardwood floors, click here.
Intensive Floor Treatment (I.F.T.) Floor Cleaner and Squeaky™ Concentrate Floor Cleaner together are a 2-part
deep cleaning system to thoroughly and safely clean hardwood floors. Each product is designed to remove different types of soils and contaminants on hardwood floors. I.F.T. is an aggressive cleaner that removes soils like heavy grease, oils, waxes,
and dirt. Squeaky is used for routine cleaning of dirt, grease, and scuff marks without leaving a residue. Read more about the advantages of Squeaky.
Clean wood floors in only a few steps:
- Prepare your floor for the cleaning process by removing debris from the floor with a broom or vacuum.
- Start with I.F.T., diluting it using a ratio of 4 parts water to 1-part I.F.T.
- Wrap a push broom with a dampened towel of the I.F.T. dilution and tack the floor until it is clean.
- Rinse the floor with clean water.
- Repeat step 3 with Squeaky and do not rinse, since there is no leftover residue.
While applying cleaning products, do not oversoak the mop or towels to avoid excessive water. If using a spray mop, it should have good control over the amount of solution applied with absorbent pads. Do not use a steam mop due to the possibility
of injecting water further into cracks and crevasses that will damage the floor and finish.
To get in contact with a Basic Coatings representative with questions about I.F.T., Squeaky, or wood floor cleaning products or processes, please visit this link.
¹ “Science Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Surface (Fomite) Transmission for Indoor Community Environments”. 2021. CDC.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/surface-transmission.html
² “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility”. 2021. CDC.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html