Mick asked: My non-slip bathroom flooring is discolored and stained. It looks grubby. I’ve tried the usual cleaners, but it still remains. It is a sealed vinyl type waterproof surrounding my walk-in shower and toilet. It’s white with little colored bumps in it that provide the traction. Can you help please?
Non-slip
flooring increases the safety of any room. Commonly found in high traffic areas of kitchens and bathrooms, they can quickly build up with dirt and grime. The texture of these floors may seem hard to clean, but the build-up can be removed. Get ready to put forth some effort and spend a little time restoring your floors to their original beauty. If you want to avoid the elbow grease, this is a great task to offer a couple neighborhood kids looking for a one-time job.
You Will Need:
- Washing powder
- Soft brush (a scrub mop can work) or sponge
- Water
- Buckets
Steps to Clean the Floor:
- Begin by filling the bucket with warm water.
- Sprinkle a small amount of washing powder on to the surface of the floor.
- Moisten the brush or sponge with the warm water. It is often better to use a scrub brush as the non-slip flooring can cause the sponge to break apart. If uwing a sponge, use the more sturdy scrubbing side.
- Working in small sections, scrub the surface with the brush until all of the dirt and grime is removed.
- Rinse the sponge or brush periodically to avoid reapplying the loosened dirt.
- When the area is clean, rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Allow the floor to dry completely.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Steam cleaners are also effective at removing dirt build-up from these textured floors.
- Once the floor is clean, maintain it by mopping the area thoroughly weekly. This will help prevent build up.
- Choosing the right mop is important when mopping textured floors. Sponge mops will likely disintegrate on the floor. Using a rag mop (or similar), that is soaked with water will help to keep the mop from sticking. Mop lightly over the area and scrub tough areas with a sponge or scrub brush by hand. Dry the area with a towel to keep the dirt in the water from resettling into the grooves of the floor.
The floor tiles are sticky due to excess detergent residue drying on the surface. You need to thoroughly rinse the tiles with clean water and dry completely. A wet vacuum cleaner can be used for small areas. Consider the use of a floor scrubber (e.g. Karcher BR 30/4 C) for larger areas.
I used cheap patio cleaner. Apply with an old clean paintbrush, use gloves, and be sure to wash with plenty of clean water.
I am extremely impressed; very glad I googled this problem. My non-slip lino has been in my kitchen for a number of years and what with three kids, two cats and a dog, you can imagine how the dirt soon became ingrained, even after weekly cleaning. Did spend 2 1/2 hours scrubbing with a Spontex sponge and washing up powder, and it has come up like new. Very pleased.
Do you mean clothes washing powder? Can you recommend a good mop?
I have a non-slip sealant on the bathroom floor. How do I lift this sealant off the tiles?
I have water marks on safety bathroom flooring and just mopping won’t clear it any advice
Marina,
Use white vinegar and distilled water. (One cup white vinegar in a gallon of distilled water should suffice for mopping.) The water marks are likely a result of a high mineral content in your water. The vinegar will help to remove them, and the distilled water will prevent more marks from being left. Using a bristle brush to scrub can also help to get up the marks (residue) that is already there.
Where can I buy distilled water?
Hi Nikki,
Distilled water is sold at supermarket and grocery stores in the water aisle. Usually the generic store brands carry distilled, purified, and spring water options, however some other main brands may as well. Cehck the labels and if it doesn’t say on the front label, it will be listed in the ingredients list. Buying it as a gallon jug is likely the cheapest option. Good luck!
I have a non slip floor in my shower room. I am disabled and I am not able to get down on my knees or bend as low as may be required to use your washing powder recipe. What other way can I clean my floor? I have a mop and bucket, Could I utilize that in any way? Thank you.
Miss Brenda,
Yes, you can use a mop with the same method instead of a handheld brush. The difficulty with a non-slip floor is that the dirt gets embedded into and around all the little grooves that make the floor non-slip, so it does need to be scrubbed. However, you can do so with a scrub brush mop. Other mops like a sponge mop or rope mop most likely will not work, though you can certainly try as the washing powder itself is an abrasive so it may be just enough to get out the dirt. Keep an eye on your mop too though as some types of non-slip flooring could shred the soft sponge or ropes. Good luck!
Melanie, I’m the same as the lady your replying to; I can’t get down with my knees and back. The floor is driving me mad. What is a scrub mop? Thank you.
Nora,
Here is an example on Home Depot: Professional Deck Scrubber. It’s basically just a large scrub brush attached to a long mop handle. There are others that may be more effective and easier to use, such as the Libman, which is available on Amazon. For just a bit more, you can even get on that is electric like this one on Amazon – talk about easy cleaning! Good luck