Cleaning Old Terrazzo Flooring

Sweep the floor to remove loose dirt crumbs and other debris.

Cleaning old terrazzo flooring.

Deep clean your terrazzo floors twice a year. Over time even the best kept floors must be properly cleaned. A dry mop can also be useful if the floor is dusty. Use a high quality floor stripper and thoroughly strip the floor.

Many people turn to using vinegar as a cleaner because it is all natural and non toxic. Allow the solution to sit on the terrazzo floor for at least 10 15 minutes in order to dissolve the dirt. Gently scrub over the adhesive to remove the residue from the terrazzo flooring. Use a dry dust mop or clean towels across the flooring to pick up loose debris and dust.

Lift the cleaning rag dip it back in the bucket and wring it out once more. If needed use a dull knife to scrape. Mop up all residue with clean water before the floor dries. Terrazzo floors are much softer than granite which means that they stain and wear more often and cannot be cleaned in the same way.

Very often a dull terrazzo floor is the result of several coats of sealant or floor finish applied over the years thoroughly rinse the floor. Then comes a thorough cleaning as from left to right jimmy stewart walter miller james crowder and jason aycock power wash and sweep the slab to get rid of loose debris. Terrazzo tile is porous and hot water can easily seep into the tile for a deep clean. The cleaning is followed by a scrubdown with dilute muriatic acid to kill algae which can weaken the bond between the concrete and the terrazzo.

Wet mop or scrub the floor thoroughly using even strokes or a circular pattern to prevent streaking or scratching. Heavily soiled floors should be scrubbed with a mechanical buffing machine and a neutral cleaner. Regular cleaning just like any flooring material your terrazzo floor needs regular cleaning to keep it free of dust and debris that can dull or scratch the surface. Step 2 wash it down once the floor has been lifted of dust take a soft sponge mop and immerse it into a bucket with warm water.

Sweep the floor at least once per day or as needed when general household dust or dirt begin to build up. The first order of business when cleaning a terrazzo floor is to use a soft dust mop to clean the floor before washing. Deep clean your terrazzo tile floor with natural stone cleaner or commercial terrazzo cleaner to prevent etching from alkaline or acidic cleaners. Terrazzo floors are easy to clean with a few simple steps.

This may need to be repeated two or more times.