The frequency and chemicals used will likely need to be adjusted based on the unique characteristics of a venue, but we typically recommend a weekly cleaning schedule that alternates between our cleaner types.

High traffic areas or places where water gathers from improper drainage will need more regular cleaning.

Outdoor

Outdoor amenities have additional considerations with environmental challenges such as plant matter, animal traffic, sunscreen, and dirt. Unfenced areas may also experience higher shoe use, bike traffic, and seasonal changes such as snow and ice.

When possible, we recommend a weekly cleaning schedule during the active season that alternates between our recommended Peroxide Cleaner and Degreaser.

When outdoor amenities close for the season, winterizing Life Floor is easy. Some customers choose to place a tarp or other covering on top of their Life Floor installations. Covering tiles while not in use for more than a couple of weeks can help extend the surface’s life by protecting it from environmental hazards such as shoe traffic, bikes, debris, and prolonged sun exposure when dry. Our tiles are freeze/thaw stable and will expand and contract through seasonal temperature changes?

When preparing to reopen an outdoor amenity, a more thorough clean is likely needed to remove mud and grime that naturally occurs during Spring.

Indoor

Indoor amenities are often more controlled with easier access to cleaning supplies, but they may experience higher occurrences of mineral deposits.

We recommend a weekly cleaning schedule that alternates between our recommended Peroxide Cleaner and Degreaser. If white residue appears on joints or in corners, use the Mineral Deposit Remover to spot clean these areas. Instructions for MDR use can be found on the cleaning page on our website.

Life Floor is engineered to allow for the flow of water through joints between tiles as well as on the surface. Life Floor tiles do not support microbial growth and our tiles are 99.7% impervious to any liquid absorption.

Regular Cleaning

The joints between tiles are cleaned the same as the tile surfaces in a normal cleaning routine. We recommend using an auto-scrubber with a wet vacuum which pulls water from the surface efficiently while following the 3 step cleaning process:

1. Apply

2. Scrub

3. Rinse + Recover

Rinse and Recovery is complete when no more foam appears on the tiles when water is sprayed on the floor. Repeat Rinse and Recover until no foam appears. Leaving residual cleaners on the floor to dry will leave a residue that will be more difficult to clean later and will attract dirt more quickly. Residual cleaner will not foam after drying, so it is important to complete a full recovery each time the floor is cleaned.

Using the recommended cleaners and consistently following the three cleaning steps outlined above ensures your surface maintains proper performance and looks beautiful for years to come.

Solving Problem Areas

Proper drainage flow at any aquatic amenity is critically important for the overall health of a facility. When water is drained correctly, there is a lower potential for water to sit for extended periods of time and stagnate.

If drainage is not ideal and water accumulates in a specific area before naturally evaporating, then a facility may experience a higher rate of mineral deposits which is most common and often appears as a white film.

To clean these problem areas, use the Mineral Deposit Remover and follow the instructions found on the cleaning page [link] on our website.

Please note: Life Floor does not recommend pressure washing. Pressure washing will damage the tiles and void the 5-year material warranty.

White film is most commonly a mineral deposit. It may also appear as a crusty yellow coating depending on the type of mineral. If mineral deposits are identified and addressed early, they are easily removed with the Mineral Deposit Remover.

If you are unsure whether a tile is collecting mineral deposits, the most efficient way to test it is to apply the Mineral Deposit Remover on a small area, let it soak for 2 minutes, then scrub the area. If the MDR foams, then it is a mineral deposit build up and can be cleaned following the instructions found on the cleaning page on our website.

Life Floor is chemical resistant, but harsh chemicals may dissolve the adhesive beneath the tiles. Avoid chemicals such as paint thinner, trichloroethylene, and muriatic acid. All solvents, including mineral spirits and gasoline, will dissolve our adhesive and should be avoided.

If solvents do need to be used, we recommend adding them to a cloth first instead of pouring directly on the surface. This avoids getting solvents in joints between tiles. If solvents do soak into the joints, immediately clean the area with the Degreaser and use vacuum recovery.

Please note, the use of solvents will void our Certified Installation warranty.

First, apply ice to harden the gum. Once the gum is hard, carefully lift it away with a putty knife or blunt scraper. Use caution, as Life Floor can be damaged by aggressive scraping. Any remaining gum residue can be removed by applying WD-40 with a rag. Rinse thoroughly after use.

Sunscreen, especially when aerosolized, is designed to adhere to whatever surface it touches once it leaves its container, so it can certainly be challenging to clean. We recommend using our Degreaser Cleaner once every other week to start, but a deep clean every week may be needed during high-traffic seasons especially in areas where sunscreen is most often applied.

Our Degreaser is the best choice to remove sunscreen build-up and follow the 3-step cleaning process outlined on our website.

If cleaning does not appear to work, please contact us and we’ll work with you to explore potential solutions.

To choose the right cleaner, follow these guidelines:

Alkaline Degreaser: Best for acidic grime such as oil, grease, sunscreen, and food residue.

Peroxide Cleaner: Best for alkaline grime such as mud, hard water deposits, soap, shampoo, and conditioner residue.

Mineral Deposit Remover: Best for deposits such as lime, rust, calcium, and magnesium.

Refer to our Owner’s Manual for specific ratios and instructions. If in doubt, test a small area with all three cleaners. Allow the cleaners to dwell for 5 minutes and scrub with a medium-soft polyethylene brush to produce foam. Then, wipe the area with a clean towel to determine if the cleaner is breaking the bond between the contaminant and the surface. If the surface starts tracking after cleaning, repeat the scrubbing and recovery steps.

Every cleaning process should be completed with thorough rinse and recovery.

We recommend locating a Hillyard distributor near you using their store locator.

If you need assistance finding the right cleaner, please contact us.