Cleaning Terms

Cleaning Terms

ACID HARDNERS - Usually metal fluorosilicates, chemicals (acid hardners) applied to concrete or
terrazzo that react with the calcium carbonates and free lime present to form a very hard substance, known as silica quartz. The concrete or terrazzo is then left with a harder surface than it otherwise would have had.

ACRYLIC - Definite types of building blocks (monomers) used to create resins and polymers. Toughness, durability and removal properties are added to polymers or resins when acrylics are added.

AMINE - An organic chemical which contains nitrogen and an alkaline pH. In stripping, it is used to break metal interlocks. Amine-type strippers do not have a strong ammonia odor and do not irritate the nose and eyes.

ANIONIC DETERGENT - Material which has a negative charge. Most soaps combine fatty acids
and an alkali and therefore classified as anionic. In cleaners, three soaps, and the combination of the three, commonly used in cleaners are Oleate Soap, Amine Soap and Sodium Soap.

BLACK MARKING - Black marks on the floor caused by rubber heels being rubbed against a
rubber floor.

BUFFABLE FINISH - A wax or polymer restored to a high gloss by dry buffing.

BUILD UP - Multiple layers of dirt, wax or floor finish.

BUTYL CLEANER - A cleaner containing butyl cellusolve, a glycol ether with excellent grease
dissolving and cleaning properties.

CARNAUBA - From the leaves of the Carnauba palm tree, a wax which when properly formulated
in aqueous floor waxes, is emulsifiable and leaves a glossy, durable, buffable film. This wax can be categorized in five types: 1 and 2 are used in floor waxes because of their lighter color; 3, 4 and are darker in color due to the more mature pigment in the leaves and also have a more fatty or chalky nature to them. In recent times, Carnauba has been largely replaced by synthetic waxes, which are usually colorless, have uniform quality and generally have a superior overall performance quality.

CHELATING AGENTS - Chemicals with a high degree of solubilizing power for metallic salts such
as iron and magnesium. Adding a chelating agent to a cleaner provides two considerable functions:

1. Rapid removal of soap scum which can discolor floors
2. Prevents cleaning power loss caused by metallic salts reacting with cleaning agents in hard water.

COALESCE - To unite into a whole - to grow together. In floor care, as the water evaporates from
a floor, the formulation of the film.

CONDUCTIVE FLOORING - A floor to hold a moderate electrical conductivity between people or
equipment and the floor. This prevents the buildup of hazardous eletrstatic charges in areas where flammable gasses are present. The floor must maintain a resistance of not less than 25,000 ohms nor more than 1,000,000 ohms, as measured between two electrodes placed three feet apart on the floor.

DEFOAMER - When used, a substance which reduces foaming caused by agitation. Examples
include organic phosphates and silicone fluids.

DETERGENT - A chemical used for cleaning. A detergent may possess a variety of features, such as soil suspension, soil dispersion, soil emulsification or surface wetting.

FREE ALKALI - In a cleaner, the amount of caustic material which is not completely chemically reacted with the fatty acids or neutralizing substance.

HARD WATER - Water containing a high mineral content. The higher the mineral content, the more it interferes with the effectiveness of a product's cleaning power.

METAL INTERLOCK - A formulation technique in which metal is chemically complexed with the polymer and/or resin in an aqueous finish or sealer. This technique causes the dried film to be more durable and detergent-resistant while still allowing its ready removal with aminie-type strippers.

MILL FINISH - Finish applied to resilient floor tile by the tile manufacturer. This finish must be removed for correct sealing and finishing.

NON-BUFFABLE FINISH - A high durable gloss finish which cannot be dry buffed to restore the
shine.

O.S.H.A - Occupational Safety and Health Act. A federal act passed in 1970 aimed to provide every working person in the United States with a healthful and safe working environment. OSHA accomplishes these goals by providing the standards inspection and enforcement program.

pH - An expression used to indicate the degree (not quantity) of acidity or alkalinity of a solution. The pH scale ranges from less than 1.0 to 14, with 7.0 being neutral. A pH of 1 expresses a very acidic condition, and a pH of 14 is highly alkaline.

POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL- Plasticizer used predominantly in finishes.

POLYMER- Many small similar chemical parts linked together chemically. In floor finishes and sealers, polymers are the major contributor to the forming of a durable and glossy finish or sealer.

POLYURETHANE - A thermoplastic polymer. It is resistant against abrasion, weathering acids and alkalies, impact and has excellent hardness and gloss characteristics; attached by chlorinated solvents.

POWDERING - A fine dust covering the finished floor surface. Commonly caused by dust settling
in locations where there are various sources of dust in the area. Additionally, powdering can also be a sign of a lack of sealer or floor finish adhesion. Lack of adhesion can be caused by applying finish too thinly, insufficient stripping of old finish or soap residues.

RESILIENT - The characteristic of enduring pressure or shock without permanent damage. In floor
care, examples of resilient-type flooring would include vinyl, linoleum and asphalt.

RESIN - A polymer which contains fewer chemically-linked units than normal polymers. In floor
care, these resins contribute to the gloss and leveling of finishes and sealers.

RESTORER - A maintainer for ultra-high speed finishes used to clean and restore the floor's
appearance through periodic maintenance.

SCUFFING - Scuffs and scratches left on a finished floor caused by heavy traffic. Floor finish
appears dull in comparison to an unscuffed floor which has a glossy appearance.

SELF-POLISHING - A floor finish that dries to a glossy shine without further buffing to enhance
shine.

SLIP RESISTANCE - When walking across a floor, the safer footing noticed; also known as drag
or the amount of resistance to slipping.

SOLIDS CONTENT (NON-VOLATIUE) - After drying has occurred, that amount of the floor finish,
or sealer that remains as a film after the application. Solids content is often expressed as a percent by weight of the total product. Solids is often used as a measurement of the performance, quality or durability of the product, however, this is false logic and can be very misleading with regard to the product's performance.

U.S.D.A. - United States Department of Agriculture. This federal department governs matters relating to food, its growing, processing, quality and cleanliness.