Polishing of Linoleum

Linoleum appears rather dull and faded, with its colors getting washed when not polished properly (and on regular), not to mention this also means the floor gets more susceptible to staining and wear and tear.

One of the things about linoleum is that generally, it´s not recommended that you install or polish it yourself. Still, do-it-yourselfers need to know several important things.

• To avoid uneven surface gloss and streaking marks, never pour linoleum polish directly onto the floor
• The sponge mop, cloth or applicator of your choice must be clean and damp, not soaking wet with polish, so wring it before applying to your floor
• Polishing of linoleum looks much like wiping the area clean, just remember not to go over one and the same spot more that once or twice at most, because rubbing over the same area causes the previous coats of polish to soften and you will end up with your linoleum floor looking as if paint-brushed – the marks will not disappear when the floor has dried and the only way of addressing the issue is to use polish stripper to remove all coats of polish and start over.
• Remember to allow for drying time. While polish typically dries within 30 to 120 minutes, depending on the brand etc., the average drying time may significantly vary as humidity, temperature and weather changes. So, you better wait at least a couple of hours before letting anyone walk on the newly polished linoleum and at least a day before getting your furniture back so as to make sure the polish has reached its maximum toughness.

Health hazard – some linoleum polishing agents may contain irritant and harmful substances, so make sure you take the necessary precautions – use protective gloves, open the windows and wear a breathing mask.