How to Clean Synthetic Sport Floors

Introduction

Synthetic sport floors like Taraflex®, Pulastic®, Elastiplus®, and Herculan® look fantastic when first installed. But once they’re used for sports or social events, they can get marked up, scuffed, and dirty quickly. Keeping these floors clean requires specific techniques. Here’s a simple guide to help you keep your synthetic floors looking great.

Daily Cleaning with a Mop

1. Remove Sticky Matter: Check the entire floor and remove any gum or loose tape with a putty knife.
2. Dust Mop: Use a clean 60″ or 72″ Dust Defender™ Microfiber Gym Mop to dust mop the entire floor.
3. Prepare Cleaning Solution: Mix 2 oz. of Tac-Tite Neutral Sport Floor Cleaner with 1 gallon of cold tap water in a large clean bucket with a wringer.
4. Mop the Floor: Immerse several clean Tac-Tite Speed Mop heads or 2 CourtClean Towels into the cleaning solution. Push the mop up and down the floor, changing the heads as needed.

Daily Cleaning with an Auto-Scrubber

1. Remove Sticky Matter: Remove any gum or loose tape with a putty knife.
2. Dust Mop: Dust mop the entire floor with a clean 60″ or 72″ Dust Defender™ Microfiber Gym Mop.
3. Prepare Cleaning Solution: Mix 2 oz. of Tac-Tite Neutral Sport Floor Cleaner per 1 gallon of cold tap water in an Auto-Scrubber with a working vacuum squeegee.
4. Scrub the Floor: Use a blue scrub pad or brush to clean the entire floor using the single scrub method (applying the cleaning solution, scrubbing, and picking it up in one pass).

Maintenance Tips

• Use Entrance Mats: Place WatherHog™ mats at entrances and high-traffic areas and vacuum daily.
• Frequent Dust Mopping: Dust mop the floor 2-3 times per day if possible.
• Proper Equipment: Use wheels and supports on chairs and equipment to avoid indentations. Ensure the auto scrubber is fully charged to prevent battery acid leaks, and make sure the squeegee works well to pick up water.

Removing Scuff and Black Marks

1. Prepare Cleaner: Mix 8 oz. of GFR’s Citra Blaze cleaner with 1 gallon of tap water in a pump-up tank sprayer.
2. Spray Marks: Spray black shoe marks and white scuffs with a light mist.
3. Let Cleaner Dwell: Leave the cleaner on the marks for 2-3 minutes.
4. Scrub Marks: Use the Fas-Stick Scuff Removal Tool with a yellow scuff pad to scrub off the marks.
5. Rinse Floor: Rinse the floor with an auto-scrubber or use the Tac-Tite Speed Mop or CourtClean Unit with clean rinse water.

Restoration Cleaning (Making the Floor Look New Again)

1. Remove Sticky Matter: Remove gum and loose tape with a putty knife.
2. Dust Mop: Dust mop the entire floor with a clean 60″ or 72″ Dust Defender™ Microfiber Gym Mop.
3. Prepare Cleaning Solution: Mix 4 oz. of GFR’s Citra Blaze cleaner with 1 gallon of tap water in a clean bucket with a wringer.
4. Apply Solution: In controlled areas using game lines as a guide, apply a generous amount of the cleaning solution with a fan-tail mop or auto-scrubber.
5. Let Cleaner Dwell: Leave the cleaner on the floor for 2-3 minutes.
6. Scrub Floor: Use a 20″ rotary 175 RPM floor machine (scrubber/buffer) with a blue cleaning pad to scrub the wet areas back and forth. Scrub stubborn marks with the heel of the floor machine.
7. Rinse Floor: Rinse the cleaned area with an auto-scrubber using a red scrub pad and clean water.
8. Dry Floor: Use a high-velocity air mover to dry the floor if needed.

Conclusion

Keeping synthetic sport floors clean requires regular maintenance and the right techniques. By following these steps, you can ensure your floors stay clean, shiny, and ready for any activity. Regular cleaning not only improves the appearance but also extends the life of your floors, keeping them in top condition for years to come.