How to get stains out of terrazzo floors

Terrazzo floors are extremely popular and efficient while being quite inexpensive as well. Just because the floor is delicate and requires a good amount of maintenance, people often have some assumptions and confusion in their minds. Although durability is a fact, terrazzo has been proved as a good floor in this regard but getting stains is still a tricky part.

Like all other flooring materials, terrazzo floors can also get stains. The question that arises in the mind of all house owners and workers is, how do I get stains out of terrazzo floors? How to deep clean terrazzo floors?

Keep on reading this article to know each minor to the major aspect of terrazzo floors and their proneness to the stains.

What are terrazzo floors made of

The terrazzo floor is a combination of concrete and marble chips that are formed in a mishmash or irregular pattern. During the Venetian and Roman times, creating sculptures, furniture, and idols using marble chips was one of the major hobbies, and this practice left behind a lot of scrap marble.

This was the time when the terrazzo floor started because people began to utilize the small parts of marble for some useful things. The floor is created by mixing concrete and applying it evenly on the ground, then the scrape of marble chips is exposed on the concrete forming a new kind of floor material that is quite attractive as well.

Can terrazzo floors be stained

As there are two parts of the terrazzo floor, the cement portion of it can easily get stained, or maybe said that cement absorbs stains of various kinds. Not only that your terrazzo floors can get stains from most common causes such as ink, ketchup, blood, dust, lather rubbing, but some stains can also form with time on their own as well.

You should refinish, maintain, and take care of your terrazzo floor with proper methods because the shine and attractiveness of your floor can get dull with time. Even such stains can only be absorbed or signs are shown just by the concrete part of the floor that is 30% of the total area because marble scrape is less likely to catch stains.

What can remove terrazzo floor stain

Removing stains from the terrazzo floor is not that difficult as you can get this job done with easy-to-follow procedures. The only thing you need is to find the right methods and use the most appropriate product for the purpose.

Where common stains can be removed with basic homemade or kitchen ingredients, you may need extra effort for bringing the shine and attraction to the floor. For stains that are formed because of some long-term reasons can be removed using various options such as painting or polishing them again.

Can you bleach terrazzo floors

Using bleach on terrazzo floors is usually prohibited by most experts as the chemicals and abrasive ingredients of the beach can badly affect the color and shine of the terrazzo floor.

Can you use vinegar on terrazzo floors

Just like bleach, using vinegar is also not a good option because of its extreme properties. People often use white vinegar that is too mixed with water and usually gets the best result as well. But this is a risky way of removing stains as you may get a worse stain of vinegar in the end.

Can you use Fabuloso on terrazzo floors

Yes. Fabuloso does not leave stain. You can use Fabuloso cleaner with a ¼ ratio of water on terrazzo floors. It is pretty decent in treating stains and usually leaves a pleasant smell and shine after the cleaning process.

Can you steam clean terrazzo floors

If there is a coating of polymer or acrylic on your floor, using steam can scrape off the coating in no time. If there isn’t any coding using steam can work but is not the best option available.

How to clean stained terrazzo floors

1. Floor stripper waxes can be toxic and allergic to somebodies. Therefore, using latex gloves and a mask is highly recommended to protect yourself from its fumes.
2. Make a mixture of floor stripper and water, usually the 1 part stripper with 6 to 7 parts of water form an appropriate solution.
3. Apply this solution directly to the stained terrazzo floor area and let it stay there for about 5 to 10 minutes. It will break down the satin into molecules.
4. Agitate the mixture and scrub the area with medium pressure. This practice should be done until you see no stain material or color is coming out of the floor.
5. Now put paper towels, tissue paper, soft cloth, or any other material to soak up most of the solution from the floor.
6. Use stone-safe cleaner, in the end, to wipe off the floor stripper completely while giving a feel of polishing to the terrazzo floor as well.

How to remove rust stains from terrazzo floors

1. Water-mixed-ammonia and peroxide can help you in removing rust but just because it is a chemical and can be harmful, you should wear gloves to prevent burns.
2. Damp a cloth in the solution and soak a good amount of peroxide.
3. Put that peroxide-filled cloth on the stained area and let it stay there without any movement.
4. Now do the same procedure while using the ammonia and putting the cloth on the peroxide cloth on the floor.
5. Let both these clothes work for at least 10 to 30 minutes without any disturbance.
6. This will remove the stain thoroughly and now all you have to do is just wipe off the solution from the floor using dishwashing soap and water.

How to get urine stains out of terrazzo floors

Abrasive soft powder, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, commercial products such as floor stripper,  floor cleaning detergent, neutral cleaner, and sometimes even simple tap water can allow you to get urine stains out of terrazzo floor with minimum effort and getting maximum results.

How to clean terrazzo floor with vinegar

Follow the step-by-step approach below for information on how to clean a terrazzo floor with vinegar. However, you need to know that the method to be discussed below should only be used for set stains and not to be used for fresh ones.

1. Make a solution from the mixtures of hot water and vinegar.
2. Dip a brush into the solution and scrub as gently as you can until the stains are lifted.
3. Rinse the treated spot afterward with warm water and soap before finally flushing with cold water.

Can you steam clean the terrazzo floor?

Yes, you can steam clean a terrazzo floor. Terrazzo floor is made from mixtures of cement, marble, glass, and some other recycled materials and therefore, you can safely make use of steam cleaners to get rid of deep-seated stains from the surface. Steam cleaning is one of the best ways to clean Terrazzo floors because not only will it help you deep clean it, it will also help you sanitize the floor.

However, for effective results, you must know how to use the cleaner as well as every activity involved in the post-cleaning stage. Check below for tips on how you can effectively clean your terrazzo floor with a steam cleaner.

How to clean terrazzo floor with a steam cleaner

Post-cleaning stage

Before starting to clean your terrazzo floor with a steam cleaner, clear your workspace off any furniture so that you can work freely without any obstruction. After that, sweep the floor to get rid of dust, first and any debris, sweep into a dustpan, then dispose of in a trashcan. This stage is necessary so you don’t end up getting the debris wet from the steam and sticking to your floor.

Getting the steam cleaner ready

Open up the water container of your steam cleaner, pour it into cups of water. Or to be on the safer side, fill it with the recommended amount of water. If you know the only readily available water in your premises has too many minerals in it, use distilled water instead, or you can make use of tap water. Also, discourage any form of water leakages by not overfilling the water container.

This will help prevent water from spilling directly on the floor. Do not add any cleaning products to the to create a solution as that could block and damage the machine.

Using the steam cleaner

1. Plug the steam cleaner into a wall socket and turn it on, wait for it to be ready before you start using it – you will know it is ready once the green light indicator illuminates.
2. Place the cleaner in a corner in the room where it will be easy for you to move unhindered around the workspace, press the trigger to activate the distribution of steam.
3. Pass the cleaner evenly across your terrazzo floor for about 8 seconds as slow as you can (must not be more than 15 seconds), then stop the steamer by pressing the trigger again.
4. Repeat this process until you cover all the floor and clean all pale residue buildup under your steam machine with a towel saturated in distilled white vinegar.

How to prevent stains on the terrazzo floor

1. Remove dust and debris on a regular basis especially after hosting a lot of guests or an event.
2. Wash the terrazzo floor at least twice a week with a good floor cleaning product.
3. Wipe off the material with simple tap water as soon as you find something on the floor such as blood, ink, etc.
4. Don’t move your furniture or leather items while rubbing the floor, instead, pick them up and then move even if it is two to three inches above the ground.

How to whitten terrazzo floor

If your intention is to whitten your terrazo floor, you might have to do an extra job because it means restoring your flooring to its original color. Check below for a detailed explanation of how to go about it.

1. Make a solution from the mixtures of water and water-based floor stripper in the ratio of 6 to 1 respectively.
2. Apply on the stained surface and leave it to sit for about 5 minutes.
3. Using a green scrubbing pad, agitated the solution and suck up as much of the lifted stains as possible using a dry clean absorbent white cloth or a paper towel.
4. Repeat the process until all stains are lifted.

How to shine terrazzo floor

It is one thing to shorten your Terrazo floor, it is another thing to make it shine. You can say shining a terrazo floor is the ultimate cleaning you can do on it. Check below for information on how you can make your terrazo floor shine like a new one.

1. If your terrazzo floor is dull, your first task is getting it thoroughly cleaned using any of the methods discussed above.
2. Then apply a floor sealer again to your floor to make it shiny.
3. If your terrazzo is too old, shine it following the method below.
4. Get the surface crystallized with an acid solution.
5. Grind the surface using a planetary grinder.
6. Polish afterward with a polishing powder.

Homemade terrazzo floor cleaner

The best homemade cleaner for terrazzo flooring is a solution made from a mixture of rubbing alcohol, water, and dish soap. Check below for information on how it can be applied.

Cleaning your terrazzo floor with home-based cleaner

1. Create a home-based cleaner from the mixtures of a quarter teaspoon of dishwashing soap, a quarter cup of rubbing alcohol, and two and a half cups of water.
2. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and swirl gently in a circular motion.
3. Spray the solution liberally on the stained spot.
4. Leave the solution on the treated surface for about 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Soak a clean rag in hot water, then wipe the treated spot in a circular motion with it until there is no more stain residue on the surface.
6. If you have a particular spot with a stain after treatment, repeat the whole process, but this time, leave the solution to sit on the spot for a much longer minute before wiping off.

Warning!!!

Although you can use this method on any terrazzo surface whether it be countertops, floor, or bathtub, however, it should only be used on a sealed terrazzo surface. This is to prevent moisture from soaking into the pores. Also, if you are cleaning the whole floor, it is better to steam clean rather than use this method.