+1 (307) 429-4122
support@mycleansupplies.com
Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm (EST)
How to Clean Terrazzo Floors and Bring Back the Shine
Terrazzo floors are found in schools, lobbies, airports and older institutional buildings. Made of marble or glass chips set in a binder, terrazzo can last for decades and be restored to a mirror shine. The catch is that it is sensitive to the wrong chemicals, so cleaning method matters.
Why Neutral Cleaners Matter
Most terrazzo contains marble chips, which are calcium based and react with acid. Vinegar, citrus cleaners and acidic bathroom products etch the surface and leave dull spots that are hard to reverse. Always use a pH neutral cleaner made for stone or terrazzo.
The Daily and Weekly Routine
- Dust mop daily to remove grit that scratches the polish
- Damp clean with neutral cleaner using a mop or an auto scrubber with a non abrasive pad
- Recover the water rather than letting it dry into a film
For open areas a commercial vacuum pulls grit out of the surface before it can dull the shine.
Restoring Shine With Burnishing
Terrazzo gloss comes from polishing, not wax. A high speed burnisher with the correct polishing pad maintains and revives the shine between deeper restorations. For heavily worn or etched floors, diamond polishing pads are used in steps to grind and refine the surface back to a polish. That deeper work is usually scheduled a few times a year depending on traffic.
Sealing and Protection
A penetrating sealer helps terrazzo resist staining from spills, especially in food service and entrances. Seal after a deep clean or restoration, and reapply on the schedule the product lists. Sealed terrazzo cleans up faster and holds its color longer.
What Not to Do
- Do not use acidic or abrasive cleaners
- Do not apply standard floor wax, which hides the natural stone and adds stripping work
- Do not let spills sit, since coffee and dyes can stain
- Do not skip dust mopping, since grit is what dulls the finish
Treated correctly, terrazzo is one of the longest lasting floors you can own. Keep a high speed burnisher in the rotation and the shine will stay bright.