Turn To The Bona Freshen Up To Restore The Lustre To Dull Floors

Turn To The Bona Freshen Up To Restore The Lustre To Dull Floors

Hardwood floors are popular for their beauty and durability. Bringing that natural look and feel to the space, the warmth and charm they add to any room they are installed in, plus the high strength of the material that enables them to stand up to heavy traffic in modern day busy homes and commercial establishments – they have a lot going for them. Add this to attributes like insulation where they reduce the amount of energy spent heating up the rooms, thus lowering the monthly bills. The numerous wood species, plus different finishing treatments that can be applied onto the installations further increase the diversity of the wood floors seen in homes, entertainment venues, business premises to public spaces, where you have the opportunity to set up the finish that meets your particular taste and style preferences. However, despite their glamour, the wood floors still come under loads of wear factors that cause the surface to dull over time. Fortunately, you don’t have to keep sanding down to the bare wood to replace the finish coats. Treatment products like the Bona Freshen Up allow you to quickly revitalise the wood floor. Here, we’ll take a look at the factors that the wood floor is exposed to, and how this formulation from Bona comes in to salvage the situation. 

Beaten and Battered – The Hits Keep On Coming To Your Wood Floor

What causes the wood floor to lose its charm? Here are some of the common issues behind this:

• Foot traffic

This affects all wood floors. As long as there are people walking around, over time there will be a gradual deterioration of the condition of the surface. From the choice of footwear used, aspects like soiling being tracked in from the outdoors which ends up grinding against the surface – these all have a negative effect on the condition of the floor. 

• Scratches 

Scratches and scuff makers contribute to degrading the aesthetics of the floor. These have a myriad of causes, from pets running around the premises with their claws drawn out, footwear like stilettos being worn in the house, or failing to place clean doormats at the entrance of the building, which allows gritty soiling to be transferred into the house and grind against the floor surface when people walk on the particles. Prevention measures can go a long way in combating this, ranging from setting up the entrance mats to trimming the claws of the cats and dogs in the household regularly. 

• Waxy residue

For floors that have a wax product applied onto the floor to create the shine – instead of sealing with a polyurethane finish, there will gradually be build up, which will look dull. Applying paste wax on a polyurethane sealant will also remove the gloss effect. Maintaining a waxed floor itself is also a hassle, calling for more waxing-and-polishing routines. Finishing the installation with a polyurethane formulation will reduce the amount of effort and resources that go into the task. 

• Maintenance blunders

Problems here are the likes of simply forgetting to sweep, vacuum or dust mop the floor before going ahead to mop. In such a situation, it causes the dirt and grit to be redistributed over the surfaces as you manoeuvre the mop, accelerating the wear. This is also seen when one keeps using a dirty mop to clean the floor.

Carrying out the floor cleaning with the wrong type of chemical can also dull the surface. For instance, using harsh chemicals like chlorine bleach – perhaps in an attempt to remove stubborn stains on the floor, will damage the existing finish. The same applies to popular DIY solutions like ammonia and vinegar, especially when undiluted. Pine oil can also damage the wood floor finishes. 

Aggressive cleaning, including using too much of the cleaning product, also has the potential of negatively affecting the floor. More doesn’t exactly translate to better. You don’t have to go overboard when dealing with those stubborn spots. Usually, the cleaners have specified dwelling times for which you can allow them to remain on the spot – which is indicated on the product label. They will break down the stain, allowing you to easily clean it off. This is preferable to drenching the spot with too much cleaner. 

Even the most durable wood floors will eventually call for the occasional maintenance. This is a wholesome process, starting from the frequent sweeping or vacuuming, routine cleaning, revitalising the installations with products like Bona Freshen up under review here, all through to the complete for sanding and refinishing when time comes to overhaul the existing coats that have been applied on the floor. One of the positive attributes with wood floors is that you get multiple chances to restore its new look and feel. That way, you won’t be stuck with a dull and dilapidated floor that drags down the ambiance of the space. After all, you want to live or work in an environment that you can comfortably relax in, and whose décor is appealing to both the resident’s occupants and the guests coming over. 

When it comes to the routine maintenance, there is a wide array of products to choose from. Here, the selection you make is based on the desired aesthetic attributes, as well as the resultant functionality of the installation. One also needs to ensure that the formulation is safe for the particular wood floor being worked on. 

Enter Bona Freshen Up 

Bring back the charm to your wood floor by treating it with this waterborne formulation. It has been developed for use on finished floors in both residential and commercial spaces, restoring the elegance to the dull floors. Here are different ways that you benefit from it:

• Aesthetic appeal

That dull look and feel of the wood floor doesn’t have to be a permanent fate. Simply treat it with this product to spruce up the premises. The Bona Freshen Up is a high gloss formulation. As such, when you use it to treat the dull wood floors, it gives them a new shine. The lustrous result accentuates the interior space.

• Increased protection

One of the prime causes of the dulling of the wood floor is the abrasion effects from foot traffic in the establishment. As such, the freshening up treatment wouldn’t be complete without attributes that improve the resistance to these wear effects. The Bona Freshen Up’s functionality is based on pure polyurethane dispersion, allowing it to set a highly durable wear layer on the floor. This protection enables it to effectively serve as a floor maintenance product in residential and commercial establishments alike. 

• Enhanced traction 

Bringing back the shine to the floor doesn’t mean that it needs to get all slippery and pose hazards to persons on the premises. This is especially a concern in areas with vulnerable populations, from the little ones in childcare centres, to the elderly citizens in nursing homes. Here, the focus shifts to having a floor care product that provides sufficient traction, allowing them to walk comfortably without risks of slips and falls. You get that with the Bona Freshen Up, which meets DIN 18032:2 and EN 14904:2006 standards on slip resistance. 

• Pocket friendly

Definitely, costs are a key factor when selecting between the different floor maintenance products that are available in the market. Here, you want to work with solutions and tools that enable you to protect your installation, without burning through your facility’s maintenance budget. With the affordable pricing of the Bona Freshen Up, you will be able to spruce up your flooring without straining the budget. In addition, it has a wide coverage rate – at 30–50 m² per litre, meaning that each unit you purchase can be used on an expansive floor area. The Bona Freshen Up is available in 1L and 5L packages, so you can choose the quantity that will be suitable for your facility’s floor care needs.

Brought to you by Bona

With such a wide array of floorcare products available in the market, one way of picking out the right solutions to work with is looking at the brand behind it. This is a competitive industry, and for a company to surface and thrive, it needs to actually deliver on its mandate, providing quality products that can be relied on. You get that with the Bona Freshen up. Let’s take a walk through history, to see how far the brand behind the product has come. 

The company was started in 1919 by its founder Wilhelm Edner, who saw the potential that bonvax had. This was one of the products that he was selling from his grocery store, which when applied to the wood floors gave them a polished effect, and increased the protection of the material. Over the course of its life, the company has shown its drive for sustainable business practices, and the performance of its solutions has seen it grow a loyal market base. 

Bona has also pumped loads of capital into R&D, to meet the changing consumer trends and provide safe floor maintenance solutions. Take its emphasis on the use of environmentally safe products for instance. Here, you have situations like where Bona introduced waterborne finishes into the industry. This was in 1979, where they provided the required reliability and technical performance without posing the risks that came with the chemical agents in solvent-based products. Bona also introduced the usage of renewable raw materials, and this was back in 1995 with the advent of the first generation of Bona Mega. This particular product line was formulated from vegetable oils which, when applied onto the floor, interacted with air and formed powerful cross-links. The end result is a strong finish coat on the floor that has minimal impact on the environment. Even in high traffic situations, the brand has provided different product lines to meet the required durability requirements, such as with Bona Traffic that creates a prolonged lifespan, reducing the costs that go into maintaining the floor. 

With over 100 years of growth and dominance in the industry, this is a company that has the experience, networks, personnel, and R&D needed to deliver effective solutions in the market. The success of the brand is seen in how widespread its products are used, with its presence in over 90 countries around the world. From its headquarters in Sweden, Bona has established its network across France, Poland, and Austria, China, Singapore and the UK, all through to Brazil and the USA. Its products are used in homes, schools, airports, indoor sporting arenas, basketball courts, art galleries, museums, and public spaces. There is a wide assortment of products to choose from, coming with their different functionalities and aesthetic attributes, that way you can select the product that suits your particular needs. With the Bona Freshen Up, you can be confident that you’re using a product that has been brought to you by a brand that has proven its mettle in the industry, and is relied on by professional contractors, installers and end consumers alike. 

Restore the Beauty To Your Wood Floor In Moments

When working with the Bona Freshen Up, you will be able to quickly get rid of the dull appearance on the floor, and replace it with a lustrous look that glams up the space. The product has been formulated to be easy to use. Follow these steps for the application:

1. Clean the floor. Before any treatment product is applied onto the surface, it is imperative to get rid of the dirt and grit. Otherwise, these particles will get trapped under the coat of the Bona Freshen Up, and negatively affect the quality of the results. 

2. Apply the formulation of the floor. Here you can work with tools like the Bona Microfibre Pad – and ensure that you have slightly dampened the pad in water. You can apply the Bona Freshen Up in a 3 to 4cm wide wavy line over the floor. Each litre of product should be enough for 30-50m² of surface. 

• Note that the Bona Freshen Up comes ready to use, hence should not be diluted or mixed with other chemicals before application. 
• Spread out the primer on the floor in a thin and consistent coat.

It is recommended that you work in small sections at a time, as this will enable you to ensure that you have applied it uniformly over the surface. For instance, you can divide up the rooms into sections of 3m² which you can focus on at a time. 

3. Smoothen out the Bona Freshen Up while going with the direction of the wood grain. 

4. Allow the floor to dry. 

Key points to note with the application of the Bona Freshen Up include:

• The floor being worked on should have completely dried before the treatment is spread out on the surface. 
• The formulation should not be used on floors that have either been waxed or oiled, since the wax and oil residues will prevent the Bona Freshen Up from adhering properly with the wood floor. 
• It is recommended that you carry out a spot test before application, especially if you’re uncertain whether the formulation is suitable for the task. Here, look at the resultant appearance and adhesion of the Bona Freshen Up on an inconspicuous section of the floor. 
• Shake the Bona Freshen Up properly before use. Rocking it back and forth a couple of times will even out the product, preparing it for the task 

When it comes to the drying, it is recommended that you seal off the treated floor for at least two hours before light foot traffic can be allowed back onto it. Note that in case a second coat of the Bona Freshen Up is to be applied, this should also wait for the minimum two hours after application. 

It’s important to keep airflow in the room to a minimum, especially while the floor is still wet. You don’t want a case of airborne dust getting blown into the room and being trapped by the wet coat that has been applied onto the floor. 

Caring For Your Wood Floor

Granted, the floor treated with the Bona Freshen Up will need to be cleaned routinely, as is with all other installations. Note that immediately after the treatment process, wet cleaning should be held off for at least one week, to allow the product to fully cure and bond with the wood floor before solutions are applied onto the surface. 

For those cleaning tasks, you are advised against using strong alkaline agents, as these can damage the installation. Work with safe formulations like the Bona Cleaner, to get rid of the dirt and grime without putting the installation at risk. Let’s look deep into this.

While wood itself is a durable material – capable of withstanding high traffic and lasting for years, one needs to be very keen with the kinds of cleaning agents used. Take vinegar for instance. It is a popular DIY cleaning agent, used for getting rid of troublesome spots and stains around the household. However, when it comes to wood floors, the acidic nature of vinegar damages the wood tissue and dulls the surface – which would serve to counter the shining effect that you would have got from applying the Bona Freshen Up onto the floor. You want to work with a cleaner that will preserve that lustrous look, while being actually effective in getting rid of the dirt and grime. That’s what you get with the Bona Cleaner. It brings several benefits to the wood floor maintenance process, including:

• Efficient and low-foaming formulation

The thorough degreasing action that you get from the Bona Cleaner makes it particularly effective in removing those grime spots that are accumulating on the floor. This is a key part of protecting the underlying floor boards, since the build-up of dirt and grime is a primary cause of deterioration of wood floors. 

You can use the Bona Cleaner for daily maintenance tasks, or for those deep cleaning situations where there are tough dirt and stubborn grease spots on the installations. For the actual task, it can be done manually with the conventional mop and bucket system, or you can go the machine cleaning route, such as when one works with autoscrubbers when cleaning large floor areas. 

• There’ll no dulling residue left on the surface

After investing in the Bona Freshen Up to spruce up the floor and leave it with a lustrous look, you don’t want harsh cleaners coming in and dulling the surface. With the Bona Cleaner, there won’t be cause for alarm, given that it is gentle on the treated surface. It will wash away the grime without damaging the finish coats or leaving behind any residue. 

• Specially formulated for wood floors

The Bona Cleaner has a carefully balanced alkalinity, providing the power needed to break down the dirt and grime without posing a risk to the treated wood floor. You can use it to finish wood and cork flooring, meeting the cleaning needs while still preserving the structural integrity of the installation. 

• Easy on your wallet

As with other Bona products, the economies of scale from the brand enables it to pride solutions that have been affordably priced. That way you get to make savings from the moment you make your purchase of the Bona Cleaner. It comes in 5L and 1L container options. What’s more, given that the product is concentrated, each litre of the formulation gets to be used on a large floor area, further reducing the costs incurred in the maintenance process. 

Here are measures to take note of during the floor cleaning tasks:

• The dilution ratio that will be used will depend on the level of soiling on the surface. For instance, for those routine cleaning tasks, mixing 1dL of Bona Cleaner with 10 litres of water will suffice. However, when faced with heavily soiled floors, you can mix 2dL of the formulation with 10 litres of water.
• Keep in mind that water is a threat to the wood floors. This is due to its hygroscopic nature, where it absorbs the excess water from its immediate environment, which can lead to issues like cupping, warping, or other kinds of water damage. As such, ensure that you work with a damp mop, instead of drenching the floor in solution – and be particularly keen on those sections of the floor where there are open gaps. When using a mop/bucket system, replace the water in the bucket periodically as it gets soiled, to avoid cases of respreading the dirt on the floor. 
• For the wet floor cleaning using an autoscrubber, pay attention to the rate at which water is lost from the machine – which should ideally not exceed 1L for every 100m² of surface. When passing over the floor and you notice puddles left behind – especially as you navigate corners and turn the machine, these should be promptly removed. The longer that the water puddles are allowed to remain on the floor, the greater the risk of water damage. Check the rubber band of the machine, ensuring that it is in good trim and clean. This band should be replaced annually, or if you notice that the autoscrubber is leaving behind too much water. Additionally, ensure that the pads that the autoscrubber has been equipped with are not aggressive, since these can scratch the floor and wear it down. Work with cleaning pads that are suitable for wood floors. 

Applying Finish Coats 

Unlike polished or waxed floors, installations that have been treated with the Bona Freshen Up can be overcoated by an additional professional finish. This is to give it the specific aesthetic attributes you desire. For this to be successfully done, the surface is treated following the Prep System. Let’s delve more into that.

The Bona Prep formulation is a ready-to-use product that works to promote the bonding between Bona finishes to pre-finished floors. That way, aspects like the adhesion on the new products to be applied will be enhanced, increasing the protection of the underlying floor, and accentuating the aesthetic attributes. Given that it is pre-mixed, you don’t have to concern yourself with dilution ratios. With a pH value of approximately 7, you can also rest assured that it is safe for your floor. Note that when taking the floor installation through the Prep system, it should be free from wax, oil and any other contamination. In fact, for the polished and waxed floors, they will first need to be sanded down to the bare wood before the product can be applied. Fortunately, with the Bona Freshen Up that won’t be the case, since the treatment is already ready to be overcoated. Here is how to go about the process:

Step 1: Surface Preparation

Vacuum the floor to remove the loose dirt and grime that is on the surface. For the lightly soiled floors, you can proceed to the next step. However, for those that are heavily soiled, it is recommended that you first work on them with the Bona Cleaner.

Step 2: Prep Cleaning

The Bona Prep first works by giving its own “cleaning” process. Here the product is applied in a thin coat on the surface, and given around 3-5 minutes to dissolve the dirt. Proceed to scrub this section with the standard speed buffing machine that has a green pad, running at 150-200 rpm. Mop the area to remove the dissolved dirt. 

You can choose to use an autoscrubber for the cleaning, especially if you’re working on a large floor area. Top up the tank to at least halfway with the Bona Prep, and proceed to scrub the floor. Just use the green pad on the machine, instead of working with brushes. Cover the entire area to ensure that the floor is thoroughly clean, checking the condition of the liquid in the tank. If the solution gets heavily soiled, simply empty it and replace it with fresh Bona Prep.

Allow the floor to dry before moving to the next stage. 

Step 3: Abrasion

The goal here is to end up with an abraded matte surface that will enable the subsequent adhesion with the finish coats to be strong. This abrasion is different from the conventional floor sanding, since fine girts are used. For instance, with the floors treated with the Bona Freshen Up under review, they can be abraded using a screen grit 150 or finer. Continue until the surface gets completely matt. Vacuum the area to remove the dust generated by the process. 

There are two paths that can be followed for the abrasion depending on the particular surface in question:

1. For the floors that are pre-finished using antiscratch systems, you can work with Bona’s Diamond Abrasive System, which also works for floors that are uneven or cupped since it contours well with the surface. With this approach, it will be necessary to clean the floor using Diamond Abrasives Cleaning Discs or an autoscrubber. 

2. You can work with the Bona Scrad system – minus the sanding wings, especially where Diamond abrasives are not an option. Here, be keen on your movement across the floor, manoeuvring lightly and quickly across the surface to avoid a case of swirl marks being formed on the surface. Clean the floor to remove the dust. 

Allow the floor to dry. 

Step 4: Applying the finish

This should be done within two hours after the abrasion and cleaning have been done. In case time is limited, then you should pause before the abrasion in Step 3 above is carried out, then continue later (but within a maximum of 24 hours from when the task commenced, otherwise you’ll need to start from the beginning)

There are different products that can be used to overcoat the surface which the Bona Freshen Up has been used on. These will depend on aspects like the desired aesthetic attributes, as well as the amount of traffic handled on the facility. The brand has a wide range of products to choose from, including the Bona Traffic and Traffic HD lacquers and Traffic Anti Slip, Bona Sportive Finish to Bona Mega. Each of these come with their application instructions, which will be available on the product label.

Turn To The Bona Freshen Up To Restore The Lustre To Dull Floors