Deep Cleaning With Faber 30
Dirt will get to your surfaces. It’s an unfortunate reality of life. Even with the most stringent control mechanisms in place, there will be grime that winds up on the different installations in your home or workplace. This ranges from the soiling that is trekked into the premises under the soles of people’s shoes, the grime that pets bring over, food and drink spills that make messes on the countertops and floors – these can all run the appeal of the affected surfaces and also put their structural integrity on the line. A quick cleaning program is usually enough to deal with many of these. However, there are those cases where you’re faced with stubborn dirt that barely budges when you scrub it with conventional detergents. From that grime that has built up over weeks and months, to issues like marks left behind by the tyres of cars in garages, car washes, and factory floors. These call for a more potent type of cleaning action, which you can get from the Faber 30.
Moreover, with a busy life at home and at work, you want to work with cleaning products that reduce the amount of time and effort involved in the task. Products that will chemically dissolve the grime and not require you to spend hours scrubbing the area. Faber has made a name for itself in delivering products that take away the hassle from the cleaning process. These powerful cleaners do the heavy lifting for you, cutting down the amount of time and energy that you expend in the cleaning process. The Faber 30 is one such product. Let’s expound on what it brings to your premises’ cleaning and maintenance program.
- Clears dirt from foot or vehicle traffic
This cleaner from Faber is tough on the dirt, with high effectiveness in deep cleaning grime that has built up for long and adhered to the surface. This includes the soiling that has defied the conventional cleaners, and requires the potency that comes with alkaline detergents. It’s especially popular for cleaning high traffic zones – both foot and vehicular traffic. This means that you can use the Faber 30 to remove those rubber and tyre marks that are in garages, parking lots, as well as the industry floor where marks have been left behind by forklifts.
Why are tyre marks so difficult to clean? This is due to “plasticizer migration”. The plasticizers are polymer compounds which are incorporated into rubber and plastics, making them more flexible. The plasticizers in car tyres end up improving traction. However, as the car is being driven, the tires get heated up, leading to the plasticizer softening and leaching out of the tire. When this vehicle is moving or parked on surfaces with some types of sealers, the plasticiser migrates into them, discolouring the sealers. One interesting thing to note is, the better the quality of the tyres, the more plasticizers it has, which means there will be greater likelihood of hot tyre marks being left on the surfaces. These marks are particularly stubborn, especially if they are allowed to build up. But before you go stripping and resealing your floors, bring in the Faber 30 to scrub down the area and get rid of the marks.
While the Faber 30 quickly breaks down the stubborn dirt on the surfaces, it does not affect the actual appearance of the installation. That means you can carry out the cleaning tasks without worrying about the hue, lustre, or other surface characteristics that give your installation its charm being worn down. This also means it is suitable for use on polished natural stone surfaces and ceramics.
With Faber 30, each litre of product gets to be used on a wide surface area – as much as 10-15 m². The product comes concentrated, and will need to be diluted before use, except for cases where the material being worked on is highly absorbent. This enables you to further reduce the costs that go into sourcing for cleaning supplies, as well as save on the storage space needed. Moreover, you spend less time making orders for replacement products, as each purchase you acquire gets to serve you for longer. You can get the Faber 30 in 3 packages:
- 1L bottles
- 5L cans
- 10L cans
- Gives you flexibility
You can use the Faber 30 to work on multiple surfaces. These are the likes of natural stones like granite, limestone and marble, their agglomerates including marble-cement, marble-resin and marble-quartz agglomerates, all through to ceramics, clinker, and quartzite installations. While it is tough on the dirt and grime, it remains gentle on the material being worked on.
The versatility of the Faber 30 extends to the kind of equipment that you can use it with. This alkaline-based cleaner can be applied with traditional methods like working with a cloth or brush. For those cases where you’re working on larger floor areas such as in commercial spaces, then you can proceed to use it with mechanical equipment like high-capacity single-disc machines. This flexibility is part of the reason behind the popularity of the formulation, as it can be easily incorporated into existing building cleaning and maintenance programs.
- The efficacy and safety of the alkaline-based Faber 30 also means that you can use it to clean synthetic floor coverings. These range from PVCs, to epoxy or polyurethane resins.
The cleaning process is broken down into different stages:
- Surface Preparation
Here the focus is on getting rid of the loose dust and debris. This is the particulate matter that can be easily swept or vacuumed off. Leaving it on the surface as you do the rest of the cleaning will only increase your workload, since it gets muddied up. Use a broom or vacuum cleaner to get rid of such material.
- Product preparation
You can work with the Faber 30 undiluted, as it comes ready to use. However, it can also be diluted depending on the kind of dirt being handled, or the particular application that the product is being used for. This includes:
- For the double wax stripping process, the Faber 30 is used at the final stage. Here, dilute the product 50%. If you’re using it to dissolve stubborn wax, resin or polymers, also dilute it with this rate.
- In cases where you’re degreasing surfaces where there are loads of stubborn residue to deal with, then dilute it 20-30% in clean water.
- When it comes to general cleaning, like when you’re periodically working on the floor to get rid of the dirt that is building up, then mixing the product with a 1:9 ratio with water will be enough.
- If you’re using the Faber 30 on absorbent surfaces like cotto or concrete, then you can go ahead and apply it undiluted.
- Application
Different tools can be used for the application, depending on the particular situation you’re in. For instance, small surfaces can be worked on with a cloth or mop. For the more expansive areas like large commercial floors, then a single-disc machine can be used.
When choosing the disc or brush, take into account the kind of material being worked on, as well as the type of dirt involved. For instance, it is recommended that you use a white pad when working on polished and delicate surfaces such as marble and limestone. The green or light blue pads on the other hand are ideal for the rough and unpolished surfaces, like concrete or cotto floors.
Follow these steps to treat the surface with this product:
- Apply the prepared Faber 30 solution onto the target area, ensuring that you have covered the entire surface and distributed the product evenly.
- Give this treatment 10-15 minutes of dwell time to act on the surface. During this period, the product will chemically break down the dirt and grime, wax and other substances that are on the surface. You can further enhance this process by scrubbing the area with a large budget or even passing the single disc machine on the surface at regular intervals, depending on how stubborn the residues on the surface are.
- Clear away the residue from the area. Start by pouring cleaning water onto the area, forming an emulsion with the contents that are on the surface. Use a brush or the single disc machine to distribute this evenly, then remove the excess with the preferred method, whether it is soaking it up using absorbent clots or towels, or using a liquid vacuum cleaner.
- Give the surface a thorough rinse.
Extra Tips
- When using the Faber 30, it is recommended that you work on small surfaces at a time. Split the target area into smaller sections so as to optimise on the efficiency of the product.
The size of these sections will depend on how absorbent the material is. For instance, if you’re working on cotto or terracotta surfaces, which are highly absorbent, then you can deal with 4-5 m² of surfaces at a time. That way it won’t completely be absorbed into the surface, since this would prevent you from accomplishing the cleaning task.
For surfaces that have a low absorbency – including the likes of ceramic tiles or natural stones that have been polished, then you can work on larger surface areas at a time.
- With the very absorbency surfaces, you may need to add an extra solution to the area being worked on. This compensates for the product that has been absorbed into the surface. This is as the area needed to be covered completely in a layer of the Faber 30 solution all through the treatment process.
If there are still residues remaining on the surface, the application can be repeated following these laid-down steps.
Normal traffic can be applied back onto the area after the floor dries. This will vary from one type of material to the next. The goal is to simply ensure that the surface has completely dried.
After the process, you can use water to clean the equipment that you were working with.
Prolonging The Life Of Your Surfaces
In addition to having the Faber 30 in your cleaning arsenal to keep your surfaces in top condition, taking these extra measures will enable you to reduce the amount of dirt, mud and snow being trekked into your indoor space:
- Implementing a “No-Shoes” policy
Most of the dirt that gets into the house is brought in under the soles of people’s shoes. You can make your home a shoeless zone, politely getting your family members, friends and guests to take off their shoes before getting in. Having a designated spot for them to place their shoes, or a ‘show basket’, as well as dedicated indoor footwear they can switch to, will aid in this.
- Setting up easy-to-clean rugs and doormats
An entryway mat, rug or runner will catch lots of the mess that would have otherwise made it into the house. These items allow people walking in to rub off the dirt that is on their shoes. Having mats at every entrance into the premises, positioned both on the inside and outside of the door, will capture the bulk of the dirt before it ends up being a headache later on.
The choice of mat or rug is key. One of the main priorities here is getting one that is sizable enough for the user to take a stride on it – that way both feet get on the mat. Go for one that is longer than a stride so that people getting in can walk across it with both feet. Since the goal of that is to capture dirt, it will get soiled very fast, thus the need to go for one that will be easy to wash. Whenever the mats get really grimy, give them a thorough scrub and hose them down, and allow them to air dry. Ensure that the mat has dried before being restored back into position to avoid a case of moisture getting tapped underneath the mat and damaging the floor.
Area rugs for those high-traffic sections of the house, or those which are prone to spills, will also go a long way in protecting the floor. Minimising the amount of stains that adhere to the surfaces will result in cost savings, as well as reduce the amount of workload involved.
It’s not just about protection from dirt. A good doormat will act as an accessory, enhancing the décor of the space. Have different ones that you can swap out with the seasons, to bring a different touch that accentuates the ambience.
- The mudroom route
This is for homes with ample space available. The goal is to transform one of the entrances into a makeshift mudroom. For instance, you can pick the garage entrance for this, where people will be entering the house from. Position large rugs in it, and also provide storage for outerwear and sports equipment, shoe shelves, hooks onto which people can hang their bags, etc. This controls the messes and dirt from getting transferred into the rest of the house. Occasionally scrub down the surfaces in this mudroom with the Faber 30 to still keep them in optimal condition, since they will in turn end up getting heavy build-ups of dirt and mud.
- Apply protective sealants and finishes
These are products that will reduce the chances of dirt getting trapped by the pores of the installation, to increase the resistance to water- or oil-based stains. Treating your floor with them will preserve the structural integrity of the installation, and avoid cases where you end up making costly repairs or replacements down the road. Before applying such treatments to your surfaces, giving them a thorough scrub with formulations like the Faber 30 will avoid cases of dirt getting trapped under the layers of the treatments that will be applied.
- Tend to spills ASAP
Even with the most powerful sealant or protective finish, this does not mean that you should leave spills to remain on the surface. The longer the spills are ignored, the higher the risks of staining or even water damage. The sealants are applied to repel the water or oil-based stains, buying you time to deal with the spill, not leave it unattended to. Note that the chemical makeup of the particular spill can also result in issues like corrosion of the affected installation. Whenever there is a spill, quickly absorb the liquid contents and clean the affected area. Those smudges that stick to the surface over time can be dealt with using powerful cleaners like the Faber 30.
- Avoid sliding your furniture
This is a quick way of creating scratches on the floor – and unlike dirt and grime, you can’t just clean them away. The more scratches there are on the surface, the sooner that the floor will need to be refinished, which ends up costing you more resources. This can be easily avoided by simply lifting and carrying the furniture whenever you want to move it around, as opposed to dragging it on the surface.
With Faber, It’s Decades Of Quality
The brand behind the Faber 30 has been around for over 30 years, providing products that are used across the board: by builders and architects looking to protect and reinforce structures after they have been installed; cleaning and maintenance contractors tasked with caring for surfaces in residential and commercial establishments; the DIY end user taking care of their surfaces themselves, but looking for the effectiveness that comes with professional solutions; all through to products to be used in industrial applications, developed to meet the specific needs of the companies involved.
Heavy investments into R&D processes have seen Faber deliver products like stone sealers and impregnating agents that are used to protect installations from the effects of rinsing damp and staining elements including rust and acids, stain removers that kick in when there are already spots on the affected surfaces, to get rid of the stains and restore the original beauty of the surface, and even mastics and epoxy systems that are used to fix issues like crack sand chips on the natural stone. With the cleaning agents like the Faber 30 under review, the brand focuses on providing solutions that will be effective against the grime, while preserving the beauty and structural characteristics of the surface being worked on. There are options that cater to everyday cleaning where light soling is involved, extraordinary maintenance like where you’re dealing with heavy loads of grime that have accumulated for months or years, all through to worksite cleaning including for the post-construction jobs where you’re dealing with substances like cement and mortar residue.
Protective finishing agents are also included in Faber’s product line, which works to keep off the dirt from bonding with the surface, and also repel water and oil-based stains. The goal is to enable the surfaces that have been worked on to retain their original beauty and strength. For the end user, the ease-of-application of the products is key, whether they are used on the floors, stairways, walls, countertops, worktops or indoor and outdoor applications. The formulations are developed to be a breeze to work with, and can be applied with a wide range of tools, as you can see with the Faber 30 which can be applied using the conventional cleaning equipment.
Ever since its founding in Italy in 1986, Faber Chimica Srl has shown a strong commitment to quality in the development of its solutions, catering to both natural stone installations like marble and granite, to the man-made ceramics, agglomerates, and porcelain stoneware. The popularity of its products has seen them get demand across European markets, the Middle East, to the far reaches of Asia. Professional contractors and DIYers at home alike take their pick from the 250+ formulations in the brand’s product line, and the quality standards have led to the company receiving ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications. As such, by including the Faber 30 in your cleaning program, you can be sure that you’re working with a brand that has proven itself over the years.
Get More From Your Cleaning Products
Given that the market is flooded with a wide range of cleaning products, how will you tell the right one for your particular situation? Different factors are considered when making the section, in order to give you value for your purchase. Factors to consider include:
- Specialty vs Versatility
This is going to impact the cost-effectiveness of the cleaning product, as well as its power when dealing with dirt and grime. For those surfaces that are particularly delicate, you want a product that has been particularly developed for it, like when you’re polishing surfaces, or cleaning jewellery. When dealing with very thorough cleaning jobs, the products that are needed here will be more potent, calling for specialised formulations as opposed to general cleaners for the day-to-day tasks.
On the other hand, with versatile products that can be used on a wide range of surfaces – like with the Faber 30 here, you get to cut on the costs that go into the building maintenance process. It also saves on storage space, since one formulation works for multiple areas, instead of acquiring a specific cleaner for each particular surface that needs to be worked on.
- Cleaning power
This looks at how efficient the product is in removing dirt and grime. While light cleaning tasks can be accomplished with a neutral formulation, when dealing with tougher grime you will require more alkaline or acidic cleaners. The choice of these in turn depends on the kind of grime being dealt with, as well as the type of surface being worked on.
This brings us to the pH. If you recall from Chemistry class, the scale goes from 0-14, where 7 is neutral. Below 7 shows that a solution is acidic, and 0 is the most acidic, like battery acid which comes very close to 0. One of the most common acidic solutions used for cleaning tasks around the house is lemon juice, which is at 2 on the pH scale. Above 7, the solution is alkaline. Bleach and ammonia range from 11 to 13 on this scale. Solutions used to clear drains can close as high as 14.
The pH of the cleaning product that you intend to acquire is critical since it dictates the kind of situations it can be used in. Alkaline cleaners are typically used for greases, dirt, oils, fats and proteins. These are the most common types of soiling, you will find that alkaline-based products such as the Faber 30 have multiple applications. The drain-unclogging products feature high alkalinity since the solution needs to be strong enough to dissolve the proteins and grime that usually cause clogged pipes. The high-alkaline cleaners are also effective in dealing with heavy grease build-ups.
For the acidic cleaners, these are used in situations such as the removal of limescale or soap scum. This is also why you will see home cleaning blogs tout the effectiveness of using vinegar to get rid of the calcium deposits that have built up on showerheads and faucets, since its pH of around 2.5 makes it quite acidic. Such solutions are also good for dealing with tea, coffee and similar beverage stains. When it comes to neutral cleaners, these are used for the light day-to-day cleaning.
When weighing between acidic and alkaline-based cleaning products, the target surface to be worked on is also factored in. For instance, natural stone installations like limestone and marble are particularly sensitive to acidic-based products, especially when the stone is unsealed. Also, the proper safety precautions should be taken when dealing with both highly alkaline and highly acidic cleaners, such as wearing gloves to prevent them from coming into contact with the skin. Also, for the solutions that have high alkalinity, you should ensure that the areas in which you are using them have been well-ventilated.
- Impact on your budget
While cleaning is part of the routine building maintenance, you don’t want costs running amok and draining your budget. Different issues weigh in here. For starters, you want to work with cleaning products that retail at an economical price. This largely depends on the operational capacity and reach of the company behind the product. For instance, with Faber you’re relying on a company with an international footprint, which has pumped loads of capital in its production lines, allowing it to leverage the benefits of economies of scale. This allows the hundreds of products that the company has to retail at affordable prices, thus reducing the strain on the consumer.
Next is the rate of application of the product itself. This takes into account issues such as whether the product is concentrated or not, as well as the absorbency of the particular surfaces being worked on. The coverage rate is usually included on the product label, allowing you to see how much usage you would get from every litre of formulation. When planning your purchases, you also want to get the package that will meet your needs. For example, with the Faber 30, the 1L bottles are available in 12 bottles per box, the 5L cans come in 4 cans per box, while the 10L cans are sold as individual loose cans. That way, you can get the quantity that you need to meet the cleaning requirements of your premises.
DOs And DON’Ts Of Working With The Faber 30
- DO perform a pre-test on an unexposed area of the surface. While the product is suitable for a wide range of materials, if the particular surface in question has not been mentioned on the product label – or basically as a general best practice, you should carry out a test on a hidden section of the surface or an unused piece of tile. This is to confirm the effect of the product on the material, and its suitability for the task at hand.
- DO allow recently laid tiles or grouted surfaces to fully dry and cure before treating them with the product.
- DON’T mix the Faber 30 with other chemicals.
Deep Cleaning With Faber 30