RESILIENT TILE: LINOLEUM FLOORS

Linoleum is a combination of linseed oil, wood flour, and/or ground cork, resins and pigment.  All are mixed together, rolled out and compressed onto an asphalt saturated felt, burlap or other backing.  Heat is applied during compression which fuses and sets the oils and resign to form strong binding agents.  Although linoleum is basically a wood floor, because it is sealed throughout with the linseed oil, maintenance should be with water emulsion products.  Linoleum generally comes in sheet goods and popular decorative squares of nearly any size. 

CAUTIONS

• Avoid high alkaline cleaners.  Highly alkaline materials will deteriorate the linoleum.  They cause embrittlement and in some cases colors fade (whitening).
• Avoid excessive use of water.  Excessive water, especially hot water, will penetrate between the seams or joints causing a loosening of the adhesive and eventual warping and cracking of the linoleum.
• Avoid abrasives.  Cork can be permanently scratched by sand, grit and coarse floor pads.

Linoleum under the trade name LIN-O-TILE will turn white or yellow when cleaned with ammoniated or highly alkaline materials.  It can be bleached back to its original color by light scrubbing with a 1:1 dilution of household bleach and water.  Rinse thoroughly,  Do not mix bleach with any other cleaners as dangerous fumes can be created.