If you manage a retail store, shopping center, or commercial facility in Cleveland or Northeast Ohio, your floors are one of the first things customers and clients notice. Dull, scuffed, or dirty VCT floors send the wrong message — no matter how good your product or service is.
This guide breaks down the two primary floor care services for VCT flooring — scrub and buff and strip and wax — and explains which one your facility needs and how often.
What Is VCT Flooring?
VCT (Vinyl Composition Tile) is the most common hard flooring in retail environments, warehouses, and commercial facilities across Northeast Ohio. You'll find it in grocery stores, big-box retailers, pharmacies, schools, and office buildings. Without proper care, VCT becomes dull, scratched, and discolored — and no amount of mopping fixes that.
Scrub & Buff vs. Strip & Wax
Scrub & Buff
Routine maintenance service that removes surface dirt, light scuffs, and restores shine using a high-speed burnisher.
- Dust mop entire floor
- Auto-scrub with neutral cleaner
- Propane or electric burnish
- Wet mop support areas
Frequency: Monthly minimum. High-traffic: bi-monthly.
Strip & Wax
Full floor restoration — removes all existing wax and embedded grime, applies multiple fresh coats of finish.
- Chemical stripper applied
- Full scrub and rinse
- Multiple finish coats applied
- High-gloss burnish after drying
Frequency: Annually for most. High-traffic: every 6 months.
Scrub & buff maintains your existing wax. Strip & wax completely restores the floor. Both are necessary — on different timelines.
Signs Your Facility Needs Floor Care
You probably need a Scrub & Buff if:
- The floor looks dull but otherwise clean
- There are scuff marks and light scratches
- The shine fades within days of mopping
- It's been more than 30 days since your last service
You probably need a Strip & Wax if:
- The floor looks yellow or brown even after cleaning
- There are deep scratches that buffing doesn't remove
- The wax is visibly chipping or peeling in areas
- You can't remember the last time you stripped the floor
How Cleveland Retailers Handle Floor Care
Large national retailers operating in the Cleveland area — including those in Westlake, Strongsville, Mentor, Niles, and downtown Cleveland — typically run a structured floor care schedule:
- Monthly scrub and buff to maintain daily appearance
- Annual strip and wax to fully restore the finish
- Quarterly inspections to assess wear between services
Deep Green Disinfecting has provided floor care services to retail environments across Northeast Ohio, including experience with the standards required by national facility management networks.
Get a Floor Care Quote
We bring our own equipment — auto-scrubbers, propane burnishers, all materials. Overnight and weekend scheduling available. Licensed and insured.