Does anyone out there know if you can strip linoleum (or vinyl) floors yourself? My kitchen and dining room have these awful vinyl tiles. They're white. Who in their right mind puts down WHITE lino in a kitchen?? They're disgusting. I mop and as soon as the water dries, they look filthy again. My mother suggested I have someone come strip and re-wax them, but I doubt I can afford that. I'm wondering if anyone has done it themselves and if so, how big of a pain in the ass it is. And is it something I can even do while pregnant?
God, I need a rich uncle to kick the bucket and leave me some money. I'm so sick of being broke. I should have been born a Rockefeller....
11 comments:
My FiL (Mr. Contractor) says "Yes." TFBIM (the CPA and RN) says not while you're pregnant.
-J.
You CANNOT use wax stripper while you are pg.
When you are NOT pg, here's what you do:
Go to a Janitor Supply and buy commercial stripper and commercial wax. You apply the stripper, and then SQUEEGEE IT OFF after it sits a bit (as recommended). Then rewax with a commercial metal interlock wax. Two or three coats. Let it dry thoroughly inbetween. Use a wax applicator. I have congoleum tiles in my sewing/craft room.
Email me for brand names of the stuff I use. I'm out West, but I betcha you can find the same stuff. But don't do this until you have your baby, and get all 3 of the kiddos OUT of the house the day you do this. And plenty of fresh air while you are doing it. And maybe pump and toss your breastmilk for a day after.
And this isn't related, but what are your daughter's triglyceride levels coming in at? Diabetes is hard. ((HUGS)) to you, Julia.
Yeah, there's no way I'm going thru all that rigamarole myself, not after the baby gets here. And pumping and dumping is just awful. I can't stand to see all that breast milk going down the drain.
Boogers. I guess I'll have to hire someone. TCBIM is going to be busy for the next 87 weekends, installing a whole new heating system in the house.
You can use straight ammonia. Open all the windows, maybe get help on this one as the ammonia gives off nasty fumes.
Soak a rag and rub a nice heavy layer of ammonia on the tiles. Let sit for half an hour then check and see if it is getting soft. If it is then take a good stick plastic bristle scrub brush to the tiles. Wipe up mess and you should be good to go.
If you have the really hard tiles, the kind you might see in cafeterias, you can scrape the stuff off with a putty knife. I would do the ammonia wash and soak and then scrape. If the tiles are like real linoleum and have some give then the ammonia soak and scrub brush will be your best bet. If you lived in southeastern Wisconsin I would volunteer to help you as I am running out of my own projects. ;) Good luck. You can also paint the linoleum, oil based deck enamel works quite well.
light brown is disgusting,too(although I grant you-not so much as white!)
any friends that might help you out?(swap to do something for them, or cajole/plead/beg for it..what are friends for,after all)
I hope you find some one decently affordable.(if you hire someone)
Shanna is right, straight ammonia does work, but you'll pass out and it won't be good and Oscar will think he has a kitchen-sized litter box.
Maybe not so good?
Julia .. I know I have no experience but from what I know sounds like you nesting ... I am sure your floors are clean enough and if you step monster does not like it tell her to wash them LOL I am sure you house is fine my friend went thro this right at 34 weeks too just know that your enough and you house is enough and if you still want to strip the floor after you give birth then go for it ... hugs J
I'm late to this party, but may I suggest those adhesive lino tiles you can snag at le Depot or Lowe's? they're practically free ($.99 per sq. foot tile) and you just peel n' stick. *and* they come in faux-stone or faux-marble hues, which means they don't. show. dirt. and the adhesive is probably a gimme as far as pregnancy safety issues are concerned.
p.s. after you purchase them, invite your cleanliness-loving parents over to "help" put 'em in, then suddenly get a pang that resembles false labor and take it easy on the divan whilst they finish the task. that oughtta keep your silly stepmonster's yap quiet for a minute. *wink*
Don't show dirt?!?? Sa-weeeeet. I'm all over that. Great suggestion.
Shinny mentions the linoleum can be painted: do I have to strip my floors first?
I am mid process working on an old lino floor and was looking for info not expecting to hand it out. Lol. However if you haven't finished this project yet then yes you have to strip old wax off if you want to paint the old lino or lay peel and stick tiles. I was hoping for a quick fix myself but as always with my house there is no such thing. Lol. Well if you haven't yet done anything best of luck and if you have already finished then congrats.
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