Stagestep Frequently Asked Questions

The cotton string mop is the standard workhorse for cleaning. However, you can improve efficiency and effectiveness by switching to a microfiber mop. You will be able to pick up 20% more particulate matter by using this type of mop. Another plus is that microfiber mops will not degrade disinfectants as will cotton mops. When it comes to big spills, nothing beats a cotton string mop.

Beyond microfiber is micron fiber. These wipes use material the thickness of a human hair and are extremely effective both as a cleaning wipe and with a disinfectant.

Stagestep offers these reusable micron wipes on its online store at stagestep.com.

To learn more about the lifespan of your floor click here

Bleach does a lot of things, the one thing it does not do is clean your floors. It disinfects and it lightens stains. Most importantly it is detrimental to the well-being of your Marley floor. It will discolor your floor even as you try to remove scuff or dye marks. Furthermore, bleach breaks down the plasticizer in the Marley floor that makes it flexible. It prematurely ages the floor and the plasticizer that migrates to the surface is slippery. So, the low down on the bleach is to stay away from it.

To learn more about floor maintenance click here!

There are two issues regarding cleaning agents for Marley floors: does it work, and is it safe for my floor.

Some of you are using vinegar and others are considering that option. Concentrated vinegar happens to be highly acidic and when used without diluting with water will damage wood and vinyl floors. The smell is another issue altogether. Vinegar will break down body oils and clean your floor at the price of shortening its longevity. Diluting vinegar in water reduces both its cleaning capability and its ability to damage the surface. There are other safe and less expensive ways to clean your dance floor surface so that using vinegar makes little sense. A commercial detergent-degreaser such as Pro Clean™ does the job safely and economically.

For more information about dance floor maintenance products visit Stagestep.com.

To learn more about how to clean your floors, click here!

Despite a receding pandemic, we are never going to be without the flu, the viruses and their variants. A dance studio is a hothouse for germs and disease. To protect your students, teachers and parents, it is necessary to keep your guard up and plan a maintenance program that includes disinfecting you’re your facility. Doing it the right way means following directions and the basic principles of disinfectants.

First, you cannot disinfect a dirty floor. So, your floor, and any other surface you wish to treat, must be clean. Dirt interferes with the effectiveness of all disinfectants. Before using your disinfectant clean the surface.

Exposing disinfectants to the air immediately starts to degrade its potency. Use small batches and close the lid on the disinfectant between applications. Check the shelf life as time sitting in a bottle is not a friend of potency.

When applying, check the dwell time, the amount of time it takes for the solution to effectively do its job. That means wiping on and off is a waste of time. Dwell time can be between two and 10 minutes. Check the label.

Almost all disinfectants will leave a residue if not cleaned after application. That residue, if not removed, will potentially damage the floor surface, become sticky and attract dirt. In turn, that dirt attracts bacteria and viruses because they thrive on organic material. Make sure you rinse after application even with our Proclean D No-Rinse Disinfectant™ to be sure.

To learn more about the different products you can use to disinfect your floors, click here!

Being that dance floors are a large investment; you want some assurance that it’s going to last. How long should your dance floor last before you must replace it? It really depends on what you’re using it for, how often the floor is used, and the materials or kind of flooring you have. Based on that criterion: Marley dance floors should last between 5-15 years and wood dance floors 15-20 years.

most dance floors have a life expectancy of 5-15 years, with 10 years being the average. Around the 10-year mark, the plasticizer in Marley flooring begins to break down. This makes the floor more brittle and subject to shrinking and cracking.

To learn more about when you should replace your hardwood floors, click here!

As a studio owner, you want to strike a critical balance between a worthwhile investment and high-quality flooring that will also keep your dancers safe. You know that there are many options out there, though some are better than others. Most dance studios find themselves comparing hardwood or vinyl dance flooring. Which one is best for your studio?

When you are opening your studio, you need to consider the costs related to purchase and maintenance along with which styles of dance are best served. You may opt for a temporary solution first before deciding, especially since your dance studio might grow and expand in the future. Don’t forget to consider the three important aspects when choosing your flooring system: durability, slip resistance, and aesthetic appeal.

Whether you have decided on hardwood or vinyl for your dance studio, Stagestep offers plenty of possibilities. Our wood and vinyl flooring options support a variety of circumstances, including touring dance companies, at-home practice, professional training, and performance.

To learn more information on how to help you make a decision between Vinyl or Hardwood floors, click here!

Cleaning and disinfecting are similar but don't necessarily mean the same thing, and it's important to understand the difference between the two. Cleaning processes involve removing dirt, dust and debris from any surfaces including floors, countertops and other fixtures. These may include wiping, scrubbing, washing and rinsing actions that result in cleaner surfaces.

You should clean your studio regularly. Most studios conduct a daily or weekly mopping of floors, depending on the volume of classes and amount of dancers in the facility. For this type of routine cleaning, Stagestep recommends ProClean, our industrial-strength detergent degreaser that's safe for wooden dance floors and flooring finishes.

Disinfecting, however, is a specific process that destroys or inactivates both bacteria and viruses on hard, nonporous surfaces. This is one of the only ways to stop or slow the spread of germs that easily transmit from people touching surfaces. Disinfectants even go beyond the capabilities of sanitizers, which only reduce the amount of bacteria — disinfectants kill all bacteria and viruses.

This is why disinfection is so important for various facilities, especially right now. For disinfecting, Stagestep recommends ProClean D No-Rinse, our exclusive disinfectant cleaner.

For more information on how to clean your studio, click here!