So I'm a student and our gym floor is awful. It's for recreational use only as the school doesn't have any teams. But we have started an in school league for basketball. The gym has gone un-cared for many years. I've asked the school's facilities to clean the courts. They did appease my request with a dry mop, but that only removed the top layer of dust. I've looked into expensive restoration systems, services, and cleaning tools, all of which I doubt the school will fund.

Can elbow grease, soap, water, and mops restore a decent amount of take to play competitively and safe?