From Tile to Hardwood: 6 Tips to Keep Your Floors Shining Bright and Clean

A little upkeep goes a long way in keeping your flooring clean. This is particularly true if you live with pets, children, or both. There are certain broad guidelines to follow even though cleaning techniques may differ depending on the kind of floor. Here’s how to maintain your floors pristine, whether they are made of hardwood, natural stone, or laminate.

Vacuum and sweep Regularly

Yes, thorough cleaning your floors once every two weeks is a terrific idea. But maybe even more important is how you maintain your flooring on a daily and monthly basis. Before it begins to collect, dirt has to be removed. Getting rid of filth and dust benefits your health as well as the appearance of your flooring.

Maintain a consistent sweeping routine, particularly while you are cooking. (Over time, the accumulation of food particles and other debris might result in stains and damage.) Hard surfaces (hardwood, laminate, tile, etc.) should be vacuumed at least once per week and rugs and carpets twice per week.

Mop Properly

Any floor cleaning program must include mopping, but if you don’t perform it correctly, you risk inflicting more damage than good. Use just a few teaspoons of soap per pail of water, regardless of the kind of floor you are cleaning. Avoid over wetting your mop to prevent warping. Additionally, replace the water often to prevent the buildup of grime.

Here are some of the most common floor types and how to clean them:

Hardwood

Use a microfiber mop or a steam mop made for wood floors in place of a bucket of water. Be sure your mop is just gently soaked, not drenched. Avoid using strong detergents or DIY vinegar cleaning solutions.

Wood floors may be cleaned using a steam mop. When using a steam mop, a homeowner should be careful of two things: if the wood floors are sealed, and how much steam the mop produces. The wood floor may warp or deteriorate and stain if it isn’t sealed and too much steam is released.

Linoleum

The finest microfiber mop to use when cleaning laminate flooring is moist. You may combine it with a detergent solution or a floor cleaner. Using a mild detergent, mop vinyl. Use of a steam mop might bubble or damage your flooring; avoid doing so.

Laminate

Do not over wet your mop. Avoid anything with polish or oil in it and just use dish soap and water. Never mop laminate floors with harsh materials.

Tile

Instead of using a sponge mop, use a rag or chamois mop to keep your tile floors clean. (Using a sponge mop, you may embed debris in the grout.) The best solution is a solution of dish soap or all-purpose cleanser and water.

Stone

To avoid stains, make sure your stone flooring is sealed with resin. Apply a pH-neutral cleanser to your sealed stone flooring to mop them. On unsealed stone floors, use hot water and a microfiber mop. For stains, a steam cleaner is effective.

Leave the mud outside

Keeping the dirt out is one of the finest things you can do to maintain clean flooring. If you can, put a doormat at each entry to urge visitors to take their shoes off. You’ll save a ton of time and pain by strictly enforcing the “indoor shoes” restriction.

Use the Proper Cleaning Agent (and Materials) for Stains

Be careful to clean up spills right away since liquids may harm certain kinds of flooring. And only use floor-specific cleaning solutions and spot treatments. Hiring a local floor cleaning expert is always worthwhile if you have issues with deeply ingrained filth and difficult stains.

Following a few basic guidelines can help each kind of flooring avoid spills and stains:

• Carpeting: Only professional carpet cleaners should be used to remove stains from carpet.
• Tile: To get rid of stubborn stains, try using a steam cleaner or a solution of baking soda and vinegar.
• Stone: To remove stains, use a pH-neutral floor cleanser or try steam cleaning.
• Linoleum: Depending on the stain, discoloration may be removed with rubbing alcohol or baking soda.
• Hardwood floors should be cleaned using a moderate, pH-neutral soap and water mixture; anything too acidic may dull your flooring.
• Laminate: Soap-based detergents should not be used, but vinegar-based solutions and laminate stain removers are OK.
• Vinyl: For stains caused by acidic chemicals, baking soda and water work wonderfully; rubbing alcohol is preferable.

Keep all the pets properly groomed

Yes, we all like our dogs, but they aren’t exactly the family members that keep the house the cleanest. Brush your pet’s fur every day, and make sure their nails are kept well-trimmed to prevent hair accumulation. So that you can wipe your dog’s paws after a walk, keep a towel at the rear entrance. And always clean up spills right away.

Prevent deterioration

Although it’s important to know how to maintain your floors clean, it’s best to avoid dirt, stains, and scratches in the first place. In addition to routine cleaning, high-traffic areas should have rugs and mats to protect your flooring. Additionally, you may put trays beneath potted plants and felt padding under furniture. And if you’re moving a piece of furniture, always utilize a furniture slider.