How to Keep Your Albuquerque Tile and Hardwood Floors Shiny and Spotless

Having clean floors just feels so good, doesn’t it? When you walk through your home and see shiny, spotless floors, you can’t help but smile. It gives you that “ahhh” feeling of a tidy, well-kept home.

But we all know that floors get dirty – it’s just a fact of life. With people and pets coming in and out, dirt and spills are inevitable. Without regular care, floors lose their luster and start looking, well, gross.

Don’t worry though – here’s your guide to keeping floors spotless.

Daily Tidying

Floors get walked on every single day, so they need daily attention to stay clean. Get into the habit of quick daily sweeping and tidying to prevent dirt from building up.

Sweep It Out

After cooking meals or anytime you see crumbs or debris, take a minute to sweep. Use a soft broom and gently sweep all floors including under furniture and into corners. It’s fastest if you:

• Keep a broom handy in each room
• Sweep lightly in the direction of baseboards
• Sweep up piles and toss in trash

Sweeping daily keeps grit and crumbs from getting trampled deeper into floors. You’ll need to mop less often!

Vacuum Regularly

You know the drill – vacuum carpets and rugs at least twice a week. For hard floors, once a week is sufficient in most homes. But vacuum more often in high-traffic areas and homes with kids or pets.

Vacuuming grabs all the dust, dirt, pet hair, crumbs and other yuck before it accumulates. To really get floors clean:

• Vacuum under furniture edges and in cracks
• Vacuum slowly and thoroughly
• Use attachments to get into nooks and crannies
• Empty the vacuum or replace bags often

Regular vacuuming extends the life of all your floors by preventing scratches from gritty dirt.

Pet Patrol

We love our furbabies, but let’s be real – pets make floors dirtier. To control pet mess:

• Brush pets weekly to reduce loose hair
• Trim nails so they don’t scratch floors
• Wipe muddy paws at the door
• Clean accidents ASAP with pet stain remover
• Vacuum more often in pet areas

With frequent care, you can have pets without total floor destruction!

How to Mop Floors Based on The Type

When it comes to really cleaning floors, mopping is a must. But technique matters – mopping the wrong way can damage floors. Follow these rules:

Hardwood Floors

Avoid using a wet mop or bucket on hardwood. Instead, use a slightly damp microfiber mop or a steam mop specially designed for hardwood. Do not use homemade cleaners like vinegar or anything too harsh. The moisture and chemicals can damage the wood.

A steam mop is a good option for cleaning sealed hardwood floors, as long as care is taken not to use too much steam. Excessive steam on unsealed floors can warp or degrade the wood.

Linoleum Floors

For linoleum floors, a damp microfiber mop works well. Use a small amount of linoleum floor cleaner or mild detergent in the mop water. Avoid excessive water.

Vinyl Floors

Mop vinyl floors with a gentle detergent, but do not use a steam mop. The heat can bubble or warp vinyl flooring.

Laminate Floors

When mopping laminate floors, take care not to over-wet the flooring. Use a small amount of dish soap in the mop water and avoid any cleaners containing polish or oils, which can damage laminate. Do not use abrasive scrubbing devices on laminate flooring.

Tile Floors

For tile flooring, use a rag mop or chamois mop instead of a sponge mop. Sponges tend to just push dirt into the grout lines. Use a mild all-purpose cleaner or dish soap diluted in the mop water.

Stone Floors

Ensure natural stone floors are sealed with a protective resin to prevent staining and damage. Use a pH-neutral stone floor cleaner to mop sealed stone. For unsealed stone, use a microfiber mop with hot water. A steam cleaner also works well on stains in stone flooring.

Prevention Steps

One easy way to keep floors cleaner is to stop dirt at the door. Place doormats outside entries and ask everyone to wipe feet before coming in.

Lay Down the Doormats

• Use coarse, thick mats that scrub shoes
• Bigger is better – go for large sized mats
• Place mats outside and inside entrances if possible

Doormats trap dirt, sand, rain, snowmelt, and other yuck before it gets tracked in.

Shoes Off = Less Dirt

Ask everyone in the home (yourself included!) to remove shoes when coming indoors. Provide:

• Slippers for each person
• “Indoor only” shoes
• Shoe racks by doors

Bare feet or slippers means cleaner floors!

Doormats and shoe removal go a long way in keeping floors pristine.

Spotless Stain Removal

Spills and stains are impossible to avoid completely. But you can nip them in the bud by responding immediately when they happen.

Carpet Stain Removal Tips

• Blot spills ASAP with white towel
• Avoid scrubbing, which spreads stains
• Use enzymatic carpet cleaner, not laundry detergent
• Lightly dab cleaner and let sit 5-10 minutes
• Rent carpet steamer or call pro for tough stains

Removing Wood Floor Stains

• Wipe up spills right away with soft cloth
• For tough spots, gently rub mineral spirits or wood stain remover
• Avoid steam cleaners, bleach, vinegar, ammonia

Cleaning Laminate Floor Stains

• Immediately wipe up spills with microfiber cloth
• Gently rub stains with laminate floor cleaner
• Avoid soap-based cleaners
• Scrape off wax or glue carefully before cleaning

How to Remove Vinyl Floor Stains

• Blot wet spills quickly
• Spray vinyl floor cleaner and let sit before wiping
• Rub scuffs lightly with rubber eraser
• Make baking soda paste for stubborn marks

Tile and Grout Stain Removal

• Apply baking soda paste and let sit 15 minutes
• Use white vinegar for soap scum and hard water marks
• Refresh grout lines with grout pen or brush-on colorant

Cleaning Stone Floor Stains

• Blot spill and clean with pH-neutral stone cleaner ASAP
• Use corn starch on oil-based stains
• Consult pro for poultice options on tough stains

By using the right stain busters, you can keep floors looking their best.

Protect Your Floors from Damage

Floors endure a lot of abuse from daily activity. Protect them and prevent scuffs, scratches, dents and stains with these tips:

Use Protective Floor Coverings

• Area rugs in high traffic zones add color and protection
• Runners protect long hallways from wall to wall wear

Furniture Precautions

• Felt pads under chairs and table legs allow smooth sliding
• Lift heavy furniture instead of sliding across floors
• Use furniture sliders for moving couches, appliances, etc.

Additional Tips

• Thick cushions under rolling chairs prevent indentation
• Rearrange furniture periodically for even aging
• Keep floors out of direct sunlight to prevent fading

Final Thoughts

Keep up on daily sweeping and tidying, mop properly for each floor type, remove stains promptly, and take some protective measures.

Follow these tips and your Albuquerque floors will stay spotless and shiny! Let us know if you have any other floor cleaning questions.