Flooring maintenance: How to clean floors
The floors in your home may have dust, dirt, crumbs, and food debris that fall out of the garbage can, so it is very important to clean them often, especially in the kitchen, as they get dirty quickly and require more attention. To keep them clean, the main thing to do is to sweep or vacuum them and then wipe or mop them. Flooring maintenance is a must if you want to live in a clean environment.
Cleaning ceramic tile floors is not the same as cleaning marble floors or those made of wood. Knowing how to clean floors according to its material and which products to use is essential for them to last a long time and to be impeccable.
How to clean floors?
Below, you will find some cleaning and sanitizing methods to make it more practical and effective.
There is a wide variety of commercial products to clean floors. When wiping the floor, it is best to wring it out regularly to avoid excess water that could damage the floor, in addition to delaying the drying time. You should to read the instructions for use on the label of each container to be used, and we recommend you to test a small area before using a new product, just to be sure your floors will be fine.
You will need:
- Vacuum cleaner, brush and shovel
- Rubber gloves
- Floor cloth or mop
- Bucket
- Water and floor cleaning solution
How to Sanitize Your Home’s Floors
- Start by vacuuming or sweeping the floor
It is more difficult to mop a floor that has food debris or dirt on it. Make sure the place is tidy so you won’t trip or slip.
- Safety is essential
Put on rubber gloves and read the instructions for use of the cleaning product. For your safety, we recommend testing it on a small, inconspicuous surface before using it on a larger surface.
- Fill the bucket
Prepare your floor cleaning solution by mixing water with an adequate amount of the product you intend to use. Remember to always follow the instructions for using the product right.
- Now you can wipe the floor!
Wet the floor cloth or mop, wring it out, and get to work!
- Rinse the floor
If you have children or pets at home, give it an extra wipe when you’re done. Using a plain water solution, go over the surface with the floor cloth.
Types of floors and how to clean them
- How to clean wood floors
Wood and water are not a good mix, as water can discolor and ruin our wood furniture or floors. Our advice is to always use products designed to clean wood whenever possible.
Cleaning wood floors is a delicate task, therefore, have at hand a product designed to protect and clean your wood floors, which will make the task easier. To clean wood you will need the following:
- Broom or vacuum cleaner
- Bucket of water
- A cleaning product exclusively for wood floors
Be aware that wood flooring maintenance is quite hard if you are not used to it, so follow our instructions to keep them well.
- How to clean ceramic tile floors
Remove dirt: before cleaning ceramic tile floors, use a broom or vacuum cleaner with soft bristles to remove dust and other dirt. Be sure to clean the dirt accumulated in the joints of the tiles.
Apply some product: wipe with a cloth dampened in a solution of warm water mixed with a ceramic floor cleaner. If you want to know how to remove tartar from ceramic tile floors, look for a product that does not require rinsing and offers total cleaning, many of these have a fragrance, so your space will not only be clean but will also smell very pleasant.
- How to clean marble floors
A simple daily cleaning can ensure that marble floors are kept in good condition and also help prevent their deterioration.
How to polish marble floors? Taking care of this material and following the right cleaning technique is important due to its delicate nature. We recommend avoiding elements that can scratch or leave stains. An important tip is to avoid acidic products, such as lemon or vinegar, as they could damage the material.
Remove dirt: sweep or vacuum the floor before cleaning.
Wipe with a cloth: dampen it with warm water before wiping. This will remove dust that was not swept or vacuumed and other debris.
Clean the area: use a suitable product; many are formulated for cleaning specific materials, such as marble. Dampen the cloth in this mixture and wipe the entire surface.
Dry the floor: after a few minutes, dry with a soft, dry, and clean cloth.
- How to clean vinyl flooring
In addition to daily cleaning with a broom or vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth, there are more sophisticated cleaning methods for cleaning vinyl floors:
- To keep them shiny, you can clean them with a commercial product specifically for vinyl floors. It is always recommended to apply the product on a small surface, as a test, before use.
- On the other hand, you can also prepare a solution with detergent and water to remove any trace of dirt. As recommended above, test before full application on an inconspicuous or hidden surface, e.g. under a piece of furniture.
- Stains can be treated by rubbing the floor with a cloth dampened in the above solution. Leave for a few minutes, then rinse and dry with a clean cloth.
