Quick Tips on Cleaning Floors
Your floors see a lot of foot traffic and with it comes the grime, spills and scuffs that can quickly dull and dirty up a room. On top of all that, the type of products and different ways to clean your floor can get confusing and vary depending on what kind of flooring you’ve got. If clean floors are calling your name but you don’t know where to get started, don’t sweat it. Take a look at these quick floor cleaning tips for the best ways to clean all different types of floors:
1. Tile
Tile has become a popular flooring option because of its wide variety of material options including ceramic and porcelain and because of its durability and scratch resistance. Often found in bathrooms because of its convenient water-resistance, tile flooring sees a lot of wear and tear. For a regular cleaning, mopping is a great option for your tiles. After you’ve swept or dusted to prepare the floor, combine a mild cleaning detergent with warm water and you’ve got all you need to make the tiles shine. But don’t stop there because the grout in between tiles can easily absorb dirt and grease. You can find cleaners specifically made for grout or you can use a mild bleach and a small scrub brush or toothbrush to get to these hard to reach areas. After you’ve mopped the tiles and cleaned the grout, make sure to give your flooring ample time to dry, and you’ll have sparkling tile floors in no time.
2. Hardwood
Want to know floor cleaning tips for Hardwood flooring? It is popular in all types of buildings, particularly residences, for its classic look and long-lasting durability. If you’ve got hardwood floors and struggle to keep them shining, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The best way to maintain spotless hardwood floors is to keep up with a consistent cleaning. Sweeping and spot cleaning for daily messes should keep your floors in good short-term shape. When it comes to a semi-regular mopping, avoid drenching your floors with too much water and use a wood floor-friendly cleaning product. Lastly, if you’re looking for an extra sparkling clean, polishing your hardwood flooring every few months. It’s a great way to refresh the wood and get that extra sparkling clean.
3. Vinyl
Vinyl is a durable and stain-resistant synthetic flooring that you can normally find in both commercial buildings and residential bathrooms and kitchens. Don’t let its resistant build fool you. While vinyl flooring does stand up well against heavy wear-and-tear, it will still need a regular cleaning. If your vinyl floors have been looking lackluster, opt for a more mild cleaning method. Regularly sweep or vacuum your floors and try to immediately wipe up any spills as soon as they happen. For a full floor clean, a mop lightly dampened with warm water and a light amount of vinyl-friendly soap should get the job done. Just make sure not to go overboard, overly wet mops and too much water can get into the seams on vinyl flooring and cause it to come loose or cause the corners to curl up.
4. Laminate
Laminate is a type of synthetic flooring that often takes the appearance of hardwood or stone. Just like with vinyl flooring, the key to keeping your laminate floors in tip-top shape is to be gentle. Synthetic flooring options like laminate often come with a protective sealant, so avoid any abrasive scrubbing or harsh cleaners that could break the sealant and damage your floors. Stick to regular cleanings by sweeping to avoid any dirt or dust build up and perform the occasional lightly-dampened warm water mopping. Always avoid the overuse of water or heavy cleaners that may leave behind residue and create a consistent and gentle cleaning routine to keep your laminate floors sparkling.
5. Carpet
Carpet flooring comes in all forms and colors and it’s quick to gather dirt and grime. Before you get to cleaning, be sure to test any products to make sure it won’t damage the integrity or color of your carpeting. If you’re just looking for a fast way to refresh your carpet flooring, vacuuming can work wonders, lifting dirt and residue for a quick clean. But if your carpeting suffers from stains or calls for a deeper clean, there are different ways to get it looking good as new. First thing’s first when it comes to stains, look into specific solutions. For example, if your carpet suffers from a stubborn grape juice stain, blotting it with an ammonia and water solution may do the trick, but a different sort of stain may require a stronger solution like bleach. For an all-over deep carpet cleaning, consider steam cleaning, a hot water extraction method that removes dirt and allergens from deep within your carpet.
6. Linoleum
Linoleum flooring is made from natural materials, making it slightly more cushioned than other hard flooring, and it usually comes in a sheet form. Because of its durability and long-lasting ability to stand the test of time, you can commonly find linoleum floors in hospitals, schools and all sorts of commercial buildings. If you’ve got linoleum floors that could use a clean, keep in mind that this type of flooring is susceptible to damage from water, humidity and harsh cleaning products. Keep with a routine cleaning for dust and dirt, and clean stains as they come with a dampened cloth. For a deep clean, mop your linoleum floors with a gentle cleaning solution, like a couple drops of dish soap. Keep in mind that this eco-friendly flooring option is mostly made up of natural materials, so be sure to use products that won’t harm your floors and avoid using too much water to steer clear of any lasting damage.
7. Stone
Granite, marble and other natural stone flooring options can make the floor of any room immediately stand out, but they have to be carefully taken care of to avoid any damage and staining. For pesky dirt particles and dust, a quick vacuuming or sweeping should do the trick for your stone floors. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a more serious clean, avoid cleaning products with ingredients like ammonia or vinegar that could eat away at the stone’s surface. Find a stone-friendly cleaning product and mop the surface regularly. For a streak-free and gentle shine, ditch the traditional mop head and try using a microfiber cloth, which is gentle enough to not harm your stone surfaces but will still get the cleaning job done.
These were some of the quick floor cleaning tips for different types of floors. Don't forget to try them out!In case you have any other floor cleaning tips in mind, do let us know!!
There is a lot that goes into cleaning different kinds of flooring, but a sparkling clean floor doesn’t have to translate into you working overtime, we can help! From linoleum to tile and all the way to carpet.
Quick & Clean offers floor cleaning services for businesses and organizations throughout the Tallahassee area. We offer services including spray buffing, top coating, waxing, regular routine floor sweeping, mopping and anything else your floor could need to get that perfect clean! Give us a call today at (850) 443-4848 to learn more or to get the clean floors you’ve been waiting for by scheduling a floor cleaning.