Learning how to clean your floor properly is very important as it helps to keep the house looking cleaned and well maintained at all times. There are different types of floors that are normally used in a house and different ways of cleaning each of them. It is handy to have a how-to guide for cleaning your flooring, however, the most effective and common way of cleaning is by using a vacuum cleaner to work well on tiles as well as hardwood and carpet.
As of EvolveCleaning suggests, the best vacuum cleaners are well equipped to deal with all types of dirt, debris, and sludge or stains on your surface. Whether your floor is made of tile, cork, hardwood, or linoleum, it is essential to know how you would go about cleaning it using the vacuum cleaner. Below are 10 simple and safe tricks that will help you to keep them looking completely clean and new.
1 Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors will normally have either a wax or polyurethane finishing. If you are unsure what type of hardwood surface you have, rub your finger across it and if there is a smudge, then your floor is most probably waxed. Wood floors that are sealed will normally have a polyacrylic, polyurethane, or urethane coating which helps to protect them from stains and damage from water.
Contrary to what most people will say, you don’t need anything fancy to clean hardwood floors. For polyurethane hardwood surface, you only require soap and water. If there are tough stains, baking soda will be more efficient for cleaning and a decent microfiber mop will be helpful a well.
Wax hardwood floors can be damaged by even a small amount of water. Therefore, when cleaning them, dust mop, sweep or vacuum regularly. Avoid using damp mops or rugs on the surface of these mops.
2 Cork Floors
Cork floors normally look very appealing. However, the same quality of material used to make them appealing and also makes it very vulnerable to damage from water. Most cork surfaces are sealed due to the fact that they absorb water and other liquids very easily but you’re still required to take extra care when cleaning. Try to vacuum the floor often so as to prevent it from getting any scratches, wipe any spills immediately, and wash it once a week using vinegar and soapy water.
3 Laminate Floors
Most laminate floors look like planks or natural stone tile. However, it is important to remember that the surface is still a laminate and therefore, needs to be cared for accordingly. Fortunately, there are very few things capable of doing damage to a laminate floor since the planks have been constructed using highly resistant layers that enable it to maintain its appearance for years.
4 Natural Stone Floors
When cleaning natural stone floors, under no circumstance should you use vinegar or any other type of acidic substance such as ammonia or bleach. This is because these types of tiles can easily get damaged when exposed to even a small amount of acid.
Instead, mop the floors using a cleaner that has a neutral PH so as to ensure that the cleaning substance and the minerals in the natural surface of the floor do not react badly with one another. If the stone tiles happen to be unsealed, simply mop the surface using hot water and a microfiber mop.
5 Vinyl Floors
Vinyl surface is almost indestructible. For cleaning this type of flooring, pour a 1/4 cup of vinegar in a spray bottle capable of carrying 16 ounces and then mix it with a drop of warm water and dish soap. Then proceed to spray with the solution on one section at a time as you wipe the moist areas with a microfiber that is slightly damp. If every once in a while, you prefer to do a deep clean, use a steam cleaner to clean the grout and the tile.
6 Carpet Floors
When deciding whether to use a carpeted floor, there are definitely several advantages and disadvantages. A carpet can easily add a feeling of warmth and liveliness any room. However, a carpet can also show dirt and stain very easily making them more difficult to clean than other types of surface.
Vacuuming a carpet regularly is a very efficient way to keep dirt and other types of grime and debris away. You should also try to make sure that the carpet is shampooed yearly. If shampooing your carpet seems to be too much, you can always hire a company that specializes in carpet cleaning to do the job for you.
7 Ceramic Tile Floors
These types of surfaces are typically very durable and highly resilient and this separates them from other types of flooring. They are also quite easy to clean and maintain thereby making it a very popular choice for homes, offices, and other types of buildings.
To ensure that ceramic tile floors always remains in great shape always, you will need to regularly vacuum, sweep, and wipe using a damp mop. The most efficient way to do this is by using a vacuum cleaner. Water is also a very effective way of keeping your ceramic tiles looking clean and new.
8 Marble and Granite Floors
Marble and granite floors are famous for their durability. However, it is important to know how to clean them properly. Cleaning marble or granite tiles is actually quite easy. For spot cleaning, you will first need to apply a small amount of mild liquid dishwashing soap to a soft microfiber cloth together with a small amount of clean water.
Next, gently rub the stain or scuff in the direction of the grain in straight lines while making sure that you do not scrub in a circular motion. Once the stain is completely gone, wipe the area with a dry cloth. For regular cleaning, start by filling a bucket with water and a small amount of dishwashing soap.
Next, use a soft clean mop to wipe the surfaces using gentle strokes as you mop all over. Next, use cold and clean water to mop the floor once again so as to remove the soap residue. Finally, use a dry clean microfiber cloth to wipe off any water or moisture left on them.
