How To Clean Flooring Propery
Flooring is not cheap. Having wood floors sanded and refinished is expensive. Many of the problems involving flooring is due to improper care and cleaning.
Replacing flooring or having it refinished can be a costly venture for any homeowner. Flooring is often ignored by the way of installing the wrong type of flooring to begin with, placing carpeting over top of flooring without the proper padding, and one of the worst enemies to flooring is the lack of and improper cleaning. Many homeowners do not realize that the various types of flooring are not the same and maintenance is not universal.
To begin with, although most flooring is durable, not all flooring is appropriate for every room in the home. One of the common issues is that of moisture. Debris and moisture is one of the biggest enemies of flooring. This article is about how to clean flooring properly.
Common Floor Cleaning Tips
It is important to know how to clean your flooring properly. There are two primary maintenance steps that should be done consistently which is wiping up spills immediately, and vacuuming or dusting or sweeping the floor at least once daily. Another way to protect your flooring from debris and moisture is to place door mats at interior and exterior door entrances to prevent carrying excess debris and moisture over your flooring. Make sure the backing of your runner rugs and doormats have the proper backing for the type of flooring that you have, otherwise they will leave stains and marks, such as is found with rubber backing mats or rugs.
Cleaning Linoleum/Vinyl
Some manufacturers make floor cleaners for their linoleum. It is best to follow manufacturer instructions in order to prevent any damage to your flooring. Gentle detergent, such as Ivory dish detergent, or a vinegar and water solution are proper to use on linoleum. It is recommended that other household and floor cleaners should not be used due to their acidic or caustic effects. Your mop should be damp, not soaking wet when you wet mop. Be sure to rinse your floor. WD-40 is great for removing scuff marks from shoes. Once the job is done, dry the floor with a dry mop or cloth. Home owners often use products that are a wax and cleaner all in one. It is recommended that these products such as Mop and Glo or Mop and Shine are avoided.
Cleaning Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is cleaned much like hard wood floors with a vinegar and water solution or window cleaner after removing the debris and dust that may be on the floor. It is important not to use soap based or citrus type of cleaners as it will damage the laminate flooring. Floor polish should not because it leaves a film, and will attract debris and dust.
Cleaning Hardwood Flooring
Many homeowners may believe that all hardwood floors are the same; therefore, the same floor cleaning process is used for all wood floors. Other than vacuuming or dust mopping the debris from the floor first, the actual cleaning varies depending on the type of finish or sealant that is used. This writer found a web site that provides wonderful details explaining how to clean hardwood flooring properly.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/hardwood-floors-101/7-a-219366
Cleaning Tile Flooring
The most common tile flooring is that of ceramic tiles. After cleaning the debris from the floor you can use a gentle cleanser or commercial cleanser, but be sure to be using a cleanser that is recommended for the type of tile that you have. You should also check with the manufacturer about using floor stripper or wax before doing so.
Final Floor Cleaning Tips
If you are in doubt as to how to clean and maintain your flooring, it is always best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Stripping floors such as those that are no wax floors, as those found in the 80's, can actually damage your floors.
Replacing flooring or having it refinished can be a costly venture for any homeowner. Flooring is often ignored by the way of installing the wrong type of flooring to begin with, placing carpeting over top of flooring without the proper padding, and one of the worst enemies to flooring is the lack of and improper cleaning. Many homeowners do not realize that the various types of flooring are not the same and maintenance is not universal.
To begin with, although most flooring is durable, not all flooring is appropriate for every room in the home. One of the common issues is that of moisture. Debris and moisture is one of the biggest enemies of flooring. This article is about how to clean flooring properly.
Common Floor Cleaning Tips
It is important to know how to clean your flooring properly. There are two primary maintenance steps that should be done consistently which is wiping up spills immediately, and vacuuming or dusting or sweeping the floor at least once daily. Another way to protect your flooring from debris and moisture is to place door mats at interior and exterior door entrances to prevent carrying excess debris and moisture over your flooring. Make sure the backing of your runner rugs and doormats have the proper backing for the type of flooring that you have, otherwise they will leave stains and marks, such as is found with rubber backing mats or rugs.
Cleaning Linoleum/Vinyl
Some manufacturers make floor cleaners for their linoleum. It is best to follow manufacturer instructions in order to prevent any damage to your flooring. Gentle detergent, such as Ivory dish detergent, or a vinegar and water solution are proper to use on linoleum. It is recommended that other household and floor cleaners should not be used due to their acidic or caustic effects. Your mop should be damp, not soaking wet when you wet mop. Be sure to rinse your floor. WD-40 is great for removing scuff marks from shoes. Once the job is done, dry the floor with a dry mop or cloth. Home owners often use products that are a wax and cleaner all in one. It is recommended that these products such as Mop and Glo or Mop and Shine are avoided.
Cleaning Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is cleaned much like hard wood floors with a vinegar and water solution or window cleaner after removing the debris and dust that may be on the floor. It is important not to use soap based or citrus type of cleaners as it will damage the laminate flooring. Floor polish should not because it leaves a film, and will attract debris and dust.
Cleaning Hardwood Flooring
Many homeowners may believe that all hardwood floors are the same; therefore, the same floor cleaning process is used for all wood floors. Other than vacuuming or dust mopping the debris from the floor first, the actual cleaning varies depending on the type of finish or sealant that is used. This writer found a web site that provides wonderful details explaining how to clean hardwood flooring properly.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/hardwood-floors-101/7-a-219366
Cleaning Tile Flooring
The most common tile flooring is that of ceramic tiles. After cleaning the debris from the floor you can use a gentle cleanser or commercial cleanser, but be sure to be using a cleanser that is recommended for the type of tile that you have. You should also check with the manufacturer about using floor stripper or wax before doing so.
Final Floor Cleaning Tips
If you are in doubt as to how to clean and maintain your flooring, it is always best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Stripping floors such as those that are no wax floors, as those found in the 80's, can actually damage your floors.
