The Best Techniques for Cleaning Different Floor Types

Posted on 24/01/2024

No-sweat Tricks to Clean Any Type of Floor

There are several different kinds of flooring and floor coverings that will inevitably become dirty due to footfall. Carpets can take a lot of damage in heavy traffic areas, as can hard floors. Prompt action is the key to preventing permanent marks and stains from forming.

1. Hardwood floors can last for decades if they are cleaned regularly. They should be vacuumed at least once a week to prevent the gritty particles in dust from acting like sandpaper and wearing away the surface. Do not use beater bar or rotating brush attachments when cleaning wooden floors as these can cause scratches. Soft mops or sweepers made from microfiber can work equally well.

2. Tiled floors require different cleaners and cleaning methods. In addition to sweeping and vacuuming, floor tiles should be cleaned with a mild solution of detergent using a cloth or chamois mop. Sponge mops can push grime into the grout causing hard-to-clean lines. Change the water often or else you will end up with a cloudy finish on your tiles.

3. Soapy residue on ceramic tiles can be removed using a non-abrasive cleaner or a gentle acid such as natural lemon juice; don’t use acid on marble tiles. There is no need to use commercial cleaners to bring the grout back to pristine condition. A paste made from mixing baking soda and water can be applied and left to work overnight before scrubbing with a nylon brush to make your grouting look great. As grout is porous it will absorb grease and become stained; coating it with a silicon sealant after cleaning should prevent this.

4. Vinyl floors will benefit from cleaning with a bucketful of Borax diluted in warm water. Stains on concrete floors can be cheaply removed with a solution of washing-up detergent, laundry detergent or pre-soak stain removers. Let these cleaners soak in for about half an hour then scrub clean.

5. Other common household items can also be used for cost-free floor cleaning purposes. The tannic acid from two tea bags seeped in boiling water will produce a great shine on hardwood surfaces. Scratched wooden floors can be repaired using a crayon of a matching colour. Rub the crayon into the scratch and then heat the area using a hair-dryer on its hottest setting. Buff it over with a soft cloth.

6. Laminate floors need regular cleaning for optimum maintenance. You can remove grease and spills such as wine or chocolate with warm water and an ammonia-based cleaner. Nail polish, marker pens and other tough stains will come off if treated with de-natured alcohol or an acetone-type nail varnish remover. These cleaners will also clean up cigarette burn marks. Candle wax and chewing gum should be allowed to solidify and then scraped off with a plastic scraper.

7. Rug and carpet cleaning techniques vary according to the fabric and the colourings in the material. To avoid the risk of damaging the fibres of your carpets, it is advisable to use the services of professional cleaners. This is also true when it comes to sofa cleaning and upholstery cleaning.  

The floor in a home or business property is one of the areas where dirt and grime will be most obvious to visitors. Having a dusty or stained floor will quickly come to a guest’s notice. This can create a poor impression of the business or homeowner. A quick spray with a floor cleaning chemical and a wipe over with a clean cloth will rapidly improve the looks of your floors.