How to choose the right cleaning method?
The average floor takes a ton of abuse. Shoes, pets, kids and furniture all take their toll, leaving your floors looking worse for wear.
While materials like natural stone, laminate, porcelain tile and even hardwood are designed to be durable, you still need to put some effort in when it comes to keeping your floors in tip-top shape.
You may even need a little extra elbow grease on your side in the messy winter months.
Keeping your floors in great shape starts with knowing how to clean them properly. Knowing what floor cleaning mistakes are a big no-no will also help safeguard your space from catastrophe.
Keep reading to learn more about five common floor cleaning mistakes you should avoid when doing a deep clean or tackling regular maintenance at home or in a commercial space.
A layer of dust, debris and pet hair can tarnish the good look of your floors in a hurry. In a busy space, t
here’s a good chance you reach for the vacuum every few days to combat this common problem. Choosing a flooring material that hides dirt can help in a high-traffic room,
but that only goes so far.Your vacuum is a great tool against dust and dander, but you need to use it on the right setting. In general,
hard floors benefit from a higher or “hard floor” setting so the vacuum won’t scratch or abrade the finish of your floors.
When switching to rugs or carpet, you can lower your vacuum to a lower setting so it will really dig deep. With a hard floor, that deep clean can only do damage.
Resilient flooring materials are made to stand up to day-to-day abuse, but harsh, abrasive chemicals can leave scratches,
discolor your flooring or damage grout if you’re dealing with tile. Chemicals like bleach are an especially big problem.
Your best bet for choosing cleaning products? Pick a specialty cleaner designed for your specific flooring material like hardwood,
natural stone, tile or vinyl. You can also use water and diluted vinegar for a variety of different flooring types.
You’ve found the right cleaning product for your floor and you’re about to pour out a whole bottle to tackle one room.
Wait, is that the right way to do it?When using cleaning products, even if they’re specifically made for your flooring type,
always take the time to read the instructions. If you don’t, you could be left with a soap or wax buildup that can be very hard to remove.
It might make your floors look dull, too.
Water is a safe bet when you’re cleaning your floors since it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that can cause surface damage.
Too much water however may penetrate your floors and create a little chaos for you down the line.
While some flooring materials like porcelain tile can stand up to a ton of water, others simply can’t. Using too much water for cleaning your hardwood,
for example, could create buckling or discoloration in time.So how much water is too much water? In general, you only need as much water as your mopping device can hold to clean properly.
More than that and you’re at risk of soaking your floors and allowing them to absorb liquid before you have a chance to wipe it away.
When using water to clean your floors, as little as possible is always best. Remember that you can always add more water, but you can’t take it away so easily.