Whether you have carpets, laminate or hardwood flooring, regular maintenance practices are vital to prolonging their lifespan. Some of the tips and tricks below apply to all types of floors, while others are more specific.
Grit and tracked-in dirt can do a number on all flooring types. Consider having a doormat at every entrance and encouraging family members to take their shoes off when entering.
Use the Right Cleaning Products
Floor cleaning is a critical component to a clean building, but not all cleaners are created equal. Using the wrong type of cleaning products can damage your floors and require expensive repair or replacement down the road. Knowing the proper way to care for your flooring based on its material will ensure that it lasts longer and looks great for years to come.
Hardwood flooring brings an elegance and timeless beauty to a home or commercial building, but it must be properly maintained to retain its luster. Regular sweeping or vacuuming with a soft brush or dust mop will remove the majority of dirt and debris. A hardwood floor cleaner can be used for more stubborn dirt and spills. Avoid using a beater bar on your vacuum or a mop, as both can scratch or warp wood floors. Preventive measures like doormats at entrances and felt pads on furniture legs can also help.
Tile, epoxy, and linoleum floors can be cleaned with cleaning products designed for these materials. These can be disinfectants or sanitizers that kill germs and bacteria, or they can be strippers to remove existing waxes or sealers on vinyl, tile, linoleum, or concrete floors before applying a new coat of wax or finish.
Cleaning chemicals that are too harsh or abrasive can damage the surface of your floor, as can an excessive amount of water. Before using a new cleaner, test it on an inconspicuous spot. If you find that your floor needs a deeper clean, try a baking soda paste made with water and left to sit for a few minutes before scrubbing.
It is important to have a schedule and stick with it. This will help to prevent stains, smears, or spots from becoming permanent. It is also a good idea to have janitorial teams empty and replace dust canisters, vacuum bags, and wringers on a regular basis. A full canister or bag decreases the suction power of a vacuum, so keeping these receptacles empty is an easy and inexpensive way to increase the longevity of your flooring.
Keep the Humidity Levels in Your Home at the Right Level
As the seasons change, many people tend to spend more time indoors and relative humidity levels sink. This can be a problem for those with asthma, eczema and other allergies. While reactions to outdoor allergens often lessen as the season changes, indoor ones typically increase — especially during winter when colder temperatures and lower levels of humidity combine. The resulting dry indoor air can trigger breathing issues, make skin itchy and cracked and leave you with stale dusty sinus passages. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to ensure your home’s humidity level is optimal for your health and well being.
Hardwood Floor Maintenance
Hardwood floors add elegance and timeless beauty to your home or business, but they can be easily damaged if not properly maintained. Sweeping or vacuuming regularly is a must to remove dirt and other debris that can cause damage to wood flooring materials. Adding doormats, using rugs in high-traffic areas and placing felt pads under furniture and potted plants helps reduce long-term damage to hardwood floors.
When cleaning hardwood floors, always use a soft cleaner. Harsh cleaners can scratch or damage different types of flooring. Damp mopping with a neutral pH cleaner is also helpful to keep your floors clean. Adding a grout sealer to your cleaning routine can help to keep grout lines clean and free of staining.
Tile Flooring Maintenance
Tile floors are beautiful and durable, but they can be prone to staining if not cleaned regularly. Sweeping or vacuuming often helps to remove dirt and other debris that can cause tile flooring to become dull and scratched over time. Mopping with a mild cleaner and a sponge or mop pad can help to keep your tile floors clean and sparkling. Sealing grout lines can also help to keep them looking clean and new for longer.
Keeping the right humidity level in your home is crucial for the health and well being of everyone in the family. Low indoor humidity can lead to stale sinus passages, itchy skin and cracking of household items. On the other hand, high indoor humidity can promote the growth of mold and mildew which can damage carpeting, upholstery and even hardwood floors.
Remove Spills Quickly
Stains and spills are inevitable – especially in homes with children or pets. Unfortunately, if these stains are not addressed quickly enough they can cause permanent damage to the flooring and leave unsightly marks behind. While stains and spills are difficult to prevent, there are things that you can do to help minimize the amount of damage that is done.
First, make sure to use walk-off mats at building entrances. This will help to reduce the amount of dirt and staining chemicals that is tracked onto your floors. Regular sweeping and vacuuming also help to keep the flooring looking its best.
If you do have a spotted floor, try not to scrub the spot as this can actually make it worse. Instead, use a clean white cloth and gently blot the area. Repeat the process until the spot is no longer visible. This works for most types of stains including water, juices, wine, coffee, and oil.
Another great tip is to use a bit of vinegar on the affected area. This will not only remove the stain but will also help to remove any odors that may be associated with it. If you have vinyl floors, a paste of baking soda and water can be used to remove many common stains. Vinegar is also great for removing oil, ink and crayon stains on laminate floors.
Using two mops is a good idea when cleaning your flooring. This allows you to apply the cleaning chemical of your choice, go over any specific dirty areas and then rinse the mop. This will eliminate the buildup of the chemical itself as well as any dirt that may be trapped on the mop.
Stains are inevitable no matter what type of flooring you have in your home. However, if you follow these simple tips and tricks, it should be very easy to keep your flooring looking as good as possible. By removing stains and spills as soon as they occur, avoiding excessive moisture, removing dust and debris, and not using harsh cleaners or furniture sliders, you can keep your flooring looking great for years to come.
Avoid Excessive Water
The daily wear and tear of foot traffic, furniture, and household items can take a toll on flooring materials. If not properly cared for, dirt particles and moisture can seep into the flooring material causing damage such as scratches, stains, and warping. This can result in expensive repairs and replacements that could have been avoided by practicing preventative floor maintenance.
To minimize the effects of everyday wear and tear, it’s important to sweep and vacuum on a regular basis, preferably once per day. This helps to remove dirt, debris, and dust that can scratch or stain the flooring over time. It’s also important to clean up spills promptly and to place mats or rugs in areas with heavy traffic to trap dirt before it can scratch or stain the floors.
It’s also important to use specialized cleaning products that are safe for your flooring type, as harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners can scratch or damage several types of flooring. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines or consult with a professional to determine the best flooring cleaning products for your specific flooring materials. When cleaning the floors, avoid using excessive water and scrubbing hard as this can cause water damage or warping to your flooring over time.
For wood flooring, use a microfiber mop or cloth dampened with a mild, pH-neutral cleaner that is safe for your flooring material. Wring the mop or cloth out thoroughly before each use to avoid over-soaking the flooring and resulting in streaks and residue buildup.
To prevent scuff marks and scratches on all types of flooring, use felt pads or furniture coasters under the legs of your furniture. This will protect the furniture and the flooring from direct contact and also reduce the risk of scuff marks or scratches when moving heavy furniture. Similarly, use area rugs in high-traffic areas and move them around on a regular basis to prevent the buildup of dirt and grime that can scratch or stain the floors over time. Taking these preventative steps can significantly improve the lifespan of your flooring and add to the overall beauty and value of your home.
