Floor Cleaning Tips for Each Type of Surface

Does your home have hardwood, tile, carpet, area rugs or several of these? Chances are, it’s the latter. Keeping up with a cleaning schedule to keep your home clean can be exhausting, especially when it comes to cleaning all of the different types of floors in your home. Floor cleaning is usually a tiring task that many people try to avoid for as long as possible. Whatever type of floors you have in your home, here are some floor cleaning tips to help you clean them efficiently.

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors give your home beauty and elegance that can’t be matched with other types of flooring. The downside, however, is that they tend to require more attention and maintenance. When it comes to cleaning your hardwood floors, the process will depend on the type of finish your floors have. For wax-finished hardwood, you should avoid cleaning with any type of liquid as it can damage the floor. Instead, dry mop, sweep or vacuum regularly to keep dirt and debris at bay. For sealed hardwood floors with urethane, polyurethane or polyacrylic coating, you can mop with a mixture of mild detergent and water, just remember to sweep or vacuum first to remove most of the dirt and debris. After you are done mopping, dry the floor immediately with a dry mop or microfiber cloth so dust and dirt in the air aren’t drawn to your now clean floor.

Tile Floors

Tile floors are popular in South Florida because they are durable and more resilient to water and dirt than hardwood floors. For regular maintenance, create a cleaning solution that is part detergent, vinegar and warm water to mop with. You can also use this solution with a microfiber cloth to spot-clean your tile floors. If mopping isn’t enough, steam cleaners are safe and effective deep-cleaning solutions for tile floors. As with hardwood floors, dry the tile immediately after mopping to avoid accumulation dirt and so the water doesn’t soak into the pores of the tile and grout.

Carpeted Floors

You can’t argue with the comfort that carpeting provides, which is why many people keep at least their bedrooms fully carpeted. You should vacuum your carpet regularly to decrease allergens and dirt that accumulate. When you need to spot-clean your carpet to remove a stain, mix equal parts vinegar and baking soda with warm water to form a liquid (the vinegar and baking soda will be pasty at first), and the scrub the stained area with a sponge or soft brush. To remove pet hair from carpet that a vacuum can’t reach, use a cheap squeegee and rake the hair right out of the carpet fibers. When your carpet is due for a complete shampooing, opt for a steam cleaner instead. Shampooing your carpet is less likely to remove all of the dust, dirt and allergens that are deep within your fibers. Shampooers also leave your carpets with a long drying period, which is not only inconvenient, but the moisture also encourages the growth of mold or mildew. Steam cleaners effectively clean your carpet with less moisture and without potentially harmful chemicals.

Area Rugs

If you have all hard-surfaced floors in your home, then you probably have an area rug or two. Cleaning area rugs is similar to cleaning carpet, but easier and more cost-efficient to do on your own. For most area rugs, you can use the vinegar, detergent and warm water solution to spot clean them. Remember to vacuum first to remove the majority of debris that is hidden within the carpet fibers. Once you’ve gently scrubbed the stained areas, rinse the entire rug with a hose to rinse all of the detergent out of the rug. Then, let both sides of the rug dry completely before putting it back in its place.

One Professional for All Types of Flooring

Whether you have one or all of the above types of floors in your home, Stanley Steemer of South Florida can tackle the job. Stanley Steemer offers carpet, hardwood and tile floor cleaning services, in addition to services, to most of South Florida. Rather than going through countless hours of searching and having multiple professionals come in to complete different tasks, just call Stanley Steemer of South Florida to handle any floor cleaning task you may have. The Stanley Steemer professionals are certified with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, so you can rest assured you will be left with a clean and healthy home. To learn more, visit our website or give us a call at (888) 982-3553 today!