The appearance of your flooring has a huge impact on the appearance of your entire house. When the floor looks dirty, the house looks dirty. That’s why it’s so important to maintain your flooring with a regular cleaning routine. After all, quality flooring is a major investment, so it only makes sense to protect and extend its value.
Of course, different types of flooring require different cleaning methods. But as long as you have some essential household items at your disposal, keeping your floor looking fantastic is a piece of cake.
Here’s how to maintain and clean three very popular types of flooring: vinyl, tile, and carpet.
Sweep or Vacuum Regularly
It doesn’t matter which type of flooring you have. The best thing you can do to keep your floors clean is regular sweeping or vacuuming, ideally once per week.
For vinyl and tile flooring, it’s recommended to use a vacuum attachment with soft bristles or a soft-bristled broom to avoid scratches. If possible, use your vacuum’s hardwood setting to disengage the beater bar and rotating brush. For carpet, a vacuum with a rotating bristle will be most effective with picking up dirt, dust, hair, and debris.
How to Clean Vinyl Flooring
To remove stains or scuffs from vinyl flooring, you’ll need a simple mixture of baking soda and warm water. Apply a small amount of the paste to a microfiber cloth and work the paste into individual stains or scuffs, as opposed to the whole floor. For highly pigmented stains from markers or paint, apply a damp microfiber cloth with rubbing alcohol.
You can also give your vinyl floors a deep clean with another simple mix of apple cider vinegar and warm water. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use a commercial vinyl floor cleaner from your local hardware store. Dip a soft microfiber mop into the vinegar solution and mop in the same direction as the plank’s grains, rinsing the mop frequently to avoid using too much water.
How to Clean Tile Flooring
For ceramic and porcelain tile, mix a mild detergent with water in a large bucket. Like vinyl floors, it’s best to use a microfiber mop or cloth so you can continuously squeeze out excess water.
For stone and slate tile, you just have to make sure your mild detergent is pH-neutral and doesn’t contain lemon, vinegar, and other acidic substances.
Now for the one of the biggest headaches of tile flooring: grout. Believe it or not, one of the best products for cleaning grout is good old OxyClean. Just follow the directions to dilute the powder with water, and then apply the solution directly to your grout lines with a paintbrush or a toothbrush.
Finally, scrub the solution into the floor with something with nylon bristles. Anything more abrasive could damage the tile. We recommend picking up a nylon brush attachment that goes on your power drill, which typically costs less than $10.
How to Clean Carpet
Cleaning stains out of carpet is harder than vinyl and tile flooring, but that’s what carpet stain removers are for. The best products work for virtually all types of carpet fiber and carry the prestigious Seal of Approval from the Carpet and Rug Institute.
It’s also recommended to steam clean your carpet every 6 months to pull out lingering stains along with any dirt, dust, or other allergens that have accumulated over time. You can either hire a professional cleaning service or do this yourself by renting or purchasing a portable carpet cleaner from places like The Home Depot.
If you’re having trouble keeping your floors clean, the experts at Flohr are here to help. We’re happy to answer any flooring maintenance questions or explain how you’d go about replacing your flooring if necessary. We even offer free consultations where we come to your home to collect measurements and other information so we can give you an accurate estimate. Give us a call to set up yours today.
