How to Clean Floors
How to Clean Floors
Cleaning floors in your home can be a lot of hard work if you don’t know where to start. Since there are so many types of floors, you’ll need to follow the proper guidelines. If you don’t, you could damage your floors. Follow our residential cleaning service instructions on how to clean floors the right way.
Tips for How to Clean Floors Like a Pro
Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors typically have one of two finishes: polyurethane or wax. Don’t know what type of hardwood floors you have? Pro tip: rub your finger across the surface. If it smudges, the hardwood floors are waxed.
If you’ve got waxed wood floors, you’re kinda off the hook. Any professional house cleaner will tell you that a drop of water on waxed floors could severely damage them. So, you’ll have to stick to sweeping, dusting, and vacuuming instead.
Usually, sealed wood floors have urethane, polyurethane, or polyacrylic coatings. This is designed to protect the floors from stains and water damage. To properly clean your hardwood floors, mix a quarter cup of mild or low PH balanced soap in warm water. Use a microfiber mop to speed up the chore. Plus, this will make the floor dry quicker. To make sure your hardwood floors stay looking good as new, Maid for Muddy Paws team suggests cleaning your hardwood floors once a week. You don’t necessarily have to clean the entire house, but cleaning high traffic areas is a good rule of thumb.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate floors look like hardwood floors, but they’re made of laminate! They’ve become more popular over the years because of how sturdy and easy to clean they are. Your laminate may look like hardwood planks or natural stone tiles, but you do need to look after it as a laminate. The floors are made out of layered planks that are sun and light-resistant. Just like any type of floor, it’s important to prevent water from getting under and damaging it. Mopping with a damp mop every so often will be sufficient. Since most laminate floors are lighter in color, you’ll notice debris and dirt more often. Therefore, you’ll have to vacuum at least once a week.
Vinyl flooring
Business owners and homeowners are incorporating vinyl flooring into their space now more than ever. Vinyl flooring is excellent because it’s durable, pet-proof, water-proof, and modern looking. However, vinyl flooring is not cheap, say our friends at Headwaters Construction Inc., a commercial construction company. When cleaning your vinyl flooring, keep in mind the cleaning solutions you’re using. Stay away from harsh chemicals such as bleach. Our go-to cleaning solution for vinyl flooring is a blend of ¼ cup of vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle with a mix of warm water and a tiny drop of dish soap. Spray the floor and wipe it with a microfiber mop as you go.
Natural Stone Flooring
Many older homes have natural stone flooring in their home. Natural stone flooring can be a little tricky just because of the minerals in the stone. Even a small amount of acidic liquid may affect stone floors, such as bleaching and ammonia. Instead, mop sealed stone floors with low PH-based soap. Note that if your stones are unsealed, using a microfiber mop and hot water. Any chemical will penetrate the stone, causing stains.
Porcelain Tile Flooring
Porcelain tile flooring is often used in bathrooms. To ensure that the porcelain stays bright and beautiful, combine ¼ cup of vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle with a small amount of dish soap and warm water. It shouldn’t take a lot to clean the porcelain tiles. If you have trouble cleaning your floors, contact Maid for Muddy Paws. We happily provide cleaning service Magnolia, Texas. For more cleaning tips, read our cleaning blog.