Home Decor
Read tips on cleaning floors including linoleum floor, unglazed floor tiles, hardwood floor and concrete floor.

Cleaning Floors

Everyday your floor gets dusty and dirty, not to mention the occasional spills and scuffs. A dirty floor can your room look extremely unattractive. So needless to say it is essential to clean your floor regularly. The best ways to clean a floor include vacuuming, steam mopping, sweeping, as well as the old and traditional mop-bucket method. However, not all cleaning methods are applicable for all floor types. So it is important to know your floor type and the best cleaning method before you start with a floor cleaning task. For example, baking soda and electric scrubbing tools are especially helpful to clean grout in ceramic tiles. Just sprinkle little baking soda on the affected area, wet the scrubber, and scrub the area, wipe with a damp cloth. Follow these floor cleaning tips for best results.

Tips For Cleaning Different Types Of Floors
  • In the case of a wooden floor, sweep it daily with a soft-bristles broom to keep it dirt free. You may also vacuum clean once or twice a week with a soft brush attachment.
  • Water is the biggest enemy of wooden floors, so keep your floor as dry as possible. If there is an accidental spill wipe it away with a soft cloth as soon as possible.
  • A linoleum floor can be cleaned with any solvent that is not chemical-based. Using aggressive scrubbing pads must be avoided. Avoid using alkaline products on these types of tiles as it can cause the floor to turn yellow very soon.
  • To protect your wooden floor, you may use a carpet runner.
  • For mopping polyurethane wood floors, always use a dry or damp mop. Avoid using a wet mop as water can seep into the seams and ruin the wood.
  • If you have ceramic tile floors, clean spills immediately with a damp cloth. Keeping a scraper handy has helped remove crayon marks, food droppings, grease smudges, etc.
  • Certain floor cleaners and bleach may leave a film on your tile surface. To avoid this dull residue, you can use warm water while mopping the floor.
  • To remove soap scum from bathroom walls and floors, use a dry and slightly abrasive cloth to scrub away. However, make it a point to test an inconspicuous area first to determine if the tiles are getting scratched or not.
  • The rubber tiled floors need to be cleaned at regular gaps with detergent and water.
  • Harwood floors can be cleaned with oil-soap. Follow the instructions mentioned on the packages the soaps come in. Before using oil soap, ensure that the tiles are free from dirt and dust. Use a moist mop or a sponge mop to clean the floor. Let the floor dry before using a wet sponge on it again. Regular cleaning of such floors will get rid of the scratches on the tiles.
  • Sweep concrete floors often and use any degreaser or detergent based cleaner on them.
Other Floor Cleaning Tips
  • Whatever be the type of floor, test the cleanser on a small tiled area first and look for the effects before using the floor cleanser on the entire floor.
  • The floors with unglazed floor tiles can be cleaned by vacuum cleaners. They should be dusted very often. Use a mild detergent and little water to clean them.
  • If your floor requires periodic waxing and buffing, consult an expert or the manufacturer for a specific procedure for your floor.