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A Guide to Cleaning Any Type of Flooring

There are many methods to choose from when it comes to cleaning floors, carpets, or tiles. You can use a mop, a broom, or a vacuum. You can scrub with a cloth or spray a detergent onto the surface and scrub with a rag. The options for cleaning floors are endless. Which one is best? Different types of materials for different cleaning methods largely depend on the type of floor you have to clean. This guide will introduce you to different floor cleaning methods and the materials they are best used with.

Different Types of Floors, Different Cleaning Methods

One of the toughest questions regarding floor care is “how do you clean different types of floors?” The answer to this question is not as simple as it may seem. While it is possible to clean most types of floors using the same or similar methods, some flooring requires special care. If you are moving to a new home or looking for a different cleaning method for your current home, it is important to consider the type of flooring you have. For example, wood, laminate, and tile flooring are durable flooring types that are easy to maintain.
Let’s get to learn more about the different types of floors and how you should clean them:

Wood Floors

While hardwood floors have bounced back in popularity, they can still be a pain to clean. One of the biggest turn-offs to having wood floors is the frequent need for maintenance. Dust, dirt, and debris can build up over time and cause scratching of the surface. And if you don’t have good vacuum cleaners or cleaning solutions, it’s easy to end up with dirty and scratched floors. Luckily, it’s not too complicated to clean your wood floors, and you don’t need any expensive cleaning products to do it.
The best way to clean wood floors is with a mild detergent and pH-neutral cleaner You can also use a cleaner like Bona Hardwood Cleaner which is created specifically for hardwood flooring. Read the instructions carefully. Make sure to clean all spills immediately, as that will prevent staining and discoloration. Use a towel or sponge to wipe up spills. If your wood floor looks dirty, use a mop and broom to remove dust. Make sure to mop the floor in the direction of the grain.

Marble Floors

Marble floors are a beautiful addition to any home, but they need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Marble is a type of crystal composed of calcite and dolomite. It is generally white to pale gray. Marble is smooth and requires very little maintenance, but the downside is that it can easily stain. The cool thing about marble is that there are so many beautiful colors to choose from. So, how do you clean marble floors?
You can periodically buff up marble floors with a microfiber cloth and some cleaning solution, but marble is sensitive to acidic chemicals and abrasives. Just be careful not to overdo it with cleaning products since marble can react with acidic cleaners and strip the polish off. It is recommended to use a mild detergent and a pH-neutral cleaner to clean your marble flooring safely.

Ceramic Tile Floors

Tile floors are attractive and practical, but they’re not the easiest floor to clean. They can be difficult to keep clean, especially if you live in an apartment and have to share maintenance duties. Fortunately, there are many different ways to care for your tile floors.
However, ceramic floors are a tough material to maintain, and you may need a professional to come in and help with cleaning them. There are many different kinds of ceramic tiles, and not all are cleanable. You can clean the grout with a steam cleaner, but that is not recommended unless you have glazed and sealed tile. Glazed tiles are easy to clean, and sealed tiles will get dirty easily. Unsealed tiles should be sealed, but mopping them daily with a mild detergent and water should be enough.

Linoleum Floors

Linoleum Floors are old, but they are making a comeback. Homeowners are rediscovering the vintage look of these resilient floor coverings, and there are some big reasons you might consider having them in your home. One reason being is that they are very durable and can last for decades. They are also easy to clean and are resistant to water, stains, and bacteria.
If you have linoleum floors, you know just how tough they are. Linoleum flooring can withstand just about anything, from dog messes to spills, dirt, and even snow. The good news is that linoleum floors also tend to be easy to clean. You can vacuum the floors and then mop them. You can also disinfect the floors with a disinfecting solution and water.

Terrazzo Floors

Terrazzo floors are a beautiful floor option for many homes and offices today. They add a unique, luxurious touch to any space and are the perfect accent to almost any design. However, as a floor option, the upkeep of terrazzo floors can be a bit difficult.
Because terrazzo floors resist scratches and stains, they’re an attractive option for flooring in kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, and other high-traffic areas. But like any other floor material, terrazzo accumulates dirt, grime, and scuff marks over time. Many homeowners clean terrazzo floors with mops, but the process can be time-consuming and ineffective. Instead, consider trying out an alternative method: terrazzo floor cleaning with vinegar.

Vinyl Floors

Floor cleaning is an important part of home maintenance. Vinyl floors are easy to clean in most cases, and a quick mop and sweep are usually all that’s needed.
Also, avoid using a steam mop on vinyl flooring since the steam and heat can warp the vinyl flooring. Vinyl floors don’t “wear out” like carpet or hardwood; they stay beautiful, shiny, and easy to clean for years. Vinyl floors can be damaged by even the best cleaning methods, so following the product’s manufacturer’s recommendations is very important.

Concrete Floors

Concrete flooring is an excellent option for many homes and buildings, providing a durable, attractive, and cost-effective alternative to other flooring materials, such as hardwood, carpet, or tile. These qualities make it a popular choice for flooring in high-traffic areas, but concrete surfaces also tend to harbor stains, dirt, and dust over time, making them harder to keep clean. Fortunately, these surfaces are not as difficult to clean as you might have imagined. You can:

  • Sweep the floor to remove any debris and loosen impediments.
  • Apply an appropriate cleaner for the floor (if necessary, mix the cleaning solution yourself).
  • Scrub the floor using cleaning pads or brushes.
  • Rinse the floor area with clean water, then dry it with a towel.
  • If needed, apply a sealer to the floor after it dries.

Whether you’re dealing with concrete on the street or in the home, cleaning it up can be a daunting task. Concrete is porous, making it perfect for mold and germs to grow, along with stains from dirt and spills. But, with the right cleaning supplies, it’s not impossible.

Hire a Professional

Clean floors are important to every single house, but almost all types of floors can gather dirt over time if not properly cared for. That is why if you are still not confident in handling floor cleaning, then hiring cleaning companies will be better. Professional cleaning companies like Plan: B Cleaning can provide a deeper floor cleaning that goes above and beyond what a homeowner can do.
Interested in a residential cleaning service to do the hard work for you? Call Plan: B Cleaning today at (317) 572-8515 or visit www.planbcleaning.com. Plan: B Cleaning serves the Fishers, Indiana area including Geist, Noblesville, Carmel, Fortville, and more!