Floor cleaning materials are nearly as numerous as cereal it seems. However, choose the wrong one for your floors and you could damage them. As a flooring company, we’ve replaced floors sooner than necessary from damage due to either cleaning with the wrong product or not cleaning them properly. Here are some tips from our flooring experts about the best ways to clean your flooring.
Read the Manufacturer’s Instructions
If you get new floors, even if you choose a flooring company for installation, ask for the package insert. Read what the manufacturer recommends for floor cleaning. You should always follow their recommendations before anyone else’s (even ours). But what do you do if you’ve moved into a home and don’t know who made the floors or the best cleaning method?
Start with a Soft Broom
Before you mop or vacuum your flooring, use a soft broom. This helps remove the larger debris that a mop or vacuum could push around on your floor and potentially scratch. Another option is a cotton dust mop. Depending on your home and if you have kids or pets, you should be sweeping your floors at least a few times a week, if not daily. This is sometimes called dry mopping. We don’t recommend the popular cleaning pads as they have a chemical that will eventually leave a film on your flooring.
Vacuum with a Flooring Attachment
Most vacuums come with a flooring attachment. This attachment is meant to pick up debris without scratching your floors. You should vacuum at least weekly. This helps pick up the small dust and debris that the dry mop or broom miss.
Mop Occasionally
It comes as a shock to most people that their flooring only needs mopping once a month or every two months. If you use a dry mop regularly and keep it vacuumed, there’s no need to mop your floors every week as many people think they must. And when you do mop, use as little water as possible. Cleaning products are quite over marketed and oversold. Honestly, a teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid in a gallon of water makes a great floor cleaning solution for just fractions of a cent per bucket.
Spot Clean as Necessary
Spills and accidents happen. That’s the only time you need to clean between cleaning. Using a soft cloth with some soapy water is the best way to get up the mess. Again, we caution against using too much water or anything abrasive.
Need New Flooring? We Can Help
As a Tampa area flooring company, the Authentic Hardwood Flooring team can help you choose the right new flooring for your budget and lifestyle. We’ll provide you with the full manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning during installation. Call us today at (727) 786-6330 for your free estimate.
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