6 Dirty Floor Cleaning Tips for Sparkling Floors
Cleaning floors can be a time-consuming chore. This is especially true if you have a mixture of vinyl, carpet, hardwood and laminate flooring, as you’ll need to use a variety of methods to keep them looking their best.
To help you clean your floors more effectively, here are six tips that can save you time and stress.
- Spot Clean on a Daily Basis
If you have children or pets, your floors are probably covered in crumbs, dirt and pet hair mere minutes after your last cleaning session! As many families only clean their floors once a week, this can mean floors are unclean the majority of the time.
The best way to manage your floors is to spot clean each day to prevent build-up. This doesn’t just make your home look cleaner, it can also discourage pests and stop bacteria multiplying in dropped crumbs. It’s still a good idea to do a weekly “deep” clean – although this won’t take as long.
After dinner is usually a good time to whip around the house with your vacuum and tackle any patches of dirt or food. A handheld or cordless vacuum can be great for this, as they are lightweight and easy to use.
- Mop Vinyl Floors with a Vinegar Solution
A quick tip to clean vinyl flooring is to use a vinegar solution. Mix ¼ cup of vinegar with a small amount of washing liquid and some warm water, then put the mixture into a spray bottle.
Whenever you notice a particularly stubborn patch of dirt or food on the vinyl floor, spray the mixture and wipe with a gentle cloth. The vinegar helps loosen any dirt which makes cleaning much easier.
- Get Rid of Grease with Vinegar and Baking Soda
A similar tip can be used to remove grease from floors. Mix ¼ cup of vinegar with ¼ cup of baking soda, a small amount of liquid soap and some warm water. Wipe the solution over the greasy patch with a mop for a quick result.
Don’t use this tip on waxed floors though, as it may affect the consistency of the wax.
- Carefully Mop and Clean Laminate Floors
One of the great things about laminate floors is their toughness – but that doesn’t mean they are indestructible.
If you want your floor to last a long time, it’s important to avoid water getting caught underneath the laminate. For this reason, use a damp mop (rather than a wet one) to get rid of patches of dirt. If possible, disable the beater bar on your vacuum as this can scratch the floors.
- Clean Hardwood Safely
Hardwood is one of the most beautiful types of floor, but it’s vital to avoid damaging it when cleaning.
The key is to find out whether your floor has a urethane finish. If it does, you can use a damp mop to clean it on a weekly basis, while spot cleaning throughout the week. Waxed hardwood floors are more susceptible to water damage, so you shouldn’t mop them. Instead, use a sweeper or vacuum.
Avoid using soap-based detergents on hardwood floors though, as acidic products can cause the floors to lose their shine. Standing water can also cause unsightly marks, so make sure you mop any spills.
- Remove Pet Hair from Carpets with Rubber Gloves
Pet hair that’s stuck to carpets can be one of the most frustrating cleaning tasks. Some vacuum cleaners come with powerful attachments, but if yours isn’t doing the job you might need a more manual method.
A great way to remove hair from carpets and upholstery is with rubber gloves. These provide an electrostatic charge that attracts hair and causes it to stick. Just run your gloved hands over the carpet and most of the hair should come away.
Summary
Keeping floors clean is a never-ending task, which is why it’s important to make the process as simple as possible. The tips in this article can speed up floor cleaning and help you keep them looking their sparkling best.
Check here for information on choosing which floor to install.
James Hall is a freelance writer, editor and home cleaning expert from the UK. When he’s not writing, his favorite hobbies are long walks with his dogs and mountain biking.