A sure way one can tell that your home is clean is simply by the appearance of your floors. If a visitor enters a house where there are scratches on the wooden floor or broken stone tiles with unsightly grout, they will be confronted with the thought of uncleanliness. If your floor gets dirty, it’s vital that it gets appropriately cleaned before lasting damage can occur. Swift action makes the cleaning process easier so you may need to make a quick decision regarding the kind of floor cleaning you require.
Here is a mom’s expert advice on cleaning a variety of floor types:
1. Marble
Although marble looks tough, it still needs proper care when cleaning. Because quartz can react badly to certain chemicals, it’s essential to check the products you’re using before applying them to your floor. Even everyday substances when spilled can react with marble so spills should be wiped away as quickly as possible. Failure to do so can result in the permanent etching of the surface. Since it’s very costly to replace, you want to avoid such a scenario at all costs.
2. Lino
Lino is one of the most natural materials to clean. It is relatively inexpensive to replace, and it’s designed in such a way that you don’t need too much elbow grease to get the dirt out. The greatest challenge when cleaning Lino is ensuring it doesn’t get waterlogged as this can cause it to peel away from the floor or become uneven.
3. Hardwood flooring
There are two types of hardwood flooring; treated and untreated. Each has its own way of cleaning. Choosing the wrong vacuum for your hardwood floor could come with the more expensive option of installing a new floor, but with the best vacuum for hardwood floors, you will never have to worry about getting your floor scuffed, scratched or even being replaced. Just like marble, certain chemicals are likely to react with the wood causing it to rapidly degenerate. With a carpet, heavy scrubbing can also cause unsightly patches.
4. Carpet
If you want to have your carpet cleaned, it’s best to turn to professionals, especially if it’s the soft and delicate type. Excessive scrubbing could cause the fibers to wear away and leave bald patches on your rug. You could also get the carpet too wet and without proper drying, risk ending up with toxic mold growth in your carpet; This is where the floor and carpet cleaning experts come in as they will be able to employ specialized equipment to treat your carpet gently at the same time removing stains.
5. Ceramic Tile Floors
Ceramic tiles give household floors that glossy and elegant look, especially if the tiles come with designs and patterns. Although most ceramic tiles are waterproof and stainproof due to their glazes, it is the grouts or the spaces between tiles that catch dirt, molds and discolorations. Grouts are mostly at depressed or lower levels than the tiles. This makes cleaning grouts quite difficult and labor intensive.
The traditional way of cleaning tile floor grouts is to use a scraper or unused toothbrush, soap and water to scrape or scrub grime and dirt from grouts. Another common way of cleaning dirt and grime on ceramic tile grouts is the use of muriatic acid. This method can be particularly effective for removing stains, dirt and grime if the acid is diluted in water and applied evenly and sparingly unto the tile floor and grout. This method isn’t recommended for regular cleaning, because acid can etch the tile, damage the glaze or cause permanent staining to the grout or tile floor.
There are household chemicals that are actually proven effective in removing dirt, mold and grime from tile floor grouts. Of these, baking soda is the most versatile ingredient to homemade cleaning mixes. The common mixes are:
- baking soda, water, lemon juice and vinegar
- baking soda, hydrogen peroxide
- baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and dish soap
Using homemade cleaning mixes for cleaning tile floors and grouts can eliminate the need to buy chemicals and cleaning detergents that are not effective and are even detrimental to tile floors. Also, the cleaning tools should only be cloth, wooden scrapers or old toothbrushes for abrasives. Hard and strong abrasives are not recommended because they can scratch or damage the tile floor.
If you choose to employ experts to clean your floors, always ensure that the service they provide is cost-effective and the company is trusted. Some companies also offer advice and information on routine maintenance and general care as well as products to use to get your floors looking their best for as long as possible.
In today’s fast-paced and busy life, most people are looking for ways to simplify elements of our daily lives that may be required though are not of the highest priority. Floor care experts can come in handy for busy households since they provide an invaluable provision that will most likely assure you of their professionalism as you focus on other areas of your life.
