Cleaning different types of floors: best practices for sparkling floors

Picture this: You’ve just invested in the perfect flooring for your home or office, and it looks fantastic. Ideally, you want to keep it looking that way so you need to know how to clean it right to ensure it does. Cleaning is more than just a one-size-fits-all task, especially when it comes to floors. There are many types of floors, each with different features and specific maintenance needs to keep it looking its best. 

That is why we have compiled this guide on cleaning different types of floors, from hardwood to carpets. This comprehensive guide will explore different floor types and their unique cleaning requirements. So whether you have hardwood flooring, vinyl flooring, laminate or carpet, read on to find the best tips for maintaining your floor.

Hardwood flooring is a popular choice among many home-owners due to its durability, ease of maintenance and timeless aesthetics. Its ability to withstand the test of time makes it a wise investment for any home. To preserve the beauty and longevity of hardwood floors, following recommended cleaning and maintenance practices is essential.

The first step in ensuring effective hardwood floor maintenance is to gather your cleaning supplies, including a soft bristle broom, a vacuum (specifically designed for hardwood floors), a suitable wood floor cleaner and a mop. 

Start by sweeping or vacuuming the hardwood floor to remove loose dirt and debris that can scratch the surface during cleaning. Then, for a deeper clean, dilute a wood floor cleaner with a microfibre mop to gently wash the hardwood floor. Remember, ensuring that your microfibre mop is not overly wet is vital, as excess moisture can warp the hardwood.

Here are the best tips for cleaning hardwood floors: 

• Ensure your microfibre mop isn’t too wet, as it will over-saturate the hardwood floor and cause it to warp.
• When choosing a cleaner, opt for a ph-balanced wood cleaner.
• Maintain a consistent humidity to prevent wood from expanding or contracting excessively

Vinyl flooring is another popular choice, often praised for its versatility, water resistance and aesthetic appeal. To prepare for cleaning, ensure you have gathered your cleaning supplies, including a mop and vinyl floor cleaner. 

Much like the approach taken with hardwood flooring, use either a soft broom or a vacuum with a brush attachment to effectively clear loose dirt from the vinyl floor. 

For thorough cleaning, it is best to dilute vinyl floor cleaners and use a microfibre mop to clean the vinyl floor delicately. 

Some things to consider when cleaning your vinyl floor is: 

• Stick to non-abrasive vinyl floor cleaners to prevent scratching of the vinyl floor surface
• Vinyl flooring is water resistant, but prolonged exposure to standing water from mopping should be avoided
• When moving furniture, lift it instead of dragging to prevent scuffs 
• Place mats at entrances to reduce the amount of dirt tracked on to the vinyl floor

Carpets are a good flooring choice, offering comfort, warmth and noise insulation. For maintaining carpets, you should gather a vacuum cleaner, carpet stain remover, clean cloths and carpet cleaner. 

The easiest way to ensure your carpets are clean is that you should vacuum your carpet weekly, making sure you pay attention to high-traffic areas. If you have any spills, you should use a clean cloth to blot them, and for stains, use a trusted spot / stain remover. 

Below are some extra helpful tips for maintaining your carpet:

• Use a HEPA filter on your vacuum to effectively remove dust and dirt 
• Every 12-18 months, consider deep cleaning your carpet with a carpet cleaning machine
• Consider applying a carpet protector after cleaning to repel future stains

Laminate flooring is renowned for its durability and stylish appearance. What’s more is it is a cost-effective flooring choice that can withstand wear and tear and requires minimal maintenance. 

When cleaning laminate flooring, you should grab cleaning supplies such as mops, laminate floor cleaner, and soft bristle brush. 

The easiest way to clean laminate flooring is to use a soft bristle brush to sweep the laminate floor to remove loose dirt and debris or use a vinyl floor-friendly vacuum. Use a damp mop to wipe away the mess from spills or stains. For a deeper clean, dilute the laminate floor cleaner and apply it to the flooring.

Some tips for maintaining laminate flooring are: 

• Laminate flooring may be resistant to water, but you should still prevent prolonged exposure to standing water
• Avoid abrasive cleaners to prevent scratching or dulling the laminate top layer
• Attach felt or rubber pads to the legs of furniture to prevent scratches and dents

No matter what type of flooring you have, there are some things that you can and should do every day to keep your floors looking the best: 

It would help if you considered removing your shoes every time you set foot in your home; you can imagine how much mud, dirt and bacteria can be found at the bottom of your soles. 

Secondly, you should vacuum your floor daily as letting dust sit for long will only make it stick to it more, making it more difficult to remove. Another way to protect flooring is to place mats around your property to stop furniture scratching your floor.

We hope you understand that regular flooring maintenance is vital to prolonging the life of your floors, and we hope the tips provided have helped you prepare for your next floor cleaning. 

Don’t forget: if you spend over £100 a month on cleaning supplies, you should sign up for a trade account today for credit terms and discounts.