Floor Care and Cleaning

The care and cleaning of the floor is important and should be scheduled weekly to minimize the effects of wear and tear and dirt and grime.   By following a few simple rules today,  will alleviate the problems of tomorrow.   Vacuuming, sweeping and/or dust mopping weekly can have a very positive affect on the flooring’s beauty and extend the life of the flooring.  Dirt and grime have a very bad effect on all types of flooring, in that they act like sandpaper scraping on hard surfaces, and with carpets they tend to act like sharp particles and abrade the pile of the carpet.  Furniture coasters and  entrance runners are recommended for most floors.  Sunlight can cause discoloration over time.  Close curtains or add sheer drapes to protect the flooring,  especially hardwoods and carpets.

 Carpets are most affected by dirt and grime, where it takes the form of hard particles.  Regular weekly vacuuming prolongs the life of the carpet, but also enhances its appearance…and beauty.  Most of this soiling can be removed by vacuuming.  It is recommended that high traffic areas be vacuumed daily, medium volume traffic twice a week and the rest weekly.

 It is recommended that for some thick loop pile carpets, a suction vacuum be used and for all others, the rotating brush is adequate.  It is also recommended that runners be placed at all entrances to reduce the transfer of outside soil to the carpet.   Periodic cleaning with professional hot water extraction is recommended every 12 to 18 months.

 Carpet stains are best removed by applying a good carpet stain remover or the manufacturers brand to the area of the stain, and blotting it with a paper or cloth towel. Regular dishwasher soap in warm water also works quite well for many stains.  Do not rub or scrub and continue to spray and blot until stain is removed.  Do not over use the spray solution.

 Wood Flooring (both Solid and Engineered) is very susceptible to dirt and grime and standing liquids and efforts are necessary to overcome their effects.  Sweeping and vacuuming should be done almost daily depending upon the traffic, because of the sandpaper scratching effect. There are several excellent cordless sweepers such as the one manufactured by Shark which does an excellent job at picking up the dirt.  Standing water can damage the floors finish and also warp the finished floor.  Wipe up all standing liquids as soon as possible.

 Furniture moving will definitely scratch the wood finish, so lift and carry  furniture and use felt coasters.  Avoid direct sunlight on the floor.

 Each manufacturer has a floor care cleaner for use on their floors.  These should be used as needed or at least once a week.  Follow their directions.  The following steps are a good start to the care and cleaning of your wood floor using one of the following cleaners:

            Mohawk FloorCare Essentials

            Bruce Dura-Luster Cleaner - also available in a kit with mop and handle  

            Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate cleaner - also in kit form with all the tools

            Robbins Forever II Hardwood Flooring Cleaner - also in kit form

            Shaw EverClean

            Bona Kemi

Steps

          Vacuum or sweep

          Spray the floor cleaner over an area of 6’ by 6’  ( and mop if the sprayer is part of the mop)

          Mop over the area  

Restore and Refresh Products

             Mohawk FloorCare Essentials

            Bruce Fresh Finish & Fresh Finish - Low Gloss 

            Armstrong Hardwood Floor Restore

            Robbins Forever II Hardwood Top Coat Dressing & Satin Top Coat Dressing

            Shaw EverShine

            Bona Kemi Refresher

 Laminate flooring is very dense and easy to keep clean.  All that is required is vacuuming, dust mopping and mop with a damp towel.   As in all flooring, dirt is the primary enemy.  Use coasters, floor mats and runners.   You may be able to buy a touch up stick from the manufacturer to repair a scratch.  In a worst case scenario, a trained professional may be able to replace a plank.

Spots on laminate:

           Nail polish remover – Oil, paint tar, rubber heel

          Warm water – Blood, fruit juice, wine , beer, soda, pasta sauce

          Freeze and gently scrape – candle wax, chewing gum

 Ceramic Tile is very easy to clean with vacuuming or sweeping and applying a hard surface cleaner( for tile) and mopping with a towel.  Do not use oil soaps or wax.  Dirt is also its worst enemy.  Use felt coasters, floor mats and do not move furniture across tiled floor