Best Ways to Clean Different Types of Flooring

Many homes feature several types of flooring, and they all require specific care to ensure their appearance and integrity last. But when not cared for properly, signs of wear and tear can become permanent.

Familiarizing yourself with different types of floors and how to clean them is crucial to ensuring your home stays in top shape. Our guide for the best ways to clean different types of flooring will show you how to maintain your floors and keep your home sparkling clean.

Why You Need to Clean Your Floors

Learning how to clean different types of floors will keep your home looking its best. There are also plenty of other benefits to washing and preserving your floors, including:

1. Maintaining Your Health

Pollen, debris, pet hair and other pollutants can enter your home, often through your clothing and shoes. These allergens accumulate on your floors and furniture, and negatively affect your health when left to gather.

These particles impact the air quality of your home and can cause allergic reactions, dizziness and even respiratory diseases in some cases. Floor care cleaning and maintenance help you and your family stay healthy.

2. Extending the Life of Your Floors

Wear and tear naturally occur in areas that experience heavy foot traffic. Regular floor surface and floor cleaning allow your floors to look great despite the wear and tear that may occur.

With proper upkeep, you can ensure your wood, laminate, ceramic and tile flooring won’t become scratched, damaged, rotted or faded.

3. Prioritizing Your Safety

Cleaning your floors ensures you and your loved ones won’t trip over objects or slip on debris while walking around your home. Slip and fall accidents occur more often than you may think and can lead to serious injuries. Clear, dry floors make your whole house feel cleaner and keep your family safe.

Best Ways to Clean Different Types of Flooring

Several flooring materials are commonly found in homes. They each require different cleaning methods and treatments, which is why learning how to clean different types of floors is essential for maintaining the appearance and value of your home.

Here are the best ways to clean the different floors throughout your home:

1. Hardwood

Genuine hardwood floors are a beautiful feature in your home, but cleaning them can be tricky. Using too much water can lead to rotting, warping, irreversible stains and a dull finish.

The best way to clean floors made of wood is to dust the area first, then use a soft mop and wood cleaner. A wood cleaner will ensure your floor shines while offering a deep clean.

2. Laminate

Laminate floors are affordable and durable and give the appearance of real wood. However, without proper care, laminate will scratch, fade and show signs of water damage.

When cleaning laminate floors, first wipe them down with a microfiber broom. Then, use a gentle cleanser made with one part rubbing alcohol, three parts water and a squeeze of dish soap. Lightly dampen a cloth with the mixture and handwash the flooring. Immediately dry the floor with a highly absorbent cloth.

Never use wood-specific cleaners or polish to treat laminate, as they can lead to wax buildup that’s difficult to remove.

3. Concrete

Concrete is porous, so it’ll absorb water, oil and cleaning mixtures. If you haven’t already, you should treat your floors with a commercial sealer to protect the concrete from moisture and debris.

Before washing concrete flooring, use a broom to remove loose debris and dirt. Concrete flooring is common in garages and basements, so if there’s spilled grease or oil, you can use cat litter to absorb the liquid from the concrete. Just sprinkle a generous amount on the floor, then use a stiff broom to spread the litter.

When you’re ready to wash the floor, you can use a regular cleaner to mop it. Allow the concrete to air-dry.

4. Ceramic Tile

Ceramic floors can be difficult to clean because of the grout and finish.

Before you mop, you must scrub the grout with a brush to remove loose dirt, debris and residue. Then, use a vacuum extension or broom to clean it up. If there’s stubborn or sticky residue on the tiles, you can use an old credit card to scrape it off.

Now, mop the tile with a mixture of hot water, half a cup of vinegar and half a teaspoon of dish detergent. Be careful not to add too much soap to the solution, or the suds will make your floors appear dull.

After mopping your floor with the cleaning solution, do it once more with a bucket of clean hot water. Soak up the excess water with a dry cloth, then allow the floor to air-dry.

5. Marble

Marble is a luxurious and beautiful flooring material. However, if marble flooring is unpolished, it’ll be porous and easily stained. A thick layer of sealant is necessary for keeping your marble floors in pristine condition.

You can use an all-purpose pH-neutral cleaning solution and water to mop a marble floor. Make sure you use a soft mop head to prevent streaking and scratching. If you want to polish marble flooring, you can use a water-based wax every one to three years.

The best way to keep your marble floors clean is by dusting and damp-mopping them daily.

6. Linoleum

While linoleum floors are common, many homeowners don’t know the proper way to clean them. Solvent-based cleaners and too much water will harm the linoleum.

To efficiently clean linoleum floors, you first need to address any scuff marks that may have appeared from wearing shoes indoors or moving furniture. You can use steel wool and liquid wax to gently rub the mark, then wipe it away with a damp cloth.

Now, mop the floor with a diluted all-purpose cleaner. Don’t let your floors air-dry. Instead, use a soft cloth to dry the linoleum. To ensure your linoleum floors stay in their best condition, daily dust-mopping and weekly cleaning will do.

Hire Rent Maids to Help You Keep Your Home and Floors Clean

Knowing the best ways to clean different floor surfaces is just one of the specialties of our experts at Rent Maids. With immense experience and a passion for cleaning, our staff is equipped to handle most messes and keep your home exceptionally clean.

We offer unparalleled service to the DMV area, with personalized quotes that fit your home size, budget and schedule. Take back your time and let Rent Maids take care of the housework. Get your free custom quote today!