Your flooring also needs periodic flooring care and maintenance to extend its life and preserve its appearance. You can achieve great results with routine cleaning with floor material-specific products. It can also be highly beneficial to polish and seal the floor regularly depending on the type of flooring you have. You can make the most of the floors you have invested in by following these home flooring care and maintenance tips.

What Are the Benefits of Flooring Care and Maintenance?

You can ruin the look of your house without flooring care and maintenance due to dust, dirt, and sand buildup. Moreover, stains and spilled water that aren't immediately cleaned contribute to this appearance, which makes it look unclean for a very long time. So, it should be no surprise that regular cleaning will keep your floor in good condition. 

Additionally, a regularly cleaned floor will reduce the risk of structural damage. Taking good care of your flooring will ensure that it lasts for many years, especially if you are trying to save money.

1. Flooring Care and Maintenance: General Tips

Cleaning floors with higher amounts of cleaning products may be counterproductive. This is because harsh chemicals can damage the flooring's finish. Severe damage can ultimately result from this. Doing floor care and maintenance more frequently will ensure better results and longer durability.

• Keep your floors clean by sweeping regularly and mopping with a damp mop. Using too much water when mopping the floor may also damage it. It is important to use as little water as possible when cleaning a flooring material that is porous or holds water.

• Basic cleaning products: The tools that you need to maintain flooring are a broom, a dustpan, a mop, or cleaning towels, as well as a vacuum cleaner. When selecting cleaning agents, ensure that they are specifically formulated for your flooring type.

• The constant exposure of your floors to direct and harsh sunlight can permanently damage their finish. If your floor is exposed to direct sunlight, close the blinds or curtains to prevent fading and discolouration.

• You should take precautions when moving heavy objects to prevent severe and permanent damage to your floors. Furniture and appliances that are heavy should be moved with trolleys. They should not be rolled or slid across the floor. In most cases, hard flooring is not resistant to friction and subsequent wear.

• You should use floor protectors to keep your floors free of dents and stains. A wider protector should be used on heavier furniture. It is important to make sure that the protectors are not pigmented to avoid discolouration. Ideally, the protectors should be at least 1" in diameter and should lie flat on the floor.

• The best method of cleaning spills is to blot them. Oily floors, wine spills, and paint splatters should be blotted with paper towels and cleaned immediately to avoid permanent stains. Avoid spreading the spill by starting at the edges and working inwards. After cleaning, dry the area to prevent slipping.

• Mats and carpets should be placed in areas with heavy traffic to prevent the spread of dirt and debris and extra tile wear.

2. Flooring Care and Maintenance For Tiles

Tile is considered to be one of the most durable and low-maintenance flooring options. Yet, here are some tips on how to clean and maintain your flooring in order to prevent any damage and ensure its longevity in terms of its appearance and slip resistance.

• You need to prevent any build-up, whether it is debris, water, cleaning product, etc. when it comes to tile maintenance. The surface can stain easily and even become slippery if not cleaned regularly. It applies to ceramic as well as porcelain tiles.

• Ensure that tiles are cleaned with a pH-neutral cleaner and then rinsed with clean water to prevent film formation.

• The slip resistance of tiles can be damaged by wax and oil-based cleaners. These cleaners should be avoided.

• A tile that is textured or coarse may need to be agitated with a mop or scrub, and the water may need to be changed more frequently when wiping it clean.

Considering that tiles are installed using grout, grout maintenance should also be taken into consideration. This can be accomplished by avoiding cleaning solutions that contain acids or ammonia. You should instead choose a grout cleaner that is specifically formulated for grout. After cleaning the tiles, ensure that they are thoroughly dried.

3. Flooring Care and Maintenance For Stone floor

A stone floor can last a lifetime if it is properly maintained and cleaned.

• Natural stone surfaces should not be cleaned with acidic or alkaline products. Instead, choose a product that is specifically designed for stone.

• Please follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations when using the cleaning solution. It is best to allow it to sit for a few minutes before agitating it.

• A sponge or scrub with soft bristles should be used to agitate the cleaning solution.

• Ensure that the attachments of vacuum cleaners are in good condition. Stone floors can be scratched easily by worn metal and plastic.

• For effective removal of grease, wax, or debris from stone floors, use heavy-duty stone cleaners. After wiping with a soft material such as a sponge, buff the surface to remove any remaining moisture.

• To remove stains, use a poultice designed specifically for stone. If it causes dullness in polished stone, the stone polish may be used to restore the shine.

• It is important to seal all stones, whether they are marble, granite, or anything else, in order to ensure maximum protection against stains. Maintain your stone floors by re-sealing them every couple of years in order to prevent stains and etchings.

4. Flooring Care and Maintenance For Carpet

Stains and dirt can easily accumulate on carpets. Cleaning carpeted floors regularly and correctly is an important part of maintaining them.

• Establish a regular and frequent vacuuming schedule since the carpet cannot be wiped or swept. It is essential to do this once a week. An area with heavy traffic should be vacuumed twice a week.

• Carpet stains and spills are best cleaned by blotting. Avoid saturating the stain with excessive water. When the damp area has been blotted, cover it with a soft cloth until it is completely dry to prevent dust from accumulating and further staining. Carpets should not be scrubbed since this will cause the liquid to sink deeper into the carpet.

• Professional deep cleaning should be performed every 15 to 18 months for carpet care. By doing this, you will prevent dirt and debris from settling into the carpet.

• Steam cleaning is best at the very least once every few months in order to prevent the accumulation of pollutants and microbes that may cause illness.

• Regular detergents need a lot of water to be thoroughly rinsed off. Do not use these products to clean carpets because they can act as dirt magnets if they are not completely removed. To ensure that your carpets are cleaned effectively, choose a carpet cleaner that is absorption friendly.

5. Flooring Care and Maintenance For Hardwood Flooring

Keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful by regularly cleaning and maintaining them according to the manufacturer's instructions.

• You should avoid cleaning a real hardwood floor with water or steam. A cleaner containing water as a solvent may cause damage to floors. Be sure to use a hardwood floor cleaner that has been designed specifically for hardwood floors and follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use it. The reason for this is that moisture can cause severe damage to the wood and dull its appearance.

• Sweep or vacuum the floor daily to keep it clean and free of dirt and debris. Use the brush or felt attachments to prevent scratches if you vacuum. Make sure that the wheels of the vacuum cleaner are clean as well.

• When moving heavy furniture or appliances, use dollies or protective plywood sheets or MDF sheets. This will prevent scratches and dents on the floor. Find out which material is the best for your home between MDF sheet and plywood sheet.

• Maintaining the humidity levels in the house is essential for protecting the floors against excessive expansion or shrinkage. If you live in a region where there is a low amount of humidity, consider using a humidifier to increase it. If you live in a high-humid region, you can maintain your home's temperature and humidity by using air conditioners, heaters, and dehumidifiers.

• The exposure of hardwood floors to sunlight causes them to age more rapidly. Therefore, the wood is prone to discolouration and fading. Moving furniture and rugs in the room periodically will help ensure that the wood ages evenly.

6. Flooring Care and Maintenance for Vinyl flooring:

Although vinyl flooring is relatively durable and low maintenance, it is also subject to discolouration and damage if not given flooring care and maintenance regularly.

• Keep it clean by sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming regularly. By doing this, debris and grit will not scratch the surface.

• Immediately clean spills to prevent staining and discolouration.

• To minimize scuffing, avoid vacuums with beater bars.

• Ensure that the cleaning agents you use are safe for vinyl so as not to discolour or fade it.

• Consider using rugs and mats made from breathable materials that are slip-resistant. You should avoid mats that are backed with rubber or latex, as these can leave permanent stains on the floor.

• Under the legs of furniture, use rubber casters or glides to prevent scratches.

Final Thoughts On Flooring Care and Maintenance

A good understanding of how to clean and maintain different types of floors is very important. If you follow our flooring care and maintenance tips, you will extend the life of your laminate flooring, engineered hardwood flooring, or vinyl flooring. As a result, your floor will not only look beautiful, but you will also be able to save a considerable amount of money.

Other flooring blog articles you may want to read:

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE INSTALLING NEW FLOOR

WORD OF MOUTH FLOORS: LEADING PROVIDERS OF VINYL FLOORING IN VANCOUVER

FLOORING INSTALLATION CHECKLIST | WORD OF MOUTH FLOORS

BELLA FLOORING GROUP: A LEGACY OF LIFELONG FLOORING PRODUCTS