How to Care for Your Flooring?

Suggestion how to maintain Tiles and Stone , Hardwood Floor, Vinyl / Laminate Planks, Carpets and Rugs.

Cleaning Tips on Tiles and Stones.

1- Sweep or vacuum the floor daily. This removes loose dirt, food crumbs and other pieces of debris that can accumulate on tile floors. Dirt that is allowed to sit in wet areas can quickly turn into hard-to-remove grime. •You should also sweep or vacuum the floor before mopping or cleaning it.
Run a dry cloth duster or dust mop over the floors after they have been swept.

2- Mop the floor with warm water. If the floor doesn’t have stains or require heavy cleaning, running a damp mop over the floor will be sufficient to keep it clean. Cleanse the mop in fresh warm water after mopping one section of the room, and repeat until the entire floor is mopped. •For everyday shine, simply run a clean damp dusting cloth over the floor.

3- Dry the floor. Whether you use water or water mixed with detergent, run a dry mop over the floor when you’re finished mopping. This will prevent new dirt from quickly accumulating and staining the grout.

4- Clean up spills promptly. If you drop a glass of juice or even water, clean it up right away. The longer it sits, the more time it will have to soak into the grout. Dried orange juice and other sugary liquids also tend to become annoyingly sticky.

5- Clean the dirtier spills with disinfectant. If your pet has an accident or you drop raw meat on the floor, spray a disinfectant directly over the spot and wipe it up right away. If possible, limit the disinfectant to the area where the spill occurred. Strong chemicals may degrade or stain tile flooring.

Deep Cleaning Techniques: 

1- Mop the floor with warm water and a vinegar solution. Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with a gallon of water and proceed to mop as usual. If the floor still doesn’t look as clean as you would like, mop the floor again using fresh water and small amount of detergent. •Rinse the floor with clean warm water after you are done washing it. It is important to remove all residual soap from the tiles so it doesn’t remain on the floor to attract and hold dirt.
Do not use vinegar or chemicals on marble flooring. See How to Clean Marble for information on safely cleaning stone floors.

2- Remove stains from tile floors. If a spill is left to sit for awhile, it can stain your tile floor. Make a paste to spot clean the area.
Prepare a paste using a 50/50 mixture of scouring powder and warm water.
Rub the paste on the stain using a clean cloth, and then allow it to sit for five to 10 minutes.
Scrub the area with a soft brush, then wash the area with warm water and a cloth to remove all remains of the paste.
Repeat the process if the stain is still visible.

3- Clean mildew from tile floors. Tile floors in bathrooms tend to get mildew sometimes. The best prevention method is to air out the room after you’ve showered and keep the floors dry. If mildew does accumulate, an ammonia solution should take care of it.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands. Make sure the room is well ventilated.
Prepare a 50/50 solution of water and ammonia.
Scrub the area using a soft brush and the ammonia solution.
Rinse the floor with clean water after the mildew is gone.

4- Remove rust spots from tile floors. You probably won’t have to do this often, but if you do, cleaning with kerosene does the trick on rust. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands. Dampen a clean cloth with kerosene. Rub the rust stain away using the kerosene rag.
Wash the area with warm water to remove residual rust and kerosene, then repeat the process if the rust is not entirely gone.

Cleaning Grout in Tile Flooring:

1- Try a pencil eraser. This household trick is great for cleaning small sections of stained grout. Simply run the eraser of a number 2 pencil over the stain until it is gone. Use a clean white or pink eraser.

2- Use baking soda. Most dirty grout can be brightened using this natural method. •Make a paste with baking soda and water. Apply it to the dirty grout using an old toothbrush. Scrub the paste into the grout well.  Wash the grout with warm water when you are finished.  For the tougher stains, allow the paste to sit for a few minutes before you start scrubbing.

3- Remove tougher stains with bleach. If natural methods don’t work, try a bleach solution. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands.
Mix a 75/25 solution of bleach and water if your grout is white. If the grout is colored, you will have to use plain water. Do not use bleach on colored grout as it may remove the coloring.  Use a toothbrush or the edge of a sponge to clean the grout with the solution. Take care not to get the bleach solution on the tiles.  Rinse the floor with warm water after you are done to remove all traces of bleach.  After the floor is completely dry, carefully apply a coat of grout sealer to the grout between the tiles, to prevent it from absorbing dirt in the future.

Hardwood Maintenance & Care:

Here are a few helpful tips that will keep your hardwood floor looking new, and help it last for years to come.
Wait Until the Floor is Cured Before Cleaning. Oil based polyurethane finish takes approximately a month to cure while most water based finishes take 2 weeks to fully cure.
Use Entrance Mats. By placing mats inside and outside of all entrances, you’ll trap soil before it gets tracked into your home.
Use a PH Neutral Cleaning Solution. Low PH levels (acidic cleaners) are good at cleansing, but not cleaning. High PH levels (such as soaps and detergents) are great at cleaning but can dull the finish over time.
Do Not “Wet Mop” Your Floor. Use a damp cloth or mop and then buff dry. Too much water can cause seepage between boards and damage the wood.
Have the Floors Professionally Recoated. Kitchen floors will need to be recoated every 2-4 years, and other rooms of the house should be recoated every 5-10 years.
Clean Frequently. Regular vacuuming, sweeping, and/or dust mopping will help maintain the beautiful finish of your hardwood floor. When vacuuming, make sure you do not use the beater bar.
Place Floor Protectors Under Furniture. Felt pads under chairs and other furniture can protect your hardwood floor from scratching and denting.
Wear Slippers or Socks Around the House. Shoes track in dirt, sand, and other debris that can scratch or otherwise damage the surface of even the strongest floors.
Protect Your Floor from Sunlight. Intense sunlight can cause your hardwood floor to fade over time. Curtains, blinds, shades, awnings, and UV-blocking glass treatments can help maintain the color of your floor.
Move Area Rugs and Furniture Occasionally. Wood floors are bound to fade slightly due to exposure to light. By occasionally moving area rugs and furniture around the room, you can reduce any color irregularities that may occur over time.
Control the Humidity. Too dry of air (below 45% humidity) can cause your hardwood floors to shrink. Too damp of air (over 65% humidity) can cause floors to cup or warp. If your HVAC system does not adequately regulate the humidity in your home, you may need to use either a humidifier or a dehumidifier to obtain ideal conditions.
Never Over Wax. Wax build-up can dull the finish of your floor.
Buff Between Waxing. A quick buff can restore your floor’s sheen without having to go through the effort of waxing.
Follow Manufacturer’s Recommendations. Different hardwood finishes require slightly different care. Please carefully read and follow the recommendations from your manufacturer.
Touch up Nicks and Dents. Minor damage to a hardwood floor can normally be disguised with a touch up kits containing latex putty, wax pencils, or color-matched crayons.

Carpet Care:

Protect your carpet. In addition to frequent vacuuming, its important to clean your carpet on a regular basis. Cleaning systems will remove the oily, sticky soil that vacuums can’t take out, and will help keep your carpet looking great over time.

Get on a cleaning schedule. If carpet is cleaned before it becomes too unsightly, the cleaning chore will be easier and more successful. Carpet in a typical household should be cleaned every 12 to 18 months, depending on the number of residents and amount of activity.

Choosing the proper cleaning system is important. Some systems may leave residues which accelerate re-soiling and defeats the whole purpose of cleaning.

there are many choices but hot water extraction seams to be better than other methods.
Research indicates that the hot water extraction system provides the best capability for cleaning. This system is commonly referred to as “steam cleaning,” although no steam is actually generated. The process consists of applying a cleaning agent into the carpet pile and using water in the extractor to recover the used solution and soil.??This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and wand brought inside or by a portable system brought into the home.

Professional advantages:

Professional carpet cleaners are a great choice for your floor. Their cleaning equipment has more extraction power than the rental units available to individuals, and the carpet should dry more quickly. True professionals also understand the equipment, know the proper cleaning agents for the situation at hand, and recognize the differences in fibers and carpet construction.

What about spot and stain removal?

Routine spot removal- research has shown that many products sold for do-it-yourself spot removal clean poorly and their residues attract soil on the cleaned area rapidly afterward. The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval program tests and certifies products that meet stringent standards and thus clean effectively, without damage to your carpet. Best is to let the professional carpet cleaning get the stain out.