From your hardwood entryway to the warmth of your soft, plushy carpet, your home is guaranteed to have at least 3 different types of flooring. That means 3 different ways that you clean your floors, right?
Hopefully you agreed with that last statement. If not, it's good you're here!
Improperly cleaning your floors can lead to varnish and polish damage, a shorter life span for your new flooring, chemical damage to certain types of flooring, and many more negative outcomes that impact your home.
This article is your one-stop-shop for how to clean each and every type of flooring that is probably in your home!
A quick, easy read, we create this universal how-to guide to act as your newest fridge décor or bookmark on your browser - something that has everything you need without the wordiness of our usual blogs. So, let's cut to the chase:
Laminate
DO | DON'T |
Dab up any spill ASAP to avoid staining
Use a broom, microfiber dust mop, or a vacuum with only suction (with no bristle) for general cleaning
Use a damp microfiber cloth or rag for wet cleaning Use a cleaning solution specifically designed for laminate floors every once in a while | Wet mop Use buffing and waxing machines Steam clean All-purpose cleaner - opt for a specifically laminate-safe cleaner |
Hardwood and Engineered Hardwood
DO | DON'T |
Use a damp mop or microfiber cloth to clean with a wood-safe cleaner once every 2 weeks Sweep daily - vacuum (on bare setting) at least once a week Refresh polyurethane once a year | Let water and wet messes sit Use harsh cleaners like: Lemon juice Vinegar Straight Ammonia Clean with a super wet mop - opt for damp |
Tile
DO | DON'T |
Clean the grout! Use 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 1 part water and scrub with an old toothbrush Spot test your tile cleaner or DIY cleaner with 1 cup white vinegar and 1 gallon of water Sweep or vacuum at least once a week Steam clean once a year - hire a professional | Use abrasive cleaners, like bleach, or tools, like steel wool Let spills sit! Tile has a good defense against water, but it's not indestructible
|
Vinyl
DO | DON'T |
Use a gentle floor cleaner and be a gentle floor cleaner to avoid marks Dab up spills ASAP to avoid any sticky spots Vacuum gently - opt for a vacuum without a beater bar Aim to sweep and dry mop once a week | Beat up your floors or clean too rough - though vinyl is durable, it's not indestructible Use a steam cleaner Use ammonia - it can break down your vinyl! Use abrasive or soapy cleaners |
Carpet
DO | DON'T |
Vacuum often - use a wet vac or steam cleaner once every 4 months When cleaning a stain, start from the outside and work your way in to avoid spreading Test your wet cleaner for discoloration effects on a less-visible area of your carpet | Rub a stain/spill! BLOT to avoid spreading Let spills sit - get on them ASAP Use abrasive cleaners like: Bleach - will stain Laundry detergent - ruins carpet fibers DIY methods - stick to the proven cleaners Use too much cleaner! |
Cork
DO | DON'T |
Use soft tools to clean, like microfiber cloths, mops, etc. - keep that beater bar away from cork! Sweep everyday Be delicate in general - cork is a sensitive floor that does not have a great defense | Use abrasive cleaners - stick to store-bought cork-safe cleaners or your DIY combo of vinegar and water Use soaking wet cleaning materials - keep it lightly damp Steam clean - EVER |
That does it! For some specific cleaning regimens, head to our Cleaning category within our blog:
Happy cleaning!