Are you using the correct floor cleaner for your home?
It can be a daunting task: Restoring your floors’ shine. And you might be wondering what’s the best approach: Does it come down to technique; frequency of cleaning; or maybe using a floor cleaner that’s better suited to your floors’ type? In this article, we’ll share our best advice for making your hardwood, laminated wood (floating floor) and ceramic tile floors shine.
Adapting to the type of surface is crucial!
Floors – just like us – have their own unique traits! Each floor has its own particular needs: Some types of floors require more frequent cleaning than do others, as well as employing specific equipment or products. Not paying heed to a floor’s “personality” can lead to lustre-loss and premature signs of wear. Here are some tips that will help you to better grasp your home floorings’ needs.
Hardwood floors
Hardwood floors are renowned for their durability and ease of maintenance. When properly cared for, hardwood floors can last for decades! To best clean a hardwood floor, simply sweep or vacuum it once a week to remove dust. If you have children or pets, then you may need to increase the frequency of dusting.
There are two universal golden rules to follow to preserve a hardwood floor’s charm:
- Use water only if necessary, as excessive water use can lead to warping or discolouration of the wood. Kitchen flooring normally requires more frequent wet cleaning, while bedrooms usually only require a good vacuuming.
- When wet or deep cleaning is necessary, use a hardwood floor cleaner. This will prevent damaging the wood or leaving a cloudy or sticky buildup on the floor.
Why do my hardwood floors look dull after cleaning?
If your hardwood flooring has a cloudy appearance after you’ve cleaned it, the product that you used is likely the culprit. Avoid washing your hardwood floors with cleaners that contain bleach, and do not apply paste wax or furniture polish.
Floating floors (laminated wood)
Laminate flooring is a surface that imitates real wood by using wood fibres. More affordable and easier to install than hardwood flooring, its popularity peaked in the early 2000s, and can still be found in many houses and apartments.
As it is more fragile than hardwood flooring, floating floors should be cleaned delicately and at least twice a week – more often if you have youngsters or four-legged friends – using a soft-bristled broom to dislodge dust. Only use water when necessary. However, use a damp cloth immediately to avoid having stains.
Use a product that is suitable for laminate flooring for a deeper clean like a multi-surface floor cleaner or a laminate floor cleaner.
Ceramic tile floors
More likely to be seen in bathrooms or kitchens, ceramic tiles are generally very easy to clean. Sweep twice a week and wipe away any stains with a damp cloth.
Use a non-abrasive household floor cleaner should your ceramic-tiled floor require deep cleaning. Wipe the joints with a damp cloth to remove any embedded dirt.
Pro tip: Keep your ceramic tile floors clean even longer by placing decorative rugs in high traffic areas! Debris and dirt will remain on the carpet (rather than spreading on the ceramic) and you can simply toss the rug in the wash at week’s end.
Go-to cleaning ingredients
Maybe you’ve wondered just what’s contained in the products you’re using in your home. Perhaps you’ve found some smells to be especially strong. To avoid unpleasant surprises, choose a floor cleaner made with ingredients that are both effective and gentle... both for your floor… and your nostrils.
Made with 97.2% naturally sourced ingredients, NATURE+TECHNOLOGY™ Floor Cleaner for Tile and Wood Floors eliminates stains and dirt on most surfaces. Its effectiveness derives from its use of saponin, which is a powerful plant compound with extraordinary foaming properties.[1] It also contains Myristyl Glucoside and Caprylyl Glucoside, natural origin surfactants that reinforce its cleansing action. Non-abrasive, cruelty-free and EWG VERIFIED™, this cleaner can be used with total peace of mind as laminate, ceramic and hardwood floor cleaner. Bonus: The delicate citrus zest aroma is refreshing enough to make stubborn odours disappear without being too overpowering.
We believe that once you’ve tried the NATURE+TECHNOLOGY™ Tile and Wood Floor Cleaner you’ll make it a regular feature of your floor cleaning duties. And that’s why it also comes in a two-litre eco-refill! The super-practical and economical bulk format contains up to 80% less plastic than usual bottles.
Are floor cleaners safe to use when there are children and pets at home?
Even if your floor cleaner is made from naturally sourced ingredients, that doesn't mean your youngsters and pets should be slurping it down as part of a meal! Make sure to always keep your household products out of their reach and out of harm’s way, and if possible, wait until the floor is completely dry before letting them walk / crawl on it. .
Step-by-step guide to floor cleaning
Whatever type of floor you have, the important thing is to maintain it regularly by abiding to the following steps:
- Sweep or vacuum at least once a week and more in high-traffic areas.
- Quickly wipe up spills with a damp cloth to avoid stains.
- Avoid excessive use of water which can lead to warping or discolouration of the floor.
- Use a household floor cleaner appropriate for the surface when deep cleaning is necessary.
- As much as possible, wait until the floor is dry before letting your children and pets play on it, especially to avoid the risk of slipping.
Now that you have more information under your belt about home floor cleaners, you might be interested in incorporating additional household products – made with naturally sourced ingredients – into your regimen. This article might be of interest to you:
Source:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2928447/