There are a lot of ways to clean your floors but most of them require hours of scrubbing and mopping and you are definitely not keen on this idea at all. In addition, most of the floor cleaning detergent contain a lot of harmful chemicals which make the whole process hazardous.
However, you can achieve spotlessly clean flooring without the hassle – no matter if your floor is tile or laminate, cork or linoleum, there are safer and simpler ways to make them sparkling. Read on and check our advice.- Laminate flooring – despite it resembles natural stone or hardwood planks you still should treat it as laminate. A leading flooring contractor recommends installing laminate as its planks are very resistant to things like excessive light and stains, only few things would harm your flooring. The most important part is to keep water from getting underneath - it is recommended to use dry mopping method or vacuuming. For flawless results clean any spots with a damp microfibre mop as cleaning with string or sponge mops will take more time and will leave streaks behind. If any large spills happen, blot them up right away and don’t allow puddles to stay on the surface because they can cause the floor to warp. Have in mind that laminate should not be waxed or polished because it is not real wood.
- Bamboo flooring – choosing bamboo as a flooring solution is undoubtedly a good choice as it is beautiful and sustainable. However, in most of the cases it is softer and more prone to scratches that wood floors. Pay attention to the regular sweeping so no dirt buildups are formed. An appropriate homemade solution for bamboo is mixing a quarter cup of mild soap in a bucket of water. Wipe off the floor with slightly damp mop and wipe the excess moisture with a microfiber cloth afterwards. When you swipe your bamboo floor make sure that the broom you are using has soft bristles.
- Hardwood flooring – wood floors can be easily damaged by even small amounts of water so you should keep damp mops away from this surface. Instead, dust mop or vacuum regularly. It is not recommended to use harsh acidic solutions for damp mopping your hardwood floor. A suitable homemade cleaning solution is to put two teabags in a boiling water. Why does this work? The tannic acid that tea contains will create a beautiful shine for your floors. Let the teabags sit for few minutes and using a microfiber mop that is slightly damped, wipe the floor. Don’t forget that hardwood floors need regular floor polishing in order to maintain their fresh looks.
- Cork flooring – when sweeping your cork floor use a soft-bristled broom or a dust mop. If you vacuum it, always make sure it is with a soft brush attachment on as otherwise it will scratch the floor permanently. You should be really careful when it comes to water as cork is a porous material and absorbs water really easily. An easy homemade solution is to pour a quarter of white distilled vinegar in a bucket of warm water and clean your cork floor using a microfiber mop – wring it out thoroughly. If any spills occur, wipe them up as soon as possible with an absorbent towel – never allow moisture to remain on your cork floor. Although cork floors are said to be moisture-resistant the sealant will wear off over time. Don’t forget to reapply sealant occasionally – better use one recommended by the flooring manufacturer.
- Vinyl flooring – as it is nearly indestructible it is really suitable for residential as well as for commercial flooring as its cleaning is a piece of cake. Make a cleaning solution of a half a bucket of warm water, one cup bleach-free detergent and a cup of white distilled vinegar. Mop the floor cleaning from one side of the room to the other and leave the windows open so the floor dries faster. Occasionally you should apply a coat of wax to keep the new look of your vinyl flooring – make sure you have mopped it first. When it is completely dry, apply the new layer. This will keep your vinyl floor shiny and it will protect it from stains and spills. Check out the incredible variety of vinyl flooring in your local flooring shops.
- Marble flooring – if you are among the lucky ones that have marble flooring at home,you should know that it is way more sensitive than a regular flooring type. Be careful what cleaning solution you are using as many of them can scratch it and remove its shine. A suitable homemade option is to use a diluted mixture of water and ammonia or Ph-neutral dish soap – forget about using acidic products such as vinegar. Marble is highly porous so you should be careful not to clean with a soaking mop. Again, don’t forget to seal your marble floor from time to time as it will lose its effect over time.
- Tile flooring – this is not a pretentious flooring type at all so the regular sweeping would do the job. When you want to sanitise it more deeply, you can brighten its look by using a solution of half a bucket of water and a cup of hydrogen peroxide. This mixture is safe and it will clean the surface just fine. Another option is to mix vinegar and dish soap in warm water. If you want to perform a deeper cleaning it’s recommended to use a steam cleaner as it will clean both tiles and grout and no bacteria and stains will be left behind.
Isn’t it amazing how easy it can be to clean any flooring type with homemade solutions? Make your floor shine – it’s simple like that!
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