How to Clean Floors

floors, how to clean floosr, tips for floors, kitchen cleaning tips

How to Clean Floors.

Home Floors: They're a potluck of dirt, grunge and grime. Keeping them clean requires a special cleaning regimen.

Here's how to gently but thoroughly care for five of the most popular home surfaces.

1 Luxe Linoleum.

Keeping linoleum really clean requires little more than regular damp mopping (use very little water, which can make the surface brittle) or dry dust mop to rid the surface of grit and dust before it is ground in. Deep-clean weekly with a neutral pH cleaner.

To keep shiny and lustrous, apply a wax such as carnauba wax to seal and protect the surface annually.

A few cleaning don'ts:

-- hot water

-- strong soaps

-- solvents

-- anything abrasive.

2 Making Vinyl Vibrant.

Vinyl floors require only regular sweeping and damp mopping with water for general cleaning.

For those grimy jobs, a cleaner with a surfactant (the label will tell you if a product has this) will provide more uniform cleaning and drying.

One of vinyl's most vexing cleaning challenges is keeping daily dirt out of surface crevices. Since these tiny particles can quickly become ground in, vacuum the surface regularly rather than sweeping it.

The reason? A vacuum pulls the dirt away, while a broom drags dirt across the surface, increasing the risk that smaller particles will be left behind.

Vinyl Don'ts:

-- detergents

-- abrasive cleaners

-- mop-and-shine cleaners (they may leave a dull film in addition to attracting more dirt)

-- paste wax

-- highly abrasive scrubbing tools.

3 Hardwood.

Hardwood floors are a tough challenge in high-traffic kitchens.

Still, whether yours are oak, maple, ash or beech, cleaning them is as safe and simple as it gets.

Always wipe up spills quickly, as standing water can damage a hardwood's finish; and keep it clear of dirt, sand and grit, as these can act like sandpaper and scratch the finish.

Once a week cleaning with a broom, vacuum or dust mop is all that's needed to keep them looking their natural best.

For deeper cleaning, damp-mop by dipping mop in a neutral pH wood cleaning product. Wring it almost dry and apply to the surface.

For stubborn spots, a solution of vinegar and water will cut through most blights. Not quite removed? For extra tough spots or stains, buff the blemish with acetone nail polish remover, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Definite Don'ts:

-- allowing water or a cleaning solution to stand on or below the surface

-- soap-based detergents or `mop-and-shine' products (they'll leave a dull film on the surface)

-- wax

-- polish

-- abrasive cleaners,br>
-- steel wool or scouring pads - they'll scratch the surface.

4 Natural Stone.

You'll need to wipe natural stone down daily. Even with a sealer applied, the surface is vulnerable to staining from water and oil-based liquids.

Sure, daily wipe-downs may seem cumbersome. But if you're prepared for the job with a water-only mop hanging in a nearby cabinet, it takes just minutes for a shine that lasts the whole day. You'll also want to regularly vacuum and damp mop.

5 Tile.

Tile presents a tough cleaning dilemma: How do you get it really clean without marring the shiny surface?

Start with a cleaning routine designed to keep grime from building up - and prevents the need for big-gun cleaners. Regularly vacuum ad damp mop, and clean up spills as they happen.

For deeper general cleaning as needed, a neutral pH cleaner without surfactants (which can leave a residue on tile) provides tough grease-cutting action.