How to Clean Floors: The Right Way for Every Type of Floor

Your floors take more abuse than anything else in the house. They get muddy shoes, dropped spaghetti, spilled juice, dog toenails, and that one kid who treats the hallway like a skating rink. Then we go and make it worse by cleaning them with the wrong stuff.

Here's the thing nobody tells you: every floor has its own kryptonite. Vinegar is fine on tile and terrible on marble. Water is fine on vinyl and murder on laminate. A steam mop is great for porcelain and a disaster for hardwood. Find your floor below and you'll know exactly what to use, and what to keep far away.

Floor Cleaning Cheat Sheet

The Golden Rules for Every Floor

• Grit first, water second. Always sweep or vacuum before you mop. Sand acts like sandpaper under every footstep and every mop stroke.
• Damp, not wet. Wring the mop until it stops dripping. Too much water is the number one floor killer.
• Less product, not more. Extra cleaner leaves a sticky film that dulls the floor and grabs dirt.
• pH-neutral is your friend. When in doubt, it's safe on nearly everything.
• Dry as you go. Buff with a microfiber cloth to stop streaks and water spots.
• Doormats at every door. The dirt that never comes in never has to be cleaned up.

 

How to Clean Tile Floors

Glazed ceramic and porcelain tile are the toughest floors in the house. Vacuum, damp-mop with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner, rinse, and buff dry. The real work is the grout, which soaks up dirt and needs a scrub and a fresh coat of sealer now and then.

Get the full how-to, including how to get gray grout white again: How to Clean Tile Floors.

How to Clean Stone Floors

Marble, limestone, travertine, slate and granite look indestructible, but acid etches marble, limestone and travertine on contact. That means no vinegar, no lemon and no bathroom sprays. Dust-mop often, damp-mop with a stone-safe cleaner, and reseal when water stops beading up.

Stains, etch marks and sealing are all covered here: How to Clean Stone Floors.

How to Clean Hardwood Floors

Hardwood is easier to keep clean than you think. Vacuum weekly to keep grit from scratching the finish, damp-mop with a pH-neutral wood floor cleaner and a well-wrung mop, and wipe up spills right away. Standing water is the biggest threat to a wood floor.

Protect the finish and keep the shine: How to Clean Hardwood Floors.

How to Clean Linoleum Floors

True linoleum is made of natural ingredients like linseed oil and cork, and it's not the same as vinyl. Sweep often and damp-mop with a pH-neutral cleaner. Ammonia, bleach, hot water and soaking-wet mops all damage it.

All 12 tips, plus how to deep-clean a dirty floor: How to Clean Linoleum Floors.

How to Clean Vinyl Floors

Vinyl, whether it's sheets, tiles or luxury vinyl planks, has a clear protective top coat that makes it one of the easiest floors to keep clean. The trick is keeping grit out of the texture.

• Vacuum or sweep often, so dirt doesn't get ground in.
• Damp-mop with warm water. For a deeper clean, add a drop or two of dish soap, or use a cleaner made for vinyl, and rinse.
• Rub scuff marks with a tennis ball or a dab of baking soda on a damp cloth.
• Skip: Wax, "mop and shine" products, abrasive powders and scrub pads. Most modern vinyl is no-wax, and the buildup turns yellow and sticky.

How to Clean Terrazzo Floors

Terrazzo is made of marble and glass chips set in cement or resin, then polished smooth. Because it's full of marble, treat it like stone.

• Dust-mop often to keep grit from dulling the polish.
• Damp-mop with a pH-neutral cleaner and rinse with clean water.
• Wipe spills right away. Terrazzo stains easily.
• Skip: Vinegar, citrus and acidic cleaners (they etch the marble chips), plus abrasives and oil-based dust mops. For deep stains or a dull finish, call a terrazzo pro to clean, polish and reseal it.

How to Clean Concrete Floors

Sealed and polished concrete may be the most low-maintenance floor there is, which is why it's showing up in so many kitchens.

• Sweep, dust-mop or vacuum regularly.
• Damp-mop with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner.
• Reseal when water stops beading up on the surface, usually every few years.
• Skip: Vinegar, bleach and harsh degreasers on stained or polished concrete. They eat through the sealer and can fade the color.

Floor Cleaning: Quick Answers

What is the best all-purpose floor cleaner?

A pH-neutral floor cleaner. It's safe on tile, stone, hardwood, laminate, linoleum and vinyl. Use the amount on the label, no more.

Can I use vinegar to clean my floors?

On glazed tile and vinyl, yes, now and then. Never on marble, limestone, travertine or terrazzo, because acid etches them. Check the warranty before using it on laminate or hardwood.

Which floors can I use a steam mop on?

Glazed ceramic and porcelain tile with sealed grout, and most vinyl if the maker allows it. Never on hardwood, laminate or natural stone.

Why do my floors look dull right after I mop?

Too much cleaner. The leftover film dulls the floor and catches dirt. Use less product, rinse with plain water, and buff dry.

Keep Going

Get the rest of the house as clean as your floors with these related guides:

• How to Clean Tile Floors: Streak-free ceramic and porcelain tile, plus clean grout.
• How to Clean Stone Floors: Gentle care for marble, slate and travertine.
• How to Clean Laminate Floors: Shine without streaks or swelling.
• How to Clean Hardwood Floors: Protect the finish and keep the shine.
• How to Clean Linoleum Floors: 12 easy tips to keep linoleum looking great.
• Vacuuming Secrets to Success: Get more dirt up in less time.
• Green Cleaning: Gentler cleaners for a healthier home.
• Kitchen Sync: Keep the busiest room in the house clean and organized.