Cleaning Guide: How to Clean & Care for Your Flooring

Flooring is a significant investment that not only adds to the aesthetics of your home but also plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and comfortable living space. To ensure your floors remain in great condition, it’s important to follow the correct cleaning and maintenance routines. Luckily, most vendors or manufacturers offer an extensive instruction guide on properly caring for your specific flooring. In this floor cleaning guide, we’ll break down the basics of how to care for and clean different types of flooring so you can quickly browse and know the proper procedures.

MARBLE FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Dust mop at least bi-weekly. Avoid coarse brooms and vacuums, as the rubber wheels can scratch the flooring.

Mopping: Don’t use heavy-duty products. With a soft mop head, use hot distilled water with pH-neutral detergent, rinse thoroughly, and dry with a clean rag immediately; don’t ever leave to air dry.

Words of Caution: Marble is easily damaged; properly care for and clean it often. A regular mop, all-purpose cleaners, coarse scrubbers, and bleach can harm the flooring. Don’t use any steamer or steam mop; the constant heat can damage the marble.

Other Tips: Always clean up spills immediately; for a detailed stain removal tutorial, click here.  

CONCRETE FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Dust with a broom or vacuum regularly, always dust before mopping.

Mopping: Mop using warm water with a pH-neutral solution and rinse. Using a micro-fiber wet mop is best.

Words of Caution: Don’t use cleaning solutions like vinegar, bleach, ammonia, or pine sol.

Other Tips: A power washer is an easier way to clean outdoor concrete floors.

CERAMIC TILE FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Vacuum or sweep a couple of times a week, always clean before mopping.

Mopping: Use a mild detergent with hot water, wash with a rag or chamois mop rather than a sponge mop and work small sections at a time.

Other Tips: You can also use an electric floor polisher. For washing grout, combine baking soda and water and scrub the grout with a toothbrush. For tough stains, allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing, then follow with a good mop and rinse.

VINYL FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Dust mop to remove debris, then follow with a vacuum to ensure floors are clean. Use a vacuum that allows you to switch to a hard floor setting (or turn off the rotating brush). Always clean before mopping.

Mopping: Lightly mop with a Vinyl floor cleaner or gentle detergent. Rinse with water and dry with a rag to prevent streaks. Use a small amount of water, no need to soak the floor when mopping.

Words of Caution: Don’t use a steam mop or wash the floor; moisture and Vinyl are not friends. Avoid ammonia-based or bleach cleaning solutions.

TERRAZZO FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Dust mop or sweep regularly.

Mopping: Wet mop the surface with pH-neutral cleaner or water. Let the cleaner sit for a couple of minutes. Then rinse floors with clean water.

Words of Caution: Make sure floors are sealed with a terrazzo sealant.

Other Tips: To remove stains and scuff marks, handwork the spots with a neutral cleaner diluted in warm water. You can also buff the floor to restore shine.

HARDWOOD FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Brush away debris with a broom; use a hardwood floor setting when vacuuming. Sweep or dry mop daily.

Mopping: When mopping, use as little liquid as possible, the mop shouldn’t be sopping wet. Use a mild cleaner and wipe clean with a dry towel; don’t leave any standing water behind.

Words of Caution: Stray away from water or steam. Use wood-specific floor cleaner to deep clean; don’t use DIY vinegar cleaning solutions or harsh detergents.

Other Tips: A microfiber mop is the most wood-friendly. Turn on the ceiling fan to speed up the drying process.

PORCELAIN TILE FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Carefully sweep or vacuum away debris using an attachment with a soft brush.

Mopping: Use a mild cleaner, such as a light vinegar-water solution. Wipe off with clean water and dry with a towel.

Words of Caution: Avoid oil-based detergents, wax cleaners, and ammonia or bleach products. Steer clear from scrub brushes and steel wool. Don’t use a cleaner with dye or coloring on unpolished porcelain.

Other Tips: Deep clean monthly and sweep/vacuum weekly.

LINOLEUM FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Dust daily with a microfiber dust mop. Vacuum or sweep weekly.

Mopping: Mop with diluted mild cleaner (ex., 1 gallon of hot water, one c. of white vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap), rinse with clean water, and wipe dry.

Other Tips: Once or twice a year, follow the above sweeping and mopping instructions, but sprinkle baking soda on the floor in between sweeping and mopping.

CARPET FLOORING:

Vacuum: Vacuum regularly (at least once a week) with a high-quality vacuum.

Words of Caution: Spills and stains should be spotted as quickly as possible. Immediately blot (do not rub) spills with white paper towels or a clean, absorbent cloth. Scoop up solids.

Other Tips: Have your carpets deeply cleaned annually.

NATURAL STONE FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Sweep with a soft brush; avoid using a vacuum.

Mopping: Use a sponge or damp cloth with water to clean the floors; no chemicals are needed. Use as little liquid as possible; don’t soak the floors.

Words of Caution: Avoid harsh scrubbing or pressure washing.

Other Tips: Ensure the natural stone is sealed for extra protection. For stain removal, clean immediately and use warm, soapy water.

LAMINATE FLOORING:

Vacuum/Sweeping: Sweep regularly with a soft-bristle broom. Vacuum weekly, using the hard floor setting or a soft brush attachment to avoid scratching the flooring.

Mopping: Mop every two months. Use a laminate floor cleaner or unscented dish soap and water for mopping solution.

Words of Caution: Avoid over-wetting your mop. Don’t use abrasive cleaners or anything with polish or oil, and never use harsh tools.

Other Tips: A microfiber mop is best for laminate floors; if using a regular mop, be sure to wring it out as much as possible.

Proper care for your flooring will prolong its life and keep your home looking new. As always, we recommend consulting with your specific flooring vendor for more detailed guidelines or instructions for the best results. Following the proper cleaning and maintenance routine will help you enjoy your beautiful floors for years to come.