Whether you have wood, laminate, tile or other flooring material, keeping your home's floors clean and well-maintained is important for a number of reasons. Not only do dirty or damaged floors make your home look unkempt, but they can also lead to expensive repairs down the road.
Luckily, there are many ways to keep your floors clean and well-maintained without breaking the bank or having to hire a professional. In fact, the right cleaning habits can prolong the life of your floors and help them look better for years to come!
The first thing you should do to keep your floors looking their best is to create a cleaning routine. Having a cleaning routine will ensure that your floors are always clean and free of dirt, grime, and stains.
Use a Vacuum and Mop a Daily
Sweeping and vacuuming your floors regularly will prevent the buildup of grit and debris that can cause scratches to your floor's finish and wear down its surface over time. This also will help prevent any spills or stains from getting deep into the floor.
Once a week, spray your tiles and hardwood flooring materials with a diluted bleach solution - One part regular household bleach mixed with ten parts water under warm running tap water is a safe and easy way to kill germs that are on your floor that can spread disease. This can be done in your kitchen and bathroom areas to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and to remove stains caused by food or other substances.
If there are particularly stubborn stains or spots, you can use a sponge and some liquid floor cleaner. Just be sure to avoid using too much water, because this can damage your floors (especially hardwood and laminate) and may even cause the stain to set.
Recoat Your Hardwood Floors
If your floors have a polyurethane or polyacrylic urethane sealant, re-coating them once or twice a year will help keep the floors looking their best and protect them from the damaging effects of moisture. To get the most out of this process, choose a product that will leave the sealant bright and shiny while still being gentle on your floors.
Apply Wood Floor Cleaner Using a wood floor cleaner that is formulated for sealed wood floors will keep your floors looking their best. Avoid harsh chemicals like chlorine bleach, ammonia, pine oil or undiluted vinegar that may be absorbed into the sealant and cause damage to your floors.
Add Area Rugs
If you have high-traffic or other floors that are easily soiled, adding rugs and mats will help protect them from dirt, grime and scratches. Adding rugs or mats to your entryways is also a great idea to keep dirt and debris from being tracked into your home.
Control the Humidity
The humidity level in your home is vital to the longevity of your floors. Maintaining a healthy, consistent humidity level throughout the year is key to preventing your floors from warping and swelling, which can weaken the bond between your wood and the finish.
Perform Gutter Cleaning
Blocked rain gutters can trigger water to overflow, which can transfuse into the structure of your home as well as damages the basement or crawl space. This wetness can also reach your flooring, triggering it to warp, fastening, or rot. Furthermore, standing water can attract bugs like mosquitoes, which can additionally contribute to an undesirable environment. Therefore, it's essential to ensure that your gutters are clean and functioning correctly to avoid any potential damage to your house's flooring or foundation. You can hire a professional gutter cleaning service such as Gutter Cleaning Gainesville FL to prevent further damage.
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