5 Tips to Maintain & Protect Your Floors

Changing up your floor surface is a great way to spruce up your home. The average Canadian spends $6,392 on new flooring in a kitchen renovation alone. But what do you do to help extend the life of your floors once they're laid? Maintenance starts with clean floors so we've rounded up our 5 tips for cleaning different types of floors to help protect them.

Read on to learn more!

Have a No-Shoe Policy for Clean Floors

Outdoor shoes bring germs and dirt indoors. Continuing to wear them around the house tracks those potential problems all over your floor. A study found that 93 percent of shoes worn for over a month have fecal bacteria on them. And it's not just germs you have to worry about. Any grit stuck to shoes can wear at the floor surface over time. And that's before we even think about the damage caused by stiletto heels to wooden floors.

So start your cleaning regime at the front door. Have slippers ready for you, your family, or your guests to slip on.

Lightly Clean Laminate on a Regular Basis

Laminate flooring is hard-wearing so it's easy to care for. Your biggest task is stopping water from getting under the boards. Instead of mopping, dry cleaning is a great way to keep on top of everyday dirt. Microfiber mops pick up crumbs, pet hair, and dirt before it builds up on the floor.

If you do use a vacuum cleaner, switch its setting to tile, rather than carpet. That keeps the beater-bar out of the way.

Avoid Getting a Cork Floor Wet

Cork floors look great and they're sealed to keep the porous material from soaking up water, but we've got some tips for cleaning cork floors that will help further protect them. Vacuum regularly and mop up any spills immediately. This will stop any liquid from working into the floor. Instead of mopping floors, take a little more time with cork.  Buy a proper flooring cleaner at Floors Now! This will help solidify the warranty and ensure that you are using the best cleaner out there for your flooring.  To use the cleaner, spray the cork floor and wipe using a damp microfiber cloth or mop. You can use this same process on linoleum.

Keep Things Light for Vinyl or Tile

Floors made of tile or vinyl are incredibly durable, so do a weekly clean using the same solution as cork (see above). That'll keep the floor looking fresh and new! If you've got porcelain or ceramic tiles, then treat your floor to a deep clean every few months with a steam cleaner. It'll whisk away stains and germs to sanitize and clean your floor.

Protect Wood for a Long-Lasting Finish

Hardwood floors can be either sealed (with a polyurethane coating) or waxed. The two finishes need different cleaning treatments to help protect your floors. For sealed floors, damp-mop the surface with a simple mixture of 1/4 cup pH-neutral soap and water. Avoid using vinegar solutions because they can dull the finish over time.

For waxed floors, avoid any kind of damp or wet mopping. Stick to regular sweeping, vacuuming, or dust mopping. Whichever finish you have, make sure you wipe up spills immediately. The wood is coated for protection. But liquid can eventually soak into the wood if it's left too long.

Good Floor Maintenance Will Pay Dividends

Following these tips when you need to clean floors will help protect and maintain the finish you have. It's a simple way to extend the life of your floors beyond fancy cleaning products or heavy cleaning routines. If you'd like to switch out your existing floors for something easier to maintain, then request a free quote today!