Blog Highlights:
- Different floor types require different cleaning techniques
- Asphalt floor tiles should never be flooded when cleaning so you can avoid dissolving the adhesive and grout
- Brick floors are very porous and must be sealed with a commercial sealer
- Never use soaps, adhesives, or acids on ceramic floor tiles
- Oil and grease on concrete floor garages can be removed with the help of kitty litter
- Use wax paste on marble tiles with caution as they might cause discolorations
Finding it hard to keep your floors shiny and clean? The house cleaning experts are here to help!
Professional cleaners know that when it comes to cleaning floors, the cleaning techniques to be used must depend on the floor type. Floors can get a lot of dirt; it can attract scuffs, mud, and all sorts of stains. The question is which cleaner should you use for your own floor?
Asphalt floor tiles
You can mop asphalt tiles with 1 cup of fabric softener dissolved in ½ pail of water. Never flood the floor with water or with the cleaning solution. This is simply because water can loosen adhesives or slowly dissolve the grout. Scuffs and marks on the tiles can easily be removed with the help of fine grade wool as well as with a liquid floor wax. Just be sure to rub it on the surface thoroughly and then wipe it afterwards with a damp cloth.
Brick floors
Brick is porous, it needs to be mopped and vacuumed properly. Its surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly and sealed with a commercial sealant. A solvent-based wax must be used in small amounts, a wax stripper and a brush can be used to remove buildups. Never use acids, soaps, and adhesives on the bricks. You can dissolve 1 cup of vinegar in water so you can make the bricks look brand new.
Ceramic Floors
Glazed ceramics are stain proof, unglazed ceramic tiles on the other hand, needs to be sealed. Never use soaps, acids and abrasives on ceramics. You can mop it with an all-purpose cleaner and then dry it afterwards with a soft cloth. Be sure to strip your unglazed ceramic tiles at least once a year and then rinse it thoroughly afterwards.
Concrete flooring
Concrete floors are also very porous and they also stain very easily. You need to sweep it carefully, clean it with an all-purpose cleaner, and then apply a commercial sealer afterwards. Oil and grease on your garage’s concrete floor can be absorbed by kitty litter. You can spread it with a stiff broom, and then you can hose it, mop it with a heavy duty floor cleaner, rinse, and allow it to dry for a thorough cleaning.
Slate tile or Flagstone floors
Natural stone floorings are typically porous and rough. You can use a commercial sealer to help protect this type of flooring. With the help of a lamb’s wool pad, you can apply two thin coats of acrylic floor finish to help make it shine. You can also apply it with a floor polishing machine for a better finish. You can strip, rinse, and reapply the wax occasionally to help preserve the floor. You can clean it by mopping the floor with water and all-purpose cleaner or a fabric softener.
Linoleum floors
Use fine grade steel wool to remove marks. Never use hot water and solvent-based products on linoleum. Avoid scouring and flooding it.
Use a one-step polish or an all-purpose cleaner for a fast cleanup.
Marble floor tiles
Unpolished marble must be sealed with a commercial sealer because they are very porous. You can mop it with all-purpose cleaner and clean water. You can also make your own cleaning solution with 1 cup of fabric softener in half a gallon of water. You can use a water-based wax or paste wax for polishing. When using wax paste, test it in a small area first so you can make sure that it will not discolor the flooring.
Homeowners, who are not sure how to clean their own floors are recommended to hire a professional house cleaning service so that they can have properly cleaned, damage-free floors.
