Some people love to clean floors the old-fashioned way, getting down on their hands and knees and scrubbing every inch of floor space until the floors are clean enough to eat off of. However, this article isn't for them. In today's busy world, cleaning solutions need to be fast and easy, and this article points out the right tools for the job. To get started, here are the tools recommended for most flooring: wet mop, dry mop or cloth to polish floors dry, broom and dustpan, vacuum cleaner, hand brush and dustbin for emergency cleanups. Cleaning methods vary for wood, vinyl or tile flooring. So, it's important to get a cleaning agent that will both clean and protect flooring. Let's discuss some of this in more detail.
A damp microfiber mop works best for weekly cleaning. A mixture of a 1/4 cup of vinegar with 16 ounces of warm water in a spray bottle, with one drop of dish detergent comes in handy for quick mopping. Spritz a small section of the floor and wipe it with the microfiber mop. Repeat until the whole floor is clean. For periodic deep cleaning, a steam cleaner gets to both the tile and grout.
Dry mopping or vacuuming the floor with the bristles raised avoids damaging the surface. A damp mop is great for spot-cleaning during the week, but shouldn't have to be done very often. As long as the floor doesn't get too wet, this method works well.
When choosing a wet mop, it's important to keep in mind its purpose. It should dissolve stuck-on dirt and also remove it. This is why string mops don't work. String mops are heavy and awkward. They don't rinse clean, so you end up transferring dirt back to the floor, which is unsanitary and counter-productive.
Bamboo, as appealing as it is, can be softer and more prone to small nicks and scratches. A tennis ball with buff out smaller scuff marks. However, except for the hardest, most durable bamboo, extra caution is advised. Avoid regular sweeping unless it's truly necessary to protect this gorgeous, but somewhat delicate material.
Use a hand broom and dust bin to quickly clean up after toddlers, pets and messy family members. Getting to these messes right away will help keep the spilled food from being tracked throughout the home.
Angled synthetic brooms are very light and can be used to clean along baseboards, behind furniture and hard to reach corners. Store synthetic brooms with the head-up to prevent bristles from bending. Corn brooms are made of natural bristles and are the best overall broom for household chores. The natural material is durable and sustainable, as well as less likely to bend, ensuring longer use.
Dusting can cut down on the need to mop dramatically. Insect parts, pet dander, soil and lots of other gross stuff make up dust. Using a white cotton cloth to dust surface can keep floors cleaner longer. Since cotton is absorbent, these clothes trap dust instead of moving it around. White dust cloths show of the collected dirt and can be washed for reuse. Removing shoes at the door can dramatically reduce the dirt and goop tracked into the home on a daily basis.
This depends on whether the floors are sealed. For non-sealed floors, use a microfiber mop and hot water, and for stubborn dirt, steam clean periodically. For sealed stone floors, it's important to protect the surface of the stone by using a pH-neutral cleaner with as few chemicals as possible. Avoid chemical cleaners that might react to the minerals in natural stone, leading to pitted or dull flooring.