Top tips on cleaning floors

This time of year can wreak havoc on our floors, particularly those in high footfall areas such as the hallway, kitchen and downstairs bathroom for example. Whether its tiles, hardwood flooring, vinyl or linoleum floors, the professional house cleaning experts, MOLLY MAID, can share some top tips on how to clean these different surfaces most effectively.

Laminate

Although laminate flooring is relatively hard wearing, you still need to be careful how your treat it so that it maintains its like-new appearance. The key with laminate flooring is to ensure that water does not creep underneath the tiles so, the most effective way of cleaning this surface is to dry mop it having vacuumed (on low setting) it prior to dry mopping. If you do need to clean up a muddy or dirty surface, it’s a good idea to spot-clean the surface or wipe down with a slightly damp mop, which has been wringed out as much as possible. Do remember that this floor surface, does not require polishing.

Hardwood

The popularity of hardwood flooring has increased over the last five years with more and more families moving away from carpet realising that hardwood flooring is much more hygienic and easier to clean generally. However, it is important to note how your hardwood floor has been finished. They are either sealed using a wax treatment, or using a polyurethane derivative. A useful tip to work out which one it is, is to run your finger across a small area and if it smudges, then you know it is waxed.

To clean hardwood flooring, first gently vacuum the area ensuring that you don’t scratch the surface. Then using a very mild ph neutral detergent, mop the floor using a damp head. It is important not to use too much water with the mop and better still, use a microfibre cloth to mop up any residue moisture. It is advisable to refrain from damp mopping in areas that don’t require it too often to preserve the sealant and look of the floor.

Linoleum

It is a misnomer to think that lino is a resistant and totally hard wearing surface. Linoleum is made from linseed oil, resin, limestone, wood fibre and cork and coloured using mineral pigments and therefore it should be treated as a natural surface.

To clean lino, try mixing up a diluted solution of washing up liquid and water in a spray bottle and spray on a section of the floor as you move around the room and then wipe with a damp microfiber mop. The floor should dry quickly. The same technique should be applied to a vinyl flooring.

Natural Stone

Natural stone should be respected and treated accordingly. This surface can of course be damped mopped, vacuuming prior to pick up any excess dust, pet hairs or small pieces of dirt. However, you should avoid using any acidic floor cleaners or even vinegar. Instead, try using a drop of washing up liquid with hot water in bucket and then damp mop. Remember that the natural stone is porous and therefore, if you used chemicals they would damage the minerals in the stone. The same floor cleaning technique can be used for floor tiles such as those made of porcelain or ceramic.

Good luck!

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