Thanks to everyday life, it’s inevitable that your flooring won’t stay looking as fresh as it did when it came out of the box for long! However, there are a few simple things you can do to maintain your flooring’s beauty for as long as possible.

We’ve compiled some general tips on how to keep your floor clean, plus lots more advice below depending on the type of flooring you have.

  • Sweep your floor every day – It only takes five or ten minutes and it’s the easiest way to keep the dirt to a minimum. To avoid scratch marks and pressure scratches on the surface of your flooring, opt for a soft bristle broom.
  • Vacuum your floor once a week – Using a vacuum cleaner is the most effective way to get rid of those annoying bits of dust and debris that sweeping misses. To get the best results, make sure you use the right attachment for your flooring type and select the appropriate setting on the vacuum cleaner.

  • Mop your floor regularly – All you need is warm soapy water to maintain the appearance of the floor. Keep your mop just damp enough to clean but not wet enough to leave standing water on the planks. Excess water on non-waterproof wood floors can cause serious damage (we explore this in a bit more detail below).
  • Pop your slippers on – Avoid wearing outdoor shoes on your floors as this will encourage the spread of dirt and debris from outside. Wearing slippers is a great alternative as you only wear these in your home so they shouldn’t have anything stuck to the bottom that could scratch your floor.

  • Add door mats and rugs – Placing a large area rug under heavy furniture like dining tables or sofas will stop scratching caused by frequent movement. A doormat can also be a great addition as it catches any dirt before it enters your home.

  • Add protection to your furniture – Use protective pads on the feet of your furniture to protect your flooring long term. When moving furniture, be sure not to drag heavy pieces across the floor as you’ll leave marks that are hard, maybe even impossible, to remove.

How to Clean Solid Wood Flooring

While real wood flooring lasts a lifetime, it scratches and marks more easily than laminate or vinyl. This means all the steps above to keep your floor clean must be done with extra care when you have solid wood flooring.

Take extra care when mopping to ensure no liquid is left on the surface as this could cause the floor to warp. Use the least amount of water possible and choose cleaning products that are specifically designed for wood flooring to ensure you don’t damage the finish of your planks. 

Using a softer head on your vacuum cleaner is best for solid wood flooring to ensure you don’t leave any marks. Steam cleaners should also never be used.

Plus, remember that when your flooring starts to look dull you can sand and refinish it as many times as needed.

How to Clean Engineered Wood Flooring

As engineered wood flooring has a top layer of real wood, you need to treat it with the same care as solid wood. This again means leaving no water standing on the floor and using just water and a damp mop. 

It’s essential to choose cleaning products which have been designed to be used on wood floors, such as our Wood Flooring Wax & Clean. 

Make sure not to use a flat vacuum head that could damage the floor, and instead opt for a soft brush attachment.

Like solid wood you also have the option of sanding and refinishing the floor. However, you can only do this a handful of times before the wood layer wears through.

How to Clean Laminate Flooring

This low maintenance flooring type is ideal for a busy household.

Sweeping, vacuuming and mopping your laminate flooring will keep it looking fresh day to day. Buffing the floor afterwards will give it the best possible shine and ensure it isn’t too slippery.

You can also use floor polish products on laminate flooring to lift the colour if it starts to look dull.

How to Clean Vinyl Flooring (LVT)

A soft sweeping brush and a simple mop is all it takes to clean your vinyl floor tiles!

When the inevitable spills happen you can grab something non-abrasive like a microfibre cloth to easily clean up the mess.

Like laminate, you should buff the floor to remove moisture and give it that freshly-installed sparkle. However, wax cleaning products should be avoided as they can dull your flooring.

As you can see, it’s easy to learn how to clean your floor. By using these simple tips, your floor will not only be hygienic, but look as good as new, too!

We’d Love to See the Results!

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