Cleaning a floor may sound like an easy task, but not all floors are equal. Some, like those made with natural stone tile, need a little less maintenance and consideration than, say, a thin renewable bamboo floor which only lasts you a few years, or a much more expensive cider floor.
Floors come in all shapes and sizes as well, making some cleaning implements a little easier to use than others. For some, a rectangular dry mop is more than enough for the perfect clean and finish to a nice wooden floor. To others, something from a reputable company like Fuller, like a Fiesta red mop, is better for getting into those nooks and crannies while keeping a clean floor and a clean mop.
Knowing what to do for your individual flooring options is a good way to keep them clean and spotless. More importantly, you can save yourself a lot of time doing so.
Brick Floors
They’re a little uncommon, but if you’ve got a beautiful home with brick floors, then you’ll know that they’re also a massive pain to truly clean. Brick is very porous and abrasive, making it a tough job to get, say, a mop going over the stone. There is a workaround, however, and that’s waxing your floor. As per How Stuff Works, waxing or sealing your brick floor is very important.
There are several waxing options for brick flooring, but the best tends to be solvent waxing. The reason is pretty simple: the solvents in a new layer of solvent-based wax strips the old wax away, leaving you with a floor that doesn’t have to deal with wax buildup.
Once you’ve got your floors waxed, occasionally damp-mopping it after a thorough vacuuming session will be more than enough to keep you and your floor happy.
Asphalt Floors
Asphalt floors, unlike natural stone floors, aren’t typically very smooth. While they do deal well with pressure marks from chairs and sofas or heavy foot traffic, there are still a few things that don’t mesh well with the black stuff, namely grease, strong detergents, and solvents like turpentine.
The solution is to mop often and frequently. When your asphalt is scoured by an abrasive or a chemical, some steel wool will let you scrub it out easily and without much fuss.
Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are notorious for their upkeep and expense, but any proud hardwood floor owner would tell you that both these things shouldn’t deter you from having something truly beautiful in your home.
However, that beautiful thing also comes with a little list of tips to take into consideration. The biggest tip is this: seal your floors with a water-resistant sealant. Waxing is another option, but makes wet mopping an absolute no-go. This can leave some floors a little sticky, especially in households where spilling isn’t all too uncommon due to kids or pets. Once you do mop, Better Homes and Gardens recommends using a fan or air conditioner to speed up the drying.
No matter what floor you have, nothing beats a good mop when it comes to giving your home a good clean. What it really comes down to, then, is your choice of cleaner. RealSimple recommends a pH-neutral soap for wood.