Cleaning Floors & Countertops For Best Effects
Solutions Underfoot
Nothing shows dirt faster in your home than the floor. Whatever kind
(or combination) of flooring you have, there's a proper way to keep it
clean. Here are some tips from the cleaning experts at Merry Maids.
Vinyl Flooring
Sweep your floors regularly to keep abrasive soil off the surface. Good
floor mats inside and outside your entrances will help prevent dirt from
being tracked in. Also on a regular basis, damp mop using a gallon of
water and a mild neutral cleaner, such as a dash of liquid dishwashing
detergent. Wait a little while after mopping to allow the cleaning liquid
to penetrate the ground-in dirt, then wipe dry with a soft dry cloth.
If you need to loosen stubborn, ground-in dirt, scrub your floor gently
with a white nylon-backed sponge. When time allows, scrubbing on your
hands and knees yields the best results.
No-wax Floors
Over time, and particularly with heavy use, the glossy layer of no-wax
floors becomes worn or dull in spots. It will need to be covered with
a floor finish or wax to restore a uniform shine. If you have a new no-wax
floor and no kids, little other traffic, and you don't wear shoes inside,
you can keep it looking great for years without wax. However, if you have
a lot of activity and tracked-in dirt, or if your floor is showing signs
of wear, keep it waxed to protect it from further deterioration.
You can select a name-brand floor polish at the supermarket, or buy a
self-polishing, metal-interlock floor finish from a janitorial supply
store. After the initial waxing, re-coat the major traffic areas as needed
to maintain a good protective layer. Whether you opt to wax your floor
or not, sweeping and mopping as described above are important.
Ceramic Tile Floors
Sweep and mop your ceramic floors regularly, and they'll stay clean and
shiny. Ceramic floors do not need any wax or floor finish. Simply mop
with clear water (or add a few drops of liquid dish detergent) and change
the water when it gets cloudy. Using too much soap or dirty water will
leave a dull, sticky film. Also, never use brown or black nylon-backed
scrub pads on ceramic tile, or you will scratch the surface.
Wood Floors
The best thing you can do for any wood floor is to vacuum or dust mop
it regularly. This prevents dirt from building up and damaging the floor.
Certain treated wood floors require specific cleaning methods, so check
with a flooring specialist first before using any cleaning products. However,
you can mix ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar into a gallon of warm water to
make a mild floor cleaning solution for wood floors. To clean the floor
with this solution:
- Dip a soft white cleaning cloth into the solution and squeeze out most of the liquid.
- Get on your hands and knees and wipe the floor without getting it wet.
- Work on a small area at a time.
- Immediately buff dry each area after you clean it with a soft dry
cloth to bring out the luster.
Do not allow wood floors to get too wet or to dry on their own.
If you have finished wood floors, eventually the finish will come off
with wear. Very likely, you will need to refinish the floors or begin
waxing them.
Indoor/Outdoor Carpeting
Indoor/outdoor carpets and Astroturf™ are completely synthetic, so they
are easy to clean and difficult to damage. Because they are used outside,
they tend to attract mold or growths that feed on the soil in the carpet.
Here are some tips from ServiceMaster Clean for cleaning these materials:
- Mix no more than ½ to 1 ounce of a neutral detergent to each gallon of water.
- Apply this cleaning solution to the area to be cleaned.
- Scrub with a soft brush or push broom.
- Using a nozzle to increase the water pressure, hose off the carpet.
The better you rinse, the more soil you will remove. Hot water is more
effective if you can get it to your hose.
- Use the push broom like a squeegee to push the water and detergent
out of the carpet.
The more moisture in the area, the more frequently organisms will
grow, and the more frequently you will have to repeat this process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fast way to shine wood floors?
Put a piece of waxed paper under your dust mop. Dirt will stick to the
mop and the wax will shine your floors.
How should I clean countertops?
- Remove everything from the counter and vacuum or dust off all crumbs.
- Wet a white nylon-backed sponge with dishwashing detergent solution.
- Wash the counter, including the backsplash, with the soft side of the sponge.
- Let the solution sit on the surface for a few minutes to soften hard droplets.
- Remove any stubborn dirt with the nylon side of the sponge as necessary.
- Buff countertops dry with a clean, lint free towel.
- If your countertops have lost their luster, use furniture polish or
club soda for added shine.
What's the best way to clean grout?
To clean old grout:
- Scrub with a grout brush dipped in wax stripper or a heavy-duty cleaner
solution to get it as clean as possible.
- Use bleaching cleanser on stubborn spots.
- Rinse well.
- Once dry, apply a coat of masonry sealer to keep the grout from absorbing
stains and dirt in the future.
To clean mildewed grout in tub and shower enclosures:
- Scrub with a solution of one part liquid chlorine bleach to five parts water.
- Rinse thoroughly.
To clean colored grout:
- If the grout is old and dirty, clean it with a heavy-duty, no-bleach
cleaner and a grout brush.
- Once the grout is clean, apply a coat of masonry sealer to keep it
from absorbing future stains and dirt.
- If the colored grout is very stained, try a solution of one part liquid
chlorine bleach to five parts water, then rinse. Keep in mind that bleach
may remove the color along with the stain.
What is the best way to clean marble?
If your polished marble is protected with floor finish, the finish must
be buffed or burnished and periodically replaced to keep the surface protected
and looking good.
- Because marble is sensitive and porous, only clean it with a neutral
cleaner solution. Polish it dry.
- Revive scratched and dull surfaces with a marble restorer (available
from janitorial supply stores).
- To remove stains from marble, sprinkle salt on a fresh cut lemon.
Rub very lightly over stain. Do not rub hard or you will ruin the polished
surface. Wash off with soap and water.
How should I clean my cultured marble?
Cultured marble is stronger than real marble, but it does lose its luster
after being cleaned over the years.
- Fill a spray bottle with all-purpose or disinfectant cleaner.
- Spray the cultured marble surface with this solution and wipe with
a soft cloth. Always keep the cultured marble wet while working on it.
Never use powdered cleansers, steel wool, metal scrapers or colored
scrub pads on cultured marble.
- If the surface is worn and looks dull even after cleaning, apply polishing
compound to bring back the glow.
- To help fill fine scratches and restore the shine, use a little appliance
wax, car wax or silicone sealer.
For more assistance with floor care, schedule maid service from Merry Maids.
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For more assistance with floor care, schedule maid service from
Merry Maids.
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