Hard floor cleaning – Simple steps

There are many types of hard floors available and all possess different qualities depending on what you are looking for.  In general most types of floor, which include vinyl, natural stone and slate, hard wood floors as well as fabricated tiles and ceramic, will be suitable for most commercial or domestic locations and usually choices will be made based on price and the aesthetic appearance the floor has. 

Sometimes the floor is chosen based on cost durability and ease of maintenance and although some floors are certainly more durable than others they all require a certain degree of regular cleaning and maintenance if you want to keep them looking good for years to come.  There are several general cleaning and maintenance tips which should help.

The first step is to make sure that the floor has been professionally installed, particularly important for floors such as hard wood and tile floors, where a poor installation can mean spaces or voids (small of course) where liquid spills or general grime and bacteria can build up.  Assuming that the floor has been well installed it is important to have a good sealer applied to protect the surface – and there are different types of sealer available depending on the floor type.  In general they add an extra protective layer and help ‘water proof’ the surface against spillages and it is always good to remember what type of product has been previously applied to a floor.  If in any doubt a hard floor cleaning specialist will be able to recommend the right sealer for you.

Maintenance can be fairly simple, but needs to be done regularly to be effective.  Spillages should be mopped up immediately while doormats should be placed at entrances to prevent dirt and grit being walked into the area.  Dirt and grit can cause surface scratching, expose the surface and damage the sealer.

Make sweeping and vacuuming a regular habit as this will remove the majority of this dirt and grit, and then you will be free to clean the floor.  The way you clean and the products you use will depend on the type of floor you have.  With wooden floors a slightly damp mop should be used, as the sealant should make it ‘wipe clean’ while if you are not sure in general, use warm water with a little detergent or a neutral PH soap.  There are some specialist products available, but consult before applying just in case.

If you find that despite cleaning efforts your floor becomes marked and stained – it may be advisable to contact a professional hard floor cleaning company that will be able to take advantage of modern techniques and technology such as pressure cleaning, emulsification and the effective capture of waste and slurry to return you floor to its original appearance.