Cleaning home flooring means knowing health and safety dos and don'ts. Learn what the experts at Ozburn Hessey recommend to maintain floors and clean residential flooring.
Read MoreThe Do’s and Don'ts of Cleaning Your Floors
For everything in life, there is a correct way of doing something and a wrong way. For example, cleaning your floors the wrong way might lead to a clean floor, but it could also lead to cutting the floor’s life in half, depending on what the floor is made of. It is important to make sure you aren’t harming what you are trying to help, which is why we put together this handy guide to cleaning floors the right way.
Do Take Care of Moisture and Water Problems Right Away
The biggest killer of floors, regardless of the material they are made of, is definitely water. There isn’t a popular material on the market that is not susceptible to it. When moisture and water seep into the deeper levels of the materials, it will begin to mold and create a musty smell that is very difficult to get rid of. In something like residential carpeting, the problem is amplified, since the fibers used in most carpeting will absorb the water much faster than a traditional hardwood floor. Speed is of the essence. If it is something simple like a glass of water falling on the carpet, then the need is not so great since drying the offending area with a towel will take care of the problem. You need to be careful with anything larger than that, of course, so make sure to notify the proper authority figures if something like a pipe burst happens. Use a dehumidifier in the area as soon as possible, or you will be looking at picking out new flooring.
Do Use the Right Equipment
This is not a big deal if you only have carpet in your home or office since you will be mainly using a vacuum cleaner. But what is the right object to use if you have several cats and hardwood flooring? A vacuum cleaner might help with the hair, but it could also lead to a lot scratching and nicking of the surface. Mopping can also be a real chore for hardwood floor owners, since the water, as mentioned above, can do real damage, especially if the surface isn’t treated. Stick with a broom and a very wrung out, damp mop for anything more serious.
Laminate and vinyl plank flooring give little more leeway, since the way those materials are created means they can handle heavier equipment.
Don't Overdo It
One of the mistakes a lot of people make when cleaning their floors is that they overdo it. Constantly mopping and wiping the surface of your floors will cause the natural surface of the flooring to wear away quicker than normal. Absolutely continue to sweep and vacuum when necessary – just don't overdo it with the harsh chemicals.
Keeping your floors clean can be tricky, and if done incorrectly, it can do more harm than good. If you think your floors might be damaged from too much moisture or other problems and you live in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area, contact the professionals at Ozburn-Hessey and they will help you get the floors of your dreams.