Proper floor care is critical to keep your home and office hygienic and appealing. Constant foot traffic results in dirt, debris and allergens accumulated on your floor. After all, they are the ground that you step-on every day. Proper care and maintenance keep your floor looking great for years.

Floor maintenance and care doesn’t have to be complicated. It is because clean floors are the expectation, not an exception.

 If you follow some simple tips and smart cleaning solutions, you can add years to your floor’s life.

Tips for the Maintenance and Care of Different Types of Floors

Use these tips to preserve your precious flooring and add value to your home.

Carpet

Your carpet needs proper maintenance and care on a daily or weekly basis. Clean all the dirt and debris from your carpet by vacuuming frequently. Depending on the type of the carpet, you will vacuum with a rotating brush, a beater bar or suction only. To keep your carpet soft, choose vacuum cleaners with efficient airflow and large wheels.

If you accidentally spill the liquids on the carpet, add water and blot to the affected area. Vacuum back and forth with the highest suction. Add more water if necessary and suck it out with a vacuum cleaner till it is completely dry.

If you do not prefer to use a lot of detergents and cleaners, carpet steam cleaner is the best choice. Once you steam clean your carpet, wipe off all the soil and debris with towels and rags.

Tile

Floor tiles can easily be cleaned by sweeping or vacuuming followed by moping with warm water.

On a weekly basis, you need to thoroughly clean the grout lines. Choose a mild cleaner and scrub with a non-scouring tool like a sponge or brush.

Avoid using acidic cleaners as they can dull the shine of your floor.

Laminate

It is important to frequently clean your laminate floor tiles as dirt and sand particles can cause scratches on the surface. Similarly, spills should be wiped off immediately.

Avoid flooding your floor because water can easily seep through the laminate boards and damage your floor.

You can occasionally mop your floor. Ideally, a mop with a microfiber pad should be used to clean the floor so that it uses minimal water and cleans all the debris.

Hardwood Floor

Hardwood floors require sweeping and mopping with minimal water. It is important to remember that there are various types of wooden floors and require care and maintenance accordingly.

Lacquered wood floors can be cleaned with a synthetic cleaner (with no grease content) whereas oiled floors can be cleaned with soap (containing grease).

Consider applying a polish or a finisher after every few weeks to keep them looking great.

Vinyl

Vinyl can mimic many other flooring types like hardwood floors or tile. It can withstand a lot of foot traffic and requires relatively less maintenance.

You can clean the floor with a brush and mop it with warm water. Wipe up spills as soon as possible. The tough stains should be cleaned with a good Vinyl floor cleaner.

Make sure your furniture or heavy appliances have protective pads to protect denting and scratching. You can also use protective mats where there is a lot of foot traffic.

Luxury Vinyl

Luxury Vinyl Floor is fairly easy to maintain. Remove the dirt or grit by sweeping or vacuuming. Using brush roller agitation on your vacuum is not recommended. While mopping, use a pH neutral floor cleaner or a solution of ammonia and water (4 parts water, 1 part ammonia).

Avoid using abrasive cleaners, one-step polishes or vinegar on your Luxury Vinyl Floor. Protect your floor from dirt and debris and dents by using non-staining mats.

Cork

Cork is vulnerable to dents and scarring. Choose a soft-bristled brush or a static duster to clean the dirt and debris. If you prefer to vacuum, avoid using the vacuum with a beater bar.

Mop the floor with as little water as possible. A few drops of detergent or a mild wood cleaner is all you need to clean the cork floor. Use a cleaner that is pH balanced and made specifically for the Cork floor.

Also, remember that a standard Cork floor needs to be properly sealed to protect it from water damage. The sealer is usually a UV-resistant polyurethane mix that creates a protective layer on the floor. When the sealer wears off, consider re-applying it as it protects your floor against water damage.

Natural Stone

According to the Marble Institute of America, the Natural Stone is broadly categorized into two main categories: Siliceous Stone and Calcareous stones. The flooring consisting of either of the two types requires certain maintenance and care. Dust mopping and cleaning with mild soap and water can keep your floor looking great. Avoid using vinegar, lemon juice, or abrasive cleaners as such cleaners can make your floor dull. Similarly, avoid using the vacuum cleaners which are worn out as the metal or plastic attachments can scratch your floor.

The tough stains can be removed by cleaning with an effective stone-cleaner. The stone specific poultice is another great way to remove the tough stains. However, you must remember that the efficacy of poultice depends on the nature of the stain and how long it had been on the stone.

Key Takeaway

Routine Care and maintenance are extremely important to maximize the beauty of your floor. Clean and well-maintained floors can add value to your home as well as a refined look. By following these handy tips, you can keep your floors looking clean in the years to come.

So, you’ve decided tile is the right flooring for your home, but now what? The options can be overwhelming. Is all tile suitable for families with children or pets? Is there a difference between wall and floor tile? Is ceramic tile or porcelain tile better? Here are some things to consider:

Ceramic vs. Porcelain

One blog post can’t answer every question you may have about tile, but it can arm you with some basic information that will help simplify your shopping experience. First, let’s talk ceramic vs. porcelain. Actually, the two are very similar. Both are made of similar materials. And—just to make things totally confusing—they both fall under the broader term of ceramics. The biggest difference is that porcelain tile is fired at higher temperatures, which makes the tiles denser and more impervious to water. This quality is especially important in outdoor applications where water could get into the tile, freeze, and cause the tiles to crack.

Tile Rating

The most important aspect is whether or not the tile is rated for floors. Some tile is created only for use on walls or countertops. Tile made specifically for walls is often less dense than flooring tile, so it can’t take the weight and abuse that flooring tile endures. Wall tile may also have high sheen glazes that would be too slippery to walk on or textures that would become trip hazards on the floor.

Most flooring tile, however, can be installed on walls. If you love a flooring tile and want it to extend onto the walls, unless it is unusually heavy, it can likely be used on the walls as well.

Visible Abrasion Classification

Most tile sold for use on floors will be durable enough to stand up to daily use in the average home. If you have a particularly active family and want a higher performing tile, look for the Visible Abrasion Classification. The Visible Abrasion Classification system ranks tiles 0 through V based on how well they stand up to abrasion (scrapes and scratches). Tiles with a rating of 0 should not be used on floors at all, and tile with a rating of I should only be used in spaces with light foot traffic. Tile with a rating of III will stand up to even the most abusive households—even if you live with Bamm-Bamm.

Hopefully this information simplifies your shopping experience and boosts your buying confidence. With a few considerations and carefully placed area rugs, tile can be the perfect flooring choice for your entire family.

A Linear Bathroom

Thin, linear tile in white can make a bathroom both sophisticated and serene if used on both the floor and walls. Calming, yet modern and stylish, the combination creates subtle visual impact while maintaining a relaxed feel. Perfect for clean, rich texture that doesn’t overpower.

Stylish, Functional Kitchens

Using floor tile on kitchen walls will enhance the clean lines and sleek, smooth surfaces that characterize the modern kitchen. Crisp whites or dark grays capture an ultra-chic feel and form a backdrop for bright colors, accessories, light shades and bar stools to pop against. Equal parts functional and stylish, tile provides the perfect easy-to-clean kitchen surface as well.

Nifty Shades of Gray

Versatile gray tiles are available in a variety of shades, textures and finishes, from gentle beige to darker tones, and fit nearly every design scheme. The combined effect of gray shades for both wall and floor tile creates effortless sophistication. Get creative and layer the gray tones by using one for the floor and one or two different varieties on the walls.

Make Small Rooms Feel Bigger

In small rooms, tile can work wonders in transforming the overall feel. Mosaics and tile that require many grout lines will probably look and feel too busy in a small space. Medium-sized tiles in longer or hexagonal shapes are perfect for creating eye-catching design that flows visually from floor to wall. Tiles with surfaces that bounce or reflect light will also help make a space feel more airy and bright, creating the illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is.

Tile equals timeless style for good reason; you can truly craft the one-of-a-kind look you envision while generally not maxing out your budget. Get inspired, and see if one of stylish tile options can give your home that stylish edge you’re looking for.

Some tile patterns like windmill or pinwheel require more than one size of tile, and personality can be injected through the use of multiple tile designs and contrasting colors along with the various sizes. Grout choices add even more interest. Consider using a dark grout with light-colored tiles or a light grout with dark tiles to enhance the effect of the pattern.

Interruption of a pattern can bring interest to a project as well. Consider random placement of a few tiles in a contrasting color, or replace a whole row with a patterned tile in a field of solid. Break up a swath of large format tiles with a strip of mosaic tiles or with a couple of rows of narrow pencil tile.

Tile patterns can be utilized to achieve many different design goals in a space far beyond basic visuals. Large rooms can be brought in visually with the use of borders on the floor. A focal point in an entry might be established with a medallion of tile on the floor or in a kitchen with a mosaic backsplash behind a sink or stove. Anchor a seating group with a tile “area rug,” or tile a single wall in a bedroom with chevron stripes for a dramatic effect.

Inspired by these ideas and designs? It’s time to start planning!